| |
|
Justice Jottings February 2010 |
|
|
|
|
Check Out on our Website
Social Justice Programs - For Your Marianist Community or Group. Click here to view the page.
We've added a new category, titled
Consistent Life Ethic, on the Links page of our website to include organizations who are working to protect life on several fronts. Click here to view the page. |
| |
|
|
GLBT Initiative
New GLBT Webpage Now Online!
Our newest MSJC team, the GLBT Initiative, has just completed work on its webpage as part of the MSJC website. Click here to read about the great work of this team and to see the excellent resources they have made available.
Pain and Possibility - Continuing the Dialogue
Beth Garascia's recent reflection in Justice Jottings, "Pain and Possibility: Being a Catholic Parent of Gay Children", (click here to read it) generated a thoughtful response from Hugh Bihl SM. To read his reflections, and Beth's reply to him, click here. Do you have an opinion you'd like to share? Click here.
An Open Letter to the Hierarchy
Several
years ago, 23 Chicago Priests signed "An Open Letter to the
Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church Regarding the Pastoral Care of
Gay and Lesbian Persons."
Their
pastoral care of the faithful, they stated, was being compromised by
the language being used in official Church documents referring to
homosexuality. Click here to read the entire letter. | |
| Racial and Immigrant Justice
Justice for Immigrants
Justice for Immigrants (JFI) has launched a redesigned website - Justice for Immigrants -
that includes updated resources and information about the U.S. Catholic
Bishops' campaign for comprehensive immigration reform. The
website also includes an updated parish kit, recent statements by
Bishops on immigration reform, and a new "Events" tab that JFI
supporters can utilize to get involved in local and national JFI and
immigration reform events. Click here to send a personal message to Congress in support of immigration reform.
|
| Death Penalty
Is the Tide Turning?
New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007; New Mexico did the same in 2009.
So
far in 2010 at least five more states are considering bills to abolish
the death penalty, and others are observing that prosecutors are
seeking the death penalty less and less. These events raise the
question, "What is going on?" Read more on the Issue Team's webpage.
Death Penalty Resources for Communities of Faith
On
Feb. 2, 2010, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) announced
that it "has recently updated its information packet entitled Death
Penalty Resources for Communities of Faith." Each packet contains
a CD with statements on the death penalty from various religious
denominations, death penalty fact sheets in English and Spanish, and
answers to questions about the death penalty. To learn more,
visit the Issue Team's webpage. For information on obtaining copies of this important resource, please contact this link.
|
Adele Social Justice Project
Adele Day Celebrations - a Success!
The
first Adele Day celebrations by the ASJP community were a great
success! From Texas to Ohio to North Carolina - and more reports
still coming in - the Family got
together
to celebrate Adele's spirit with those who knew her and share our
friend with those who didn't. Hundreds of dollars were
donated as well to support ASJP's next projects in Indianapolis and
Hawaii. Thank you all! Start planning your June
Celebrations!
Celebrating in Cleveland from left: Patrick Elliott, Amy
Elliott, Fr. Cyriacus, Fr. Gary Chmura, Mary Tracy, Fr. Maurice, Jill
Buchanan and Mark Buchanan. |
| Ecology & Environment
Try a "Lenten Carbon
Fast" 
The
Archdiocese of Washington's Environmental Outreach Committee produced a
calendar listing 40 carbon fasting actions everyone can consider during
Lent. Each of these actions challenges us to reflect on our
consumption habits, reduce our production of climate change pollution
and help to preserve God's gift of Creation. Click here to download a copy.
|
|
Steering Committee
We Celebrate and Applaud our Marianist Sisters
As
our Marianist Sisters celebrate 60 years of service in the United
States, the MSJC Steering Committee wrote a letter of support and
congratuations to them. Click here to read the letter. |
| Resources
Operation Rice Bowl
Participate
- and also invite your Marianist community, parish, school, etc. to get
involved - in this Lenten commitment to fast in solidarity with those
who hunger, learn more about our global community and the challenges of
poverty overseas, and give sacrificial contributions to those in
need. Click here to get information.
Letting Go Of Stuff - For Lent or Forever
Click here to visit this new blog by Susan Vogt on how to let go of one thing a day during Lent. |
| Events
Don't Miss This - Marianist Lay Continental Assembly
The
8th Lay Marianist Continental Assembly is happening July 22-25 in
Honolulu HI. MSJC will be offering a number of workshops during
the Assembly. Click here to register.
A Seamless Garment Dialogue - March 5-7, 2010 in Baltimore
MSJC
is planning a "Seamless Garment Dialogue" weekend to promote dialogue
among pro-life and social justice activists as a way to lessen
divisions and foster better understanding and greater collaboration.
Featured resource person will be Fr. John Langan SJ, the Joseph
Cardinal Bernardin Professor of Social Thought at Georgetown U. and an
expert on Christian ethics. To see the flyer, click here. |
| Action for Advocates
A Victory! Debt Relief for Haiti
The
US Treasury Department announced support for complete debt cancellation
for Haiti and will work with our international partners to ensure that
new assistance comes in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans.
Subsequently, all the G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, the UK, and the U.S. - agreed to support complete cancellation
of Haiti's $1 billion international debt. Click here
to watch a short message from the Haitian ambassador. For all of
you who signed the ONE Campaign's petition for this in last month's
Justice Jottings, thank you!
Over $13,000 donated to Haiti!
The
request by the Marianist Lay Network to provide assistance to the
Marianist Family in Haiti as they seek to recover from the devastating
earthquake raised over $13,000. Thanks to everyone for their
generosity.
How 1 Piece of Paper Can Save Millions - Catalogue Choice
Tired of getting too many catalogues in the mail? Want to reduce the waste?
Click here for more info. Want to spread the word? Click here to
download a flyer that you can post in your local coffee shop,
workplace, school, or anywhere there's a community message board.
|
| A Thought to Ponder
Sitting in the midst of a vast rocky plain, hands clenched, Jesus
ponders the question that every person must answer in the face of
difficult choices: "What shall I do?"
Portrait by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887)
What does this scene evoke in me? What do I want to say to Jesus?
from
Living with Christ, February issue | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|