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Justice Jottings March 2008 |
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Spanish Marianists There are many ways to observe Lent. The Marianists in Spain selected the 40 nations with the lowest development, taking time to reflect especially on the condition of women and children. Their effort is called "Forty Days With the Last 40." The United Nations publishes The Index of Human Development. Click Here for more information.
Remember
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Visit us at www.msjc.net..... |
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| Everyday Justice - Personal stories of those living out social justice day by day
March's reflection comes from the Adele Social Justice Project's Resource Manual. Using Adele as their model, members of the Marianist Family contributed letters on social justice topics. We feature Mary Niebler's letter from the Joining Voices With the Voiceless section.
HELP ME PASS FIRST GRADE
AND HELP ME FROM GETTING KILLED
Dear Friends:
What does it mean to be a voice for the voiceless? .... One story of a voiceless child of God stays with me everyday, and constantly reminds me of my own privilege and my obligation as a Christian and member of the human family to use my voice for others. Seven years ago I was working at a transitional home for homeless mothers and their children in Jersey City, NJ. I was the activities coordinator for the school-aged children in the building. ....There, I met Jasmine. .... One day, Jasmine had finished her homework, so I asked her to complete a writing prompt to practice her writing. The assignment was to write to the President asking for anything she would like to change in her city. Jasmine's response is what rings in my head and my heart and her first draft piece of notebook paper remains close to me at all times. It reads: "Dear Mr. President, Please help me pass the first grade and help me from getting killed." Short, simple, to the point. .... To read the entire reflection click here. At the end of each reflection there is space for you to add a comment. Post your comment today! Signing in is not necessary. | |
 Anti-Racism
The Anti-Racism Team, at the request of the Steering Committee, will focus its attention on the immigration issue. Presently the team is investigating means to help the Marianist Family better understand the issues involved and take appropriate action.
The Catholic Church on Racism.
Various Church leaders have spoken out about the evil of racism and the need to eradicate it in the thoughts and actions of each person as well as in the soul of our society. This resource collects significant quotes from nine different documents and places them in a context for reflection, discussion and prayer. To access the resource collection, Click Here.
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Death Penalty 
The Death Penalty Issue Team of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative met on Feb. 9-10 in San Francisco.
Attending the meeting were (left to right) Bro. Phil Aaron , Bob Stoughton , Jim Vogt (MSJC Director), Andria Brannon, Sr. Grace Walle (chair), Bro. Dick Olsen , Elizabeth Zitrin (California Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International), and Bro. Frank O'Donnell.
The team reviewed and updated strategies for their 5 target states ( Missouri, California, Ohio, Maryland, and Texas ), took initial steps to develop a Marianist Declaration of Life, and worked on an internship program with the Texas Defenders Service, an agency committed to improving the quality of legal defense for those facing the death penalty. For more information contact Sr. Grace Walle at gwalle@stmarytx.edu.
Perspectives at the Death House Door
There is a special hearing on Capital Punishment being held on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 1:00 in the Senate Hearing Room E2.016 at the State Capitol in Austin, TX. For more information Click Here.
Good Friday Walk for Justice and Peace -- Dayton, Ohio
The annual walk is an opportunity to experience the Stations of the Cross through a social justice lens. A member of the MSJC Death Penalty Issue Team, Bob Stoughton, will be the reader at the First Station, devoted to the death penalty. The Walk through downtown Dayton begins at 12:00 noon on Friday, March 21 at Courthouse Square. Plan on attending if you are in the area.
Religion and the Death Penalty
Most Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church oppose capital punishment, though many of their members support it. In fact, according to a Pew Forum poll from 2007, the strongest supporters of the death penalty are white evangelicals, with 74% approval. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra wrote recently about this tension in Christianity Today. To read more, click here.
Will Nebraska Abolish the Death Penalty?
On Feb. 8, 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Courth ruled that the electric chair was unconstitutional. Two days later the Lincoln Journal Star editorialized that Nebraska should abolish the death penalty. Click here to read the article.
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The Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) has produced a Lenten Energy Fast resource for use by individuals or communities. The booklet features brief readings, the most recent scientific projections of how climate change will impact the peoples of the world, inspirational stories, and scripture-based reflection questions. The booklet also features "40 Ways in 40 Days" to conserve energy. Click Here to download a copy of the booklet. |
 Adele Social Justice Project
Interested in gathering for 3 days with other young adults to explore the social justice dimensions of the Marianist call? Know others who would be? The next immersion/retreat weekend for young adults will be held in San Antonio June 13-15. For more information, contact Laura Libertore -
or Steve Hemphill - fredehemphill@yahoo.com.
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GLBT Initiative 
The leadership is working on fine tuning their pilot program, A Place at the Marianist Table. They will be presenting it to lay and religious communities in the coming months. If your lay or religious Marianist community or group is interested in experiencing the program or would like more information, contact BGarascia@sbcglobal.net. |
| Events
Pax Christi, Network, The Center of Concern and other National Catholic Organizations will host the "Convention for the Common Good" in Philadelphia from July 11-13. Pax Christi will also present an event on July 10 entitled "Platform for the Common Good." Click here to read more about the event.
The Heart of Winter, a retreat held in February at Cape May, NJ involved
16 to 20 year old men and women in an experience modeled on the MSJC project Thinking Globally, Acting Locally.
The Adele Social Justice Project is conducting an immersion/retreat experience June 13-15, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.
Immersion Trips
The Marianist Office of Peace and Justice is sponsoring 3 kinds of immersion trips. If you are interested in participating in any of the immersions, please contact Myles McCabe or Ruth Hinde or at 314-533-1207. For more information please click here. |
| Resources- Your ideas are always welcome!
An Election Guide from The Maryknoll office of Global Concerns. Loving Our Neighbor in a Shrinking World,is a 12-page booklet addressing crucial foreign policy issues that should be considered during this year's campaign cycle. Included are reflections and questions for candidates on the following topics: economic justice, migration, climate change, peace and security, and HIV/AIDS. Click Here for more information.
Soldiers of Conscience: A new documentary film about the demands of duty and the call of conscience. From West Point grads to drill sergeants, from Abu Ghraib interrogators to low ranking reservist- mechanics; soldiers in the U.S. Army today reveal their deepest moral concerns about what they are asked to do in war. Click Here for a look at this award-winning film.
Prayer for Peace in Kenya.
Lord, make us to be instruments of your peace as we share our love and concern for our brothers and sisters in Kenya and especially those of our Marianist Family.
From injustice and division, let them know your love.
From violence and injury, may they realize your forgiveness.
From despair and darkness, may they have hope.
From sadness and grief, may they again know peace and joy.
God of compassion and peace, kindle in the hearts of all your children love for peace, and guide with your wisdom the leaders of Kenya as they work to bring about peace and justice in their land.
Marianist On-Line Courses Spring brings the opportunity to participate in on-line courses about Marianist tradition, spirituality, and social justice. Dead line for registration is March 25. Click Here for a look at the entire schedule.
The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change shares news about their efforts
to bring about a just stewardship of the earth's resources. Cllick here for more information.
Bill Farrell SM recommends this book: Catholicism at the Crossroads: How the Laity Can Save the Church. Paul Lakeland. Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc. 2007. |
| Act Now for Justice
Congress is now debating with President Bush on the contents of the farm
bill. Network has information on how you can act to save the nutrition section of the farm bill. Click here to learn how you can help.
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A Thought to Ponder
...." and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw everyone to myself."
John 12:32
Salvador Dali
The Christ
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