The SCN Family is committed to social ministry that includes charity and systemic change. The Office of Global Ministries emphasizes systemic change that is rooted in the Gospel and directed by the Congregational Mission Statement and most recent General Assembly Directives. These “lens” are used to analyze issues, reflect on potential actions, examine opportunities for collaboration and create a unified voice for confronting global injustices of our time.
Weekly Justice Highlights
June 13, 2013
| Weekly Justice Highlights
Immigration: U.S. legislation is now on the floor in the Senate. U.S. citizens are invited to call Senators (1.866.940.2439; NO Charges apply) urging them to protect refugee and asylum provisions from negative amendments, and to support amendments that reunite families, reform enforcement practices to be more humane and make a path to citizenship more accessible.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Urge President Obama to ensure that whistleblower Edward Snowden is treated fairly, humanely and given due process. (International Action Available)
Care of Earth: Huge sections of land is being handed over by governments to global companies for the production of palm oils without regard for environmental and social devastation. Urge Bank of America, Citigroup and other investors to stop financing palm oil and the forest and community destruction it brings.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: While local communities lack money for vital services, U.S. citizens are invited to urge U.S. Representatives to vote for amendments that cut the Pentagon budget without affecting troop benefits, the bringing of Afghanistan troops home on Pentagon funding at 1.877.429.0678 (No charges apply).
Promoting Peace:Urge President Obama in an upcoming meeting with Russian President Putin to agree to bring together warring parties for urgent peace talks, commit to NOT providing weapons to any of the warring parties, and to ensure that Syrians who need aid have access to it.
Urge politicians to pay attention to the evidence of intrusion to individual civil liberties(wiretapping Americans) that is now overwhelming.
U.S. citizens are invited to pledge to vote against members of Congress who support gun violencein the 2014 election.
The June issue of Stop Trafficking co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here.
Louisville : On June 20 at 6 p.m. a march and rally for clean energy and healthy communities will occur. The march begins at the Louisville International Convention Center
Louisville: On July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m., It’s A Girl film will be viewed with dialogue at St. Andrew’s United Church of Christ (2608 Browns Lane). The viewing is hosted by Revealing Sophia’s Truth, a young adult faith activist group that attended the 57th Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in March 2013. In this film global experts and grass-roots activists tell the stories of abandoned and trafficked girls, of women who suffer extreme dowry-related violence, of brave mothers fighting to save their daughter’s lives and of other mothers who would kill for a son.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Urge President Obama to ensure that whistleblower Edward Snowden is treated fairly, humanely and given due process. (International Action Available)
Care of Earth: Huge sections of land is being handed over by governments to global companies for the production of palm oils without regard for environmental and social devastation. Urge Bank of America, Citigroup and other investors to stop financing palm oil and the forest and community destruction it brings.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: While local communities lack money for vital services, U.S. citizens are invited to urge U.S. Representatives to vote for amendments that cut the Pentagon budget without affecting troop benefits, the bringing of Afghanistan troops home on Pentagon funding at 1.877.429.0678 (No charges apply).
Promoting Peace:Urge President Obama in an upcoming meeting with Russian President Putin to agree to bring together warring parties for urgent peace talks, commit to NOT providing weapons to any of the warring parties, and to ensure that Syrians who need aid have access to it.
Urge politicians to pay attention to the evidence of intrusion to individual civil liberties(wiretapping Americans) that is now overwhelming.
U.S. citizens are invited to pledge to vote against members of Congress who support gun violencein the 2014 election.
The June issue of Stop Trafficking co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here.
Louisville: On July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m., It’s A Girl film will be viewed with dialogue at St. Andrew’s United Church of Christ (2608 Browns Lane). The viewing is hosted by Revealing Sophia’s Truth, a young adult faith activist group that attended the 57th Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in March 2013. In this film global experts and grass-roots activists tell the stories of abandoned and trafficked girls, of women who suffer extreme dowry-related violence, of brave mothers fighting to save their daughter’s lives and of other mothers who would kill for a son.
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Weekly Justice Highlights
June 06, 2013
| Weekly Justice Highlights
Human Trafficking: The Department of Homeland Security recently announced the launch of the redesigned Blue Campaign for comprehensive resources for recognizing the indicators of human trafficking and knowing how to report suspected instances of human trafficking to law enforcement, as well as resources for potential victims.
Care of Earth: U.S. citizens are invited to urge Senators to support S. 761, The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, that works to use energy more efficiently.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Call (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) or email Representatives, urging them to repeal the sequestration and to live up to the current law evenly splitting the cuts between defense and non-defense spending in FY 2014.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Urge Congress to oppose the corporate-backed agenda of the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) that elevates individual corporations to the same status as sovereign nations signing the agreement.
Promoting Peace: Urge U.S. Senators (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to sign the Benjamin Cardin letter on human rights and the rule of law in Honduras that will be sent to Secretary of State John Kerry that asks the State Department to address deepening concerns about human rights and the rule of law in Honduras. (Act before June 7 at 5 p.m. ET)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is proposed to be cut in both House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill. Urge Senators to avoid these harmful cuts. (scroll down)
Tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that you support new gasoline and vehicle standards.
Urge the NY city council to support initiatives to reduce smokingby banning ads that target youth.
Urge the United States Department of Agriculture to call for an immediate ban on field testing genetically engineered (GE) crops after GE wheat was found growing in Oregon recently in spite of government and industry mechanisms to regulate and monitor to prevent contamination.
BizVizz is corporate behavior made transparent and available to all. Just snap a picture of a brand’s logo or bar code and presto: a simple, graphic screen tells you the truth aboutAmerica ’s largest corporations. Taxes? Political donations? Subsidies? App for i-phones is here.
National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) is a founding member of the Equitable Food Initiative – here is a link to an article which appeared this past weekend in the New York Times about the EFI.
Louisville: On June 20 at 6 p.m. a march and rally for clean energy and healthy communities will occur. The march begins at the Louisville International Convention Center (at 3rd and Market Streets) with the rally on the Belvedere with special guests farmer and poet Wendell Berry, activist Tim DeChristopher and musicians kRi ‘n’ hettie.
Care of Earth: U.S. citizens are invited to urge Senators to support S. 761, The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, that works to use energy more efficiently.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Call (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) or email Representatives, urging them to repeal the sequestration and to live up to the current law evenly splitting the cuts between defense and non-defense spending in FY 2014.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Urge Congress to oppose the corporate-backed agenda of the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) that elevates individual corporations to the same status as sovereign nations signing the agreement.
Promoting Peace: Urge U.S. Senators (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to sign the Benjamin Cardin letter on human rights and the rule of law in Honduras that will be sent to Secretary of State John Kerry that asks the State Department to address deepening concerns about human rights and the rule of law in Honduras. (Act before June 7 at 5 p.m. ET)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is proposed to be cut in both House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill. Urge Senators to avoid these harmful cuts. (scroll down)
Tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that you support new gasoline and vehicle standards.
Urge the NY city council to support initiatives to reduce smokingby banning ads that target youth.
Urge the United States Department of Agriculture to call for an immediate ban on field testing genetically engineered (GE) crops after GE wheat was found growing in Oregon recently in spite of government and industry mechanisms to regulate and monitor to prevent contamination.
BizVizz is corporate behavior made transparent and available to all. Just snap a picture of a brand’s logo or bar code and presto: a simple, graphic screen tells you the truth about
National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) is a founding member of the Equitable Food Initiative – here is a link to an article which appeared this past weekend in the New York Times about the EFI.
Louisville: On June 20 at 6 p.m. a march and rally for clean energy and healthy communities will occur. The march begins at the Louisville International Convention Center (at 3rd and Market Streets) with the rally on the Belvedere with special guests farmer and poet Wendell Berry, activist Tim DeChristopher and musicians kRi ‘n’ hettie.
Action Alert
June 03, 2013
| Action Alert
June 2013
World Environment Day
World Environment Day
June 5 is World Environment Day with the theme, “Reduce Your Footprint.” While heard several times before, this phrase continues to challenge individuals to slow down and reflect upon the fact that every choice matters. Last month, the global community was alerted to the fact that the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere rose to 400 parts of carbon dioxide per million parts of air (ppm) for the first time in millions of years.
- What do individuals and communities do with this information?
- Where have we seen this number acknowledged and what actions have been made as a result?
Many individuals and communities around the world know well the consequences of this rising number. Less water and more droughts, storms being pulled together in ways that would describe carbon dioxide had a role to play, rising waters, and arctic sea ice at the lowest level seen yet. While these do not describe all consequences, they are becoming more catastrophic. As Rose Marie Berger in For God So Loved the World implies, we use multiple resources and move heaven and Earth to make some effort at the tragedy of terrorism, how might we gather the same ambition with regard to the tragedy of too much carbon dioxide within the air? Governments are not solely responsible as this crisis demands the responsibility of EVERYONE.
Another way to promote sustainability is to reduce food waste and loss. According to the World Environment Program statistics, approximately 1.3 billion tons or 1/3 of all food produced ends up spoiling, largely due to transportation and harvesting practices. Additionally, individuals in the global community are seeing food prices at a forty year high. In developed countries, almost half of the discarded food would feed Sub-Saharan Africa. Where can individuals do to reduce this waste of food? One’s ancestors and certainly traditional cultures have much to teach today’s individuals about preserving and conserving food.
Pope John Paul II stated in his 1990 World Day of Peace address, “education in ecological responsibility” is needed to address the ecological crisis. This “entails a genuine conversion in ways of thought and behavior.” He also states that, “Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at lifestyle.” While not speaking directly the words of, “reduce your footprint,” calls Catholics to become active! How might this be done?
Potential actions can include:
Another way to promote sustainability is to reduce food waste and loss. According to the World Environment Program statistics, approximately 1.3 billion tons or 1/3 of all food produced ends up spoiling, largely due to transportation and harvesting practices. Additionally, individuals in the global community are seeing food prices at a forty year high. In developed countries, almost half of the discarded food would feed Sub-Saharan Africa. Where can individuals do to reduce this waste of food? One’s ancestors and certainly traditional cultures have much to teach today’s individuals about preserving and conserving food.
Pope John Paul II stated in his 1990 World Day of Peace address, “education in ecological responsibility” is needed to address the ecological crisis. This “entails a genuine conversion in ways of thought and behavior.” He also states that, “Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at lifestyle.” While not speaking directly the words of, “reduce your footprint,” calls Catholics to become active! How might this be done?
Potential actions can include:
- Share infrequently used tools and garden supplies. Start a community tool shed.
- Hold a clothes swap at work, at your house of worship or on your street.
- Visit someone instead of the shopping plaza/market.
- Exchange music, art, or cooking lessons.
- Start a skills exchange in your community.
- Educate your local community with a book read or other activity.
- Reduce number of lights when necessary.
- Package items for transport in wadded up newspaper rather than plastic.
- Use a clothes line when weather allows.
- Arrange a cooking day among friends where you all get together and prepare food in bulk.
- Cook everything in one pot as often as possible.
- Use pedal-a-watt to make your own electricity for computers, lights & fans & get healthy.
- Open windows, use the basement and find a shade tree when it gets hot.
- Walk or ride a bike when possible.
- Make your own cleaning products from Earth friendly products.
- Get statements and bills electronically.
- Don’t purchase disposables, find an original and reuse.
- Use imagination to determine how an item can be reused.
- What other actions help reduce our footprint and share?
Since every choice matters, individuals and organizations must consider their role in the choices they make that impact our environment. Creative actions at the individual and communal level occur when creative people come together. Reflecting upon every choice invites individuals to slow down and reflect upon what is the best for the common good of the environment and creation. Individuals and organizations who choose options with the least impact (i.e. reducing their footprint) will over time, form habits that bring all Earth and those that depend on Earth for survival into greater peace.
Reflections/Actions:
- A prayer service for World Environment Day from the Justice Peace Integrity of Creation is here.
- Reflect upon the words of Pope John Paul II, what aspect of the current lifestyle lived still calls out for reducing the footprint?
- How am I noticing the impact of greater carbon dioxide in the air as impacting those in my community?
- How does the call to live simply so that others may simply live invite greater reduction of footprint?
- What impact does this have on sisters and brothers around the world?
- World Environment Day activities for students are here and here.
- The World Environment Day website has many resources.
- Measure your human demand on nature or ecological footprint and learn even more ways to reduce here.
- Methods of preservation from your own culture are located here.
- Other green tips for living are here and here.
Torture Awareness Month
June is Torture Awareness Month, a time for each of us no matter where our residence on Earth, to examine the torture that exists around us and in institutions. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) highlights this year’s theme as “Healing a Culture of Torture,” encompassing the need to reflect, pray, and act about the deep physical and spiritual harm caused by torture. Additionally, twenty-five years ago the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) assembled for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, to provide effective monitoring on the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).
NRCAT materials state that, “torture is illegal, immoral and counterproductive. It is always wrong. Torture wounds the soul of the perpetrator, the victim, and inflicts great moral harm on our society. Yet, a recent poll showed that almost half of respondents accept torture as either sometimes or always justified (poll, December 2012). Healing a culture of torture requires us, as people of faith, to truly embody our common belief in the inherent dignity of each human being by ensuring that torture never happens again. One way to do that task is to learn the facts about torture.”
- Pause a moment and reflect upon where torture exists.
- What do I know about torture in my country? What facts come to mind and heart?
- What do I know about the “average” prison in my country?
- Where might torture be endorsed in society?
According to NRCAT, “with just five percent of the world’s population, the U.S. accounts for 25 percent of the worlds incarcerated and the vast majority of all prisoners are held in long-term solitary confinement. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 80,000 people in the U.S. criminal justice system are held in some form of isolation.”
In the U.S., Guantanamo Bay is one of those places of isolation for many. According to a factual sheet from NRCAT, a bipartisan “Task Force concluded that the United States indisputably engaged in torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment (CID) of 9/11 detainees in violation of U.S. and international law and for which there was no justification. Guantanamo Bay was at the epicenter of the U.S. torture program, with detainees subjected to myriad forms of torture including water boarding, sleep deprivation, sexual degradation, sensory deprivation, induced hypothermia, and solitary confinement.”
In the U.S., Guantanamo Bay is one of those places of isolation for many. According to a factual sheet from NRCAT, a bipartisan “Task Force concluded that the United States indisputably engaged in torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment (CID) of 9/11 detainees in violation of U.S. and international law and for which there was no justification. Guantanamo Bay was at the epicenter of the U.S. torture program, with detainees subjected to myriad forms of torture including water boarding, sleep deprivation, sexual degradation, sensory deprivation, induced hypothermia, and solitary confinement.”
- What do I know about the short-term and long-term effects that can result from isolation or solitary confinement?
- What might I do to learn more about these effects?
- What apparent biases exist in who the victims tend to be?
As Catholics, the period of days called Triduum offers us an opportunity to reflect upon torture as it relates to Jesus’ life. Jesus experienced prison and death as a prisoner of conscience. There were those who plotted against and betrayed him as friend. He was tortured, beaten, humiliated, and sentenced to an agonizing death.
- What insights from Jesus’ experience of torture do I have as a result of this reflection?
- What action(s) do I feel called to as a result of walking the way of the cross with Jesus?
Reflections/Actions:
- Has my country ratified the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT)?
- The World Organization Against Torture (NGO) has international information on torture here.
- Ideas, activities, and prayers for Torture Awareness Month are located here.
- A prayer for those being detained in Guantanamo Bay is here.
- U.S. citizens are invited to urge President Obama to release the senate intelligence report on CIA torture is here.
- A Guantánamo Bay Detention Center Fact Sheet is here.
- U.S. citizens are invited to sign a petition to close down Guantanamo Bay is here and may be downloaded for community signatures here.
U.S. Immigration Reform Update
In May, the Senate Judiciary finished their work and passed by a vote of 13-5 the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S. 744).” While more than 150 Amendments were offered, other Amendments related to tax, Social Security and health benefits for immigrants were not offered in committee, but will be among those offered when the bill comes to the floor. Advocate groups worked hard to stop bad amendments and were quite successful for the most part. However, those amendments may come up again when the legislation comes to the Senate floor. The bill is scheduled to go to the floor of the Senate the week of June 10th, after the Congressional Budget Office determines the bill’s cost. It is expected to be on the Senate floor for most of June. In the House, Speaker John Boehner stated on May 23 that they will not vote on a Senate-passed measure and will instead produce their own legislation.
Reflections/Actions:
Reflections/Actions:
- The U.S. Catholic Bishops’ guidelines for comprehensive immigration reform are here.
- Take action for comprehensive immigration reform here and watch the SCN Newsline for further action.
- NETWORK has a fact sheet on immigration located here; a Nun’s on the Bus tour and a site to urge Congress that immigration reform is needed now.
- The Immigration Policy Center has released State-by-State Fact Sheets on Immigration located here.
Weekly Justice Highlights
May 30, 2013
| Weekly Justice Highlights
June 5 is World Environment Day with a prayer service in several languages available here.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Last Thursday Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced the Half in Ten Act of 2013, calling for poverty reduction to be a national priority. The bill creates a coordinated effort across federal departments and offices to cut poverty in half in 10 years and eliminate child poverty and extreme poverty in the United States. Urge legislators to support the Half in Ten Act of 2013.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Stand in solidarity with Walmart workers who have been standing up for fair wages and working conditions despite retaliation by signing a petitionthat will be taken to the annual shareholders’ meeting on June 7.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Call for justice in the murder of 15-year-old Ebed Yanes who was murdered a year ago in Honduras at the orders of a 2011 graduate of WHINSEC/SOA.
Death Penalty: Abdullah Al Qahtani's life could be taken for a "confession" he was tortured into making. He was denied a fair trial and sentenced to death by hanging. Take action to save Al Qahtani’s life by clicking here.
Challenging Unjust Corporations: As negotiations begin on the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), urge Congress to oppose corporate-backed agenda.
Urge President Obama to make good on the promise that gas drilling on public lands would not come at the expense of public health.
Urge Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to keep meat and poultry free to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. (Scroll down)
Urge President Obama to turn his words into action and transfer Shaker Aamer who has spent 11 years in Guantanamo without being charged any crime.
Call and urge U.S. Senators (202.224.3121; charges apply) to demand Genetically Modified labeling on food so individuals can make their own decisions with regard to consumption.
Louisville: On June 20 at 6 p.m. a march and rally for clean energy and healthy communities will occur. The march begins at the Louisville International Convention Center (at 3rd and Market Streets) with the rally on the Belvedere with special guests farmer and poet Wendell Berry, activist Tim DeChristopher and musicians kRi ‘n’ hettie.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Last Thursday Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced the Half in Ten Act of 2013, calling for poverty reduction to be a national priority. The bill creates a coordinated effort across federal departments and offices to cut poverty in half in 10 years and eliminate child poverty and extreme poverty in the United States. Urge legislators to support the Half in Ten Act of 2013.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Stand in solidarity with Walmart workers who have been standing up for fair wages and working conditions despite retaliation by signing a petitionthat will be taken to the annual shareholders’ meeting on June 7.
Challenging Unjust Systems: Call for justice in the murder of 15-year-old Ebed Yanes who was murdered a year ago in Honduras at the orders of a 2011 graduate of WHINSEC/SOA.
Death Penalty: Abdullah Al Qahtani's life could be taken for a "confession" he was tortured into making. He was denied a fair trial and sentenced to death by hanging. Take action to save Al Qahtani’s life by clicking here.
Challenging Unjust Corporations: As negotiations begin on the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), urge Congress to oppose corporate-backed agenda.
Urge President Obama to make good on the promise that gas drilling on public lands would not come at the expense of public health.
Urge Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to keep meat and poultry free to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. (Scroll down)
Urge President Obama to turn his words into action and transfer Shaker Aamer who has spent 11 years in Guantanamo without being charged any crime.
Call and urge U.S. Senators (202.224.3121; charges apply) to demand Genetically Modified labeling on food so individuals can make their own decisions with regard to consumption.
Louisville: On June 20 at 6 p.m. a march and rally for clean energy and healthy communities will occur. The march begins at the Louisville International Convention Center (at 3rd and Market Streets) with the rally on the Belvedere with special guests farmer and poet Wendell Berry, activist Tim DeChristopher and musicians kRi ‘n’ hettie.
