JPIC Office Blog March 15, 2007 Dear Friends, Peace and all good to you! It is with a great deal of enthusiasm that I share with you the results of the March 7-9, 2007 Franciscan Family historic meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. More than 130 members of all branches of the Franciscan orders: leaders and Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) representatives from throughout the United States met to discuss and discern ways to bring a more visible and effective Franciscan Presence to the effort of repairing relationships to establish justice in the world. Prayer began our days and was woven throughout all the proceedings. Participants interacted with the speakers to explore more deeply a Franciscan approach to advocacy. We moved from why we should be an organized Franciscan Voice for Advocacy to how we should establish it. The group collectively wrote a vision statement calling the Franciscan Family to work together for social transformation. From the vision statement, the participants then committed themselves to having further dialogue and finding the resources to establish a broad-based Franciscan Family Commission for JPIC, as well as a Center for Action based in Washington, D.C. These two structures will be launched in the next six to twelve months. The JPIC Office joins the efforts of the Coalition on Human Needs and urges calls to congress to pass a budget resolution making certain that funds are urgently needed for domestic appropriations. To advocate on this resolution please go to http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org/currentactionalerts.html The JPIC Office signed onto the Network/WAND Letter which addresses the discretionary portion of the FY08 budget. To read the complete texts of the letter please go to http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org/currentactionalerts.html Support the efforts of the ONE Campaign and the Dodd/Smith to increase the International Affairs Budget. We are advocating for $4.15 billion for global HIV/AIDS. For more information please go to www.one.org On the observance of the March 17th Anniversary of the start of the Iraq War; we join our prayers with the international community for a peaceful resolution to this War and for a productive debate in the Senate regarding U.S. military presence in Iraq. Save Darfur Week: During the week of March 19-23, 2007 we commemorate with Franciscan Colleges, Universities and local communities as they all come together in response to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the surrounding regions. To further view information on this week go to http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org/currentevents.html. March 22nd, 2007 is World Water Day: This year’s theme is “Coping with Water Scarcity”. The term water scarcity may have a meaning to others like images of drought. But that in itself is only one form of a condition that affects many people around the world. For further information on this day, please go to http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org/currentevents.html. And to view the recent proposal from The Franciscan Federation click here. Updates on past Actions: Thanks for your prayers. In a recent public statement from Archbishop Odama, he has spoken of renewed faith in the peace talks in Northern Uganda. For more information please go to http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/story.asp?ID=2048 The resolution on minimum wage is at a standstill because House and Senate leaders have not come to a consensus on the size of a business tax package that was added onto the bill in the Senate. Hearings have begun in Congress regarding Immigration. To read a recent article on the Senate resuming talks on Immigration click this link http://www.chn.org/humanneeds/070305c.html.
Thanks for all your prayers and for all you are doing to make this world a better place. Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
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