JPIC Action Alerts are timely publications that alert our readers on current and upcoming peace and social justice activities, legislative actions that promote human dignity, and integrity in all creation. For our current Action Alerts, please go here. JPIC Advocacy History & Perspectives
Culture of Life: The JPIC Office advocates for a consistent life ethic that includes all aspects that address the safety and quality of a person’s life and all of creation. That point of view leads the JPIC Office to advocate on behalf of policies, economic justice, attitudes and legislation aimed at achieving peace between nations and political factions, between family members, and within the individual spirit.
Death Penalty: The JPIC Office continues to advocate for the complete abolition of the death penalty. We are monitoring the frequency of the death penalty in the country and have been a part of advocacy efforts to prohibit the death penalty for children under 18 and for persons who are developmentally disabled. The good news is that a growing number of juries hesitate to seek the death penalty in lieu of other sentencing options. For more information, refer to http://www.deathpenaltyinforg/.
War and Peace: Diplomacy together with the Franciscan values compels the JPIC Office to call for a responsible transition as it concerns military occupation of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. A 2007 supplemental funding bill provided funds for development projects completed in Iraq by Iraqis. The funding requires reauthorization by Congress to continue in 2008. The JPIC is advocating for its passage, while also seeking expansion of the program to benefit Afghanistan’s population as well. For more details, check http://www.networklobby.org/issues/iraq/Iraq_supplemental.html
JubileeUSA: The pending Jubilee Act seeks the cancellation of debt incurred by the world’s most impoverished nations, prohibits unfair economic conditions on indebted countries, while mandating transparency and responsible lending practices from governments and international financial institutions, especially predatory activities (vulture funds). The Jubilee Act has found support in the U.S. House from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California, and Spencer Bachus, Ala., and in the U.S. Senate from Senators Bob Casey, Penn., Dick Lugar, Ind., and Chris Dodd, Conn. In November 2007, the Leader of the JPIC Office Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, celebrated in Washington, D.C. the end of a 40-day Rolling Fast Campaign, conducted to draw attention to the Jubilee Act, while also promoting fair trade and free trade policies. The Global Poverty Act, a proposal that demands realistic steps be taken to eliminate entrenched poverty, is also a priority. For information, view http://www.paxjoliet.org/global/end_poverty_now_call_to_action.htm
Africa: Many issues relate to the concerns and conflicts in Africa. Special needs are addressed as they arise. For more information, refer to Franciscans International (FI) at www.franciscansinternational.org. FI is a non-governmental organization (NG) that has Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status at the United Nations. This means that FI delegates are able to speak at UN meetings and contribute to reports. Other sources for information are http://www.africaaction.org/ and Catholic Relief services at http://www.crs.org/. Among the list of related issues selected for focus in 2008 is collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations for the purpose of establishing an effective mediation mechanism for political, boundary and economic disputes on the continent. Caritas International, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations around the globe, partner with Catholic groups in more than 200 developing countries and territories. For more information about Caritas’ work in Africa, see http://ww.caritas.org/.The JPIC Office collaborates with the organization on numerous projects and especially on the continent of Africa.
Kenya: The Upendo Village project is designed to respond at the local level to the needs of women, men and their children living with HIV/AIDS. It is a collaborative effort of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi and the Wheaton Franciscans. The project surrounds them with resources and support to improve their health, restore their self-respect, honor their dignity and increase their lifespan. Upendo Village provides hope, love, services and resources so that families can be strengthened and can plan for their future. To read further about the Upendo Village Project, check out http://www.upendovillage.org/ .
Darfur, Sudan: The situation in Darfur continues to be riddled with strife and conflict. On Jan. 1, 2008, President Bush signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which allows state and local governments to cut investment ties with companies doing business in Sudan. The issued received bilateral support as it is intended to press the Sudanese government to accept United Nations peacekeeping forces to act against the onslaught of human rights abuses, especially in Darfur. Further information can be attained on the Save Darfur Coalition Web site, http://www.savedarfur.org/content
Northern Uganda: Solicited information from Franciscan International (FI), Caritas International, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and evangelical groups, and applied these materials to regularly impact federal legislation on Northern Uganda. The 2004 Northern Uganda Crisis and Response Act, signed by President Bush, continues to assist the Acholi communities in Uganda deal with devastation caused by the militant Lord’s Resistance Army, which had been kidnapping children and enslaving and raping them. For more information refer to the Ugandan network at http://www.ugandacan.org/.
Human Trafficking: Stirred by a 2006 resolution Franciscan Federation, representatives from Region 8—Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana—agreed to author a statement on human trafficking, including educational awareness programs, parish ministries and most of all, widespread distribution of the hotline number--(888) 3737-888--for victims of human trafficking. A draft of the document put forth by Region 8’s Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LWCR) has been forwarded to the bishops of Illinois, as it is intended as a joint statement between the two entities. To read the draft document, click here. The Franciscan Federation relied on insights gleaned from Franciscan International to help shape their resolution. For more information, click here. On the state level, a Catholic lobby group organized for the purpose of assisting women and children called Project Irene has been successful in its efforts to pass milestone legislation in Illinois. In collaboration with Illinois’ Rescue and Restore Campaign, the two-year-old law not only prosecutes violators of human trafficking, it also responds to victims by providing accessible crisis intervention. For information about Project Irene, view http://www.Projectirene@aol.com. To download and read the Monthly Anti-Human
Trafficking Newsletter, please click here. To obtain further information on Human
Trafficking, click this link, http://homepage.mac.com/srjeanschafersds/stoptraffic/index.html The Franciscan Action Network (FAN): Is a newly established consortium within the Franciscan Family. Their mission is to engage in authentic social transformation by proposing strategies, developing initiatives and engaging in economic endeavors that would enhance the lives of people around the globe. By relying on the lens of Franciscan values, FAN’s objective is to pursue advocacy while working hands-on to initiate and facilitate actual development from a global and local perspective. The goal is to achieve positive transformation. FAN representatives authored a prayer for an end to the violence occurring in the aftermath of the presidential election in December 2007.
Franciscan Solidarity Experience Forum: The Franciscans successfully completed the first year of a training experience in Africa. The highlights of the four week long program were a Franciscan Solidarity Experience, World Social Forum and Franciscan Leadership Training Seminar that took place in January and February. Plans for a second training session on networking, accountability and grant writing are underway. For more details, view http://www.franciscansinternational.org.
Environment: The Wheaton Franciscans are sponsoring the JPIC Office in its effort to promote the United Nation’s Earth Charter. As one of 100 U.S. facilities designated as an Earth Summit site, the 60-acre WF campus is making preparations for a two-day event, Oct. 10-11, 2008. The first day is expected to be set aside for corporate workshop presentations about creating a “green” environment. Since Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is a recognized leader in greening up its policies, the mission services team is organizing a list of presentations. Day No. 2 is expected to offer local opportunities for live reaction via a DSL connection in New York City. Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore has been invited to give the keynote speech on the environment, which would then be broadcast around the globe. The JPIC Office is coordinating this day and is anticipated to provide numerous user-friendly events promoting support of the Earth Charter on this UN International Year of Planet Earth with a focus on climate change. For more information on the Earth Summit, view http://www.un.org/geninfo/ir/index.asp?id=130#q3 Clean Water: We encourage people to take action: individually, collectively and in solidarity with people around the work to address concerns of water scarcity and equality. It is a crucial human rights issue that all people have access to clean water. This action is in conjunction with the UN International Decade for Water: 2005 to 2015. There have been several actions against the privatization of water in developing countries where the needs of the local community have not been considered. The JPIC Office has focused advocacy efforts upon the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. On March 22, 2008, we celebrated World Water Day. The theme was "International Year of Sanitation." For further information, check http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/flashindex.html. In July 2008, the Franciscan Federation resolved to support clean water and accessibility initiatives. The resolution also opposes bottled water: first, bottled water is linked to hindering the development of vital resources, and, second, the manufacture of containers clogs landfills. For information, view http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/cms/page1555.cfm/.
Sustainable Communities: The Franciscans successfully completed the first year of a training experience in Africa. The highlights of the four week long program were a Franciscan Solidarity Experience, World Social Forum and Franciscan Leadership Training Seminar that took place in January and February. Plans for a second training session on networking, accountability and grant writing are underway. For more details, view http://www.franciscansinternational.org.
Energy: As Congress moves this year to tighten emission standards for vehicles, the JPIC Office plans to continue to advocate for proposals that make for a cleaner environment. For more information, view http://www.faithinplace.org/
Protect the Arctic Wild Life Refuge against drilling: The 19.6 million-acre refuge, locate in the northeast corner of Alaska, is a crucial haven for huge flocks of migratory birds, caribou and dozens of other species, including polar bears, arctic foxes, Dall sheep and muskoxen. The Arctic tundra region is an ecologically sensitive area that will not easily recover from the oil drilling process. Efforts to drill in this area have been turned back in Congress, but still continue to be proposed even in unrelated budget and defense bills. For more information, view http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlife/species/
Healthcare: The JPIC Office joins Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in its efforts to promote the coverage of the uninsured and the underinsured. The focus is particularly active in the spring. For more information refer to Catholic Healthcare Association at http://www.chausa.org/. Meanwhile, the federally-proposed State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) failed; however, JPIC is supporting a group of legislators looking to bring the issue to the fore again this year. The goal is getting a veto-proof bill that covers an additional four million children from low-income families. For a historical perspective and objectives for 2008, check http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=617&srcid=329.
HIV and AIDS Pandemic: President Bush has asked Congress to provide an additional $30 billion towards Global AIDS crisis over the first five years after he leaves office. This increase in the President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) would provide lifesaving treatment to 2.5 million people which is 1.4 million more than the current program. To read the entire press release please go to http://www.one.org/node/339
DuPage Global AIDS Action Network (DGAAN): Celebrated its fifth anniversary on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2007, with a prayer service at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Wheaton. Activists, supporters, victims and families gathered to remember those around the world who have lost their lives to the deadly disease. DGAAN also petitioned to become an official member of the ONE Campaign, which advocates on behalf of programs meant to ease the spread of HIV/AIDS. For more information on DGAAN, view http://www.dgaan.org/.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: While Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration legislation this year, the issue is far from over. Some in Congress continue to demonstrate support for an issue impacting more than 12 million people who are undocumented and living in the Untied States. Catholic social teachings call for an ethical and moral consideration as it impacts families, the separation of children and parents, living wage, education and healthcare.
Affordable Housing: The JPIC Office continues to support affordable housing particularly as it impacts young families, the elderly and singles in DuPage County. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to create a fund to assist people in their efforts to achieve homeownership. A statewide proposal, yet in its infancy, supports seeding a $100 million fund, which would be restricted with a cap on distribution. Annual interest earned would help keep the fund from being drained. Meanwhile, there is support for housing advocates from throughout Illinois who are seeking a housing trust fund to for the purpose of safeguarding affordable housing. Also, professional advocates belonging to Housing Matters shares information with people facing foreclosure and needing mortgage rate assistance. For information, view http://www.housingmatters.net/
Womb to Tomb: For these sensitive life issues, regarding a consistent life ethics our advocacy efforts are guided by the efforts of the Catholic Health Association at http://www.chausa.org/.
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