*(Please continue to check the Social
Justice Actions which are updated every Friday). Our petition corner
is now located http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org/currentactionalerts.html JPIC Office Blog February 2, 2010 Dear Friends, This is a short Blog this month – because the Office has been concentrating on getting out the next issue of Mother Earth, Sister Peace, which you can expect to see in your mailboxes within the next few weeks. On Sunday, Jan 31st the JPIC Office hosted 15 people for a Conversation Circle. It was an energizing and exciting conversation in which we generated ideas for the JPIC Office, the role of the Coordinator and ideas for the future. I will write a summary of the meeting and share it with everyone within a few weeks. One of the suggestions from the Circle was for the Office Blog to be a place where community members could share their passions and interests. If there is an area of justice and peace in which you are involved and would like others to know about, or get involved in, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! We will do our best to include your input into the next Blog or Mother Earth, Sister Peace. In the meantime, please consider prayerfully the following topics: Haiti – relief efforts and debt reduction
Our Hearts & Voices
with Haiti Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti who are facing devastation and disaster of unimaginable proportions. This earthquake threatens to erase much of the progress the country has made in the fight against poverty and economic injustice. In addition to the news of the disaster, I can report some positive outcomes: Wheaton Franciscans and DGAAN has worked with Jubilee USA Network for the past few years whose tireless efforts have been to eradicate poverty in the poorest countries of the world by eliminating or reducing their foreign debt. In June 2009, Jubilee USA supporters and partners celebrated $1.2 billion in debt cancellation for Haiti, erasing most -- but not all -- of Haiti's debt. Jubilee USA has called on the Obama administration provide massive assistance for relief and reconstruction in the form of grants, not loans, cancel the rest of Haiti's debt; and provide Temporary Protective Status to Haitians living in the US. Other positive news: On Friday, January 15th, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Janet Napolitano, announced that the United States would offer Temporary Protective Status (TPS) to Haitian nationals living in the United States. Add your voice to ensure a robust and just response to this crisis from the Obama administration. Sign the petition today. (Jubilee USA Network) Catholic Relief Services
update The morning after the earthquake, I received an email request from Catholic Relief Services for the Haiti Rescue Fund. I communicated with Sr. Pat Norton, who communicated with the Council, who immediately agreed to send a generous donation on behalf of The Wheaton Franciscans. We can be assured of the value of our donation, as CRS is a worthy organization who has been dedicated to serving the poorest nations, including Haiti for decades. They already had in place, the infrastructure to help the most in need. I have continued to get updates from CRS on their efforts in Haiti: “Each day more CRS staff from around the globe arrive in Haiti, joining our existing staff of just over 300. Our headquarters building in Haiti was damaged but did not collapse. Despite enormous logistical challenges, one week after the devastating earthquake CRS staff has unloaded 120 containers (2100 metric tons) of vegetable oil and grains from the U.S. government onto the only operating wharf in Port-au-Prince. We are in the process right now of arranging for secure transport to our warehouse, where it will be distributed to the growing number of camps. CRS has been asked by the United Nations to lead the response at one of the first formally organized camps, located at a golf course, where as many as 50,000 people are sleeping every night. CRS has arranged to supply the camp with water, food, and plastic sheeting for shelter, which continue to be trucked in from CRS warehouses in the neighboring Dominican Republic, where volunteers are working continuously to keep additional relief supplies coming. CRS has formed six medical teams to provide health care at shelters and area hospitals and CRS teams have already distributed medical supplies and drugs. In addition, Project C.U.R.E. has donated 3000 pounds of additional medical supplies that are en route. Three operating rooms at St. Francois de Sales Hospital—which withstood the quake — are now running, and surgeries are being performed on the most critically injured patients. Food, water and medical supplies have also been provided to the hospital. An AIDS Relief site, this is one of Haiti's oldest hospitals and one that CRS helped build. Its mission is to provide free care and treatment for the poor.CRS is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we have received in response to this calamity. But we can't stress enough how significant the damage is and how many of our brothers and sisters are affected. We are asking you to please support our efforts to help the millions of earthquake victims in Haiti.
Congressional Leaders
Seek Compromise in Health Care Legislation Progress on approving the Health Care Legislation is hard to keep up with these days. It seems that every day, some new wrinkle appears. As of this writing the best information is as follows (source: Catholic Charities USA) On January 19, Scott Brown (R) defeated Martha Coakley (D) for the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly held by Edward M. Kennedy for more than 45 years. As a result of the election, the Democrats lost their super-majority in the Senate with Republicans now holding 41 of the 100 seats. Because the Senate requires 60 votes to clear the procedural hurdle known as the filibuster, Democrats face significant challenges passing a final health care package. One option being discussed would be for the House to pass the Senate health care bill with no changes. However, on January 21, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that she did not have the votes to clear the Senate-passed bill. Another option is to include elements of health care reform in an expedited budget process known as reconciliation which requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate. Key negotiators are working to blend the House and Senate-passed versions of health care reform legislation. In place of a traditional conference committee, Congressional leadership is working to bring a compromise package to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote later this month. More details on a final compromise package are expected this week. Catholic Charities USA will continue to work with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Catholic Health Association to ensure that no federal funds are used for abortion and that conscience protections are included in the final health care reform bill. Catholic Charities USA will keep you updated on health care reform.
Justice for Immigrant
New and Improved Website and Postcard Campaign Justice for Immigrants (JFI) has launched a
redesigned website (http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/utr/1/LQOGLWXHKQ/EDYGLWYKWB/4544958316)
that includes updated resources and information about the U.S.
Catholic Bishops' campaign for comprehensive immigration
reform. The materials and information available on the website
include 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. I appreciate the support and feedback that I have received from many of you, and hope that this Blog continues to be of use to you. And again, if you would like us to focus on any specific issue or area of concern, please feel free to let me know.
Sr. Glenna Czachor, OSF
~ on a personal note ~
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