*(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

September 8, 2009

Dear Friends,

Congress is back in session in D.C. after its Summer recess to work in their home districts.  We’re working hard too!  Sr. Sheila and Sr. Glenna have been working together in the past few weeks to ensure a seamless transition of leadership in the office.  Our ongoing mission is to facilitate education and action, as well as contemplative reflection on the important social issues of our time.  We invite you to prayerfully consider your actions in any of the following areas:

Stories in the September 2009 JPIC Blog:

Healthcare
Hunger, Poverty and the Economy
Environment
War and Conflicts
Immigration and Human Trafficking

Healthcare

Healthcare is one of the hottest issues facing our country at this time.  We must be diligent in our discernment of the facts vs. myths regarding the current health care system and the reforms proposed by new legislation. 

We strongly encourage you to read the following resources for a wealth of information and clarity on the legislation:

• Consumer Health Reports/Prescription for Change
  http://www.prescriptionforchange.org/proposals.html
  
  
• National Catholic Reporter editorial
  http://ncronline.org/news/politics/health-care-debate-poisoned
  
  
• The White House – Health Care page
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/

In addition, it’s essential to view the legislation through the lens of the Catholic perspective regarding the respect for human life and the right to health care.  Two good sources of information are:

USCCB Position on Health Care Reform
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-07-17-murphy-letter-congress.pdf

• a truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity
• access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants
• pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options
• restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers

Catholic Health Care Association (CHA)

CHA has produced a substantial and thought provoking document envisioning US health care grounded in fundamental core values that pay special attention to the poor and vulnerable.

Read the entire text of CHA’s position entitled: Our Vision for U.S. Health Care
http://www.catholichealthcare.us/NR/rdonlyres/E60430CC-C0FD-4099-A563-A1C621DC83A2/0/OurVisionDoc.pdf

The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) requested all Franciscan religious congregations to draft a Corporate Letter for Health Reform.  Nearly 20% of all Catholic healthcare in the United States is sponsored by Franciscan congregations. Attached here is the letter Sr. Beatrice Hernandez sent on behalf of the Wheaton Franciscans.

Following the LCWR Assembly, August 11-14, 2009, the LCWR president and Board also drafted a brief statement on comprehensive health care reform during the post-assembly board meeting. Click click http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=4dlep5cab.0.qx8ep5cab.9eiiqmcab.0&ts=S0413&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcwr.org%2Flcwrsocialjustice%2FHCR.doc to read the entire text.

SO – now that you know the facts and the Catholic perspective, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

COMMIT TO DO YOUR PART DURING 40 DAYS FOR HEALTH REFORM

Beginning on August 19th, through the following 40 days, people of faith are leading a national campaign for health care reform. While members of Congress were in their home districts, hundreds of prayer vigils and in-district events were occurring. Faithful citizens are encouraged to sign petitions, write congressional representatives and participate in a variety of ways to say the faith community supports health care reform.
Take the Pledge – Join the Call.  Go to:http://faithforhealth.org/

READ – LISTEN – and WATCH for updates, which will be coming from the White House and Congress.  The JPIC office will also be following this very carefully and will post updates to the weekly petition page and the monthly Blog.

Hunger, Poverty and the Economy

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.

September is Hunger Action Month and  throughout the month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of 205 food banks are calling upon their communities to take action by giving up something small through the “Give A Little, Feed a Lot” campaign.  By identifying small things in life, a person can see what the value of that item would translate into meals and can then donate the value to their local food bank.  Americans are encouraged to participate in the month by attending local food banks events, donating time, money or their voice, participating in one of many corporate promotions and getting children involved as “Hunger Helpers.”

Please visit their website to learn more about the campaign, local events and ways you can help, including visiting the Cheesecake Factory for a free slice of cake in return for donations of canned soup. http://hungeractionmonth.org/

CATHOLICS CONFRONT GLOBAL POVERTY is a new initiative of Catholic Relief Services.  "The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) call on one million Catholics in the United States to confront global poverty. Advocate with us to end hunger, disease, conflict, and other issues that affect the lives of our brothers and sisters worldwide." Join their effort and learn more at : http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/

Environment

Preserving and Honoring the National Park System

Well known filmmaker Ken Burns has created a powerful documentary film about the US National Park System.  The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, a six-episode series, will premiere September 27 on PBS stations (check local listings for details).  In our advocacy efforts to preserve and protect the environment, it’s also important to honor and revel in the mere beauty of the earth.  This film celebrates the National Park System and our nation’s natural, historic and cultural heritage which has been preserved for generations to come. http://www.npca.org/bestidea

The National Parks Conservation Association is a proud sponsor of the Ken Burns film, as well as numerous advocacy actions, such as:

Ask Your Senators to Co-Sponsor the Public Lands Service Corps Act

The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009 is an incredible opportunity for our national parks: it would create opportunities for thousands of people to provide millions of hours of much-needed services in our most treasured places, while promoting service learning for citizens young and old. To ensure its success, we need a strong group of co-sponsors to champion this bill through Congress.
http://act.npca.org/campaign/senate_cosponsor_servicecorps?qp_source=adv%5fburns%5flp

Preserving National Forests

Located in the southeastern panhandle of Alaska, the Tongass National Forest is the largest remaining old-growth temperate rainforest on Earth. A lush landscape formed thousands of years ago by glaciers, where 500-year-old trees tower 250 feet overhead. Most Americans don’t even know it exists…but the Timber Industry does.

In fact, just last month a Ketchikan lumber mill applied and was granted access to clear-cut 381 acres in one of the Tongass’ pristine roadless areas. And more timber sales targeting Tongass roadless areas are just around the corner, unless the Obama Administration takes immediate action.
The Sierra Club is advocating for action and asks everyone to sign their petition to ask the Obama administration to uphold the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would finally protect pristine areas of the Tongass and other irreplaceable national forests.
https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2754&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr001=dflj6j8g61.app26a

War and Conflicts

Urge your Senators to support S. 891 as a good first step towards addressing the causes of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Directs the U.S. Department of State to investigate the natural resource financing of illegal armed groups, provide guidance to businesses on tracking their supply chains, design a strategy to assist regional governments to improve mineral trade transparency, assist the DRC to improve mineral management and export, and impose punitive measures for commercial activities that support illegal armed groups.
  
  
• Requires companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange to disclose in annual Securities and Exchange Commission reports the country of origin of coltan, tin and tungsten, and if the country of origin is the DRC or a bordering country, also disclose the mine of origin.
  
  
• Promotes more humanitarian and development assistance for affected communities in the DRC.
  
  

Urge your Senators to support S. 891 as a good first step towards addressing the causes of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
S. 891, the Congo Conflict Mineral Act of 2009

The Global Security Priorities resolution reduces the number of nuclear weapons and directs the savings to address global hunger. Urge your members of Congress, especially those on the Foreign Affairs Committee, to co-sponsor the “Global Security Priorities” Resolution (H. Res 278)

WHY IS H. RES. 278 IMPORTANT?   H. Res. 278 has two goals:

1. Addresses the threat of international terrorism and protects the security of the United States by reducing the number of and access to nuclear weapons and preventing their proliferation. H. Res. 278 urges the President to continue negotiations to further reduce nuclear arms to minimal levels, to have the U.S. and Russia agree to cut the number of deployed nuclear weapons, to assist other countries in reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons throughout the world, and to expand efforts to prevent terrorists from gaining access to nuclear materials.
   
   
2. Directs a portion of the resulting $13 billion saved annually towards child survival, food security, and universal education. H. Res. 278 requests $5 billion over five years to enhance global child survival through new high-impact and low-cost health and nutrition interventions at the community level, and an additional $1.5 billion annually over five years for existing programs that reduce child hunger and increase child nutrition and educational opportunities. These added resources would enable organizations such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to strengthen food security programs with local partners in poor countries to boost long term food security and life-saving emergency aid.

President Obama has already called for substantial verifiable reductions in the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia, and has committed the U.S. to new leadership in the international campaign to reduce global poverty by doubling international assistance. Supporting H. Res 278 is timely given these stated intentions. Urge your member of Congress to support H. Res. 278

Urge Congress to Support White House Middle East Peace Efforts Ask your members to co-sponsor H. Res. 130 today!

WHY IS BOLD ACTION FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND CRITICAL NOW?  President Obama has made a series of strong statements recently urging Israel and the Palestinians to take actions for peace and challenged all of us to work towards a “Holy Land of three great faiths” that is "the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims.”  It is critical now for the Catholic community in the United States to demonstrate our strong support for the President’s efforts to help bring peace to the Holy Land.  The opportunity for achieving a two-state solution is supported by majorities of Israelis and Palestinians as the best way to end this tragic conflict.  However, the prospects for this solution are narrowing and must be seized soon. 
 
The letter you are being asked to sign was circulated by the Churches for Middle East Peace, an ecumenical coalition of churches and faith-based organizations with which CRS and USCCB collaborate.  The letter recognizes President Obama’s efforts to address the issue of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, encourages bold action by the administration and urges him “to provide a clear framework for an end to the conflict, help Israelis and Palestinians make the difficult decisions necessary to achieve lasting peace, and hold both parties to account when they fail to honor their commitments.” 

Immigration & Human Trafficking

Comprehensive immigration reform should be a priority this year

President Obama has indicated his support for comprehensive immigration reform and promised during his campaign to move this issue during his first year in office.  Several members of Congress have also stated their support for a comprehensive immigration reform bill to move forward this year. 
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH?  The Catholic Church’s teaching on migration is based on the commitment to promote and defend human dignity with particular attention to the most vulnerable.  These principles include:

• People have the right to find opportunities within their own homeland: they have the “right not to migrate.”
• People have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families where conditions do not exist to meet their basic needs. 
• Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders.
• The human dignity and human rights of all migrants should be respected as part of enforcement and border control practices. Urge Congress to Fix our Broken Immigration System     

In closing, we thank you for the time you take to prayerfully consider these important issues, and for whatever you do in your part of our world to promote justice, peace and care for creation.

Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
Sr. Glenna Czachor, OSF
JPIC Office Leaders
Wheaton Franciscans

Blog Archives

January, 2009
February, 2009
March, 2009
April, 2009
May_June, 2009
July, 2009
August, 2009

...

JPIC Office Blog - JPIC Office Blog Archives - JPIC Office Petitions - Our Vision of Justice & Peace - JPIC Team Reflection 2008 Earth Summit - Action Alerts & Legislation - Current Events & Information
Mother Earth Sister Peace - Dinner & Dialogue with the Wheaton Franciscans - Integrity for Nonviolence
JPIC Office Publications - Recommended Links
...