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June 2008
J/P Alert is the newsletter of the Justice and Peace office of CMSM. It is intended to inform and stimulate discussion and involvement among the members. Its contents do not necessarily represent official positions of CMSM.
June is Torture Awareness Month
A cooperative effort among the USCCB, CMSM, LCWR, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and others has produced a study guide on torture, suitable for use by parishes, study groups, campus ministries and individuals. You can download the pdf file by clicking on the logo above.
[Mike Seifert, SM, is a pastor in Brownsville, TX, and a former chair of the CMSM Justice and Peace Committee. He has received death threats for his work with immigrants.]
Early morning Mass is over and I am removing my vestments. A young woman, a girl really, comes up to me and asks if we could talk. We take a seat at the back of the church, underneath the stained-glass image of the Prodigal Son. She has a baby in her arms, this young one, her clothes have not been washed, and she is weeping. She finally looks up to me and says, "I just want to feel like it is OK for me to be here."
One Saturday, while hearing confessions, a young man tells me that he is in this country without authorization from immigration authorities, and that his father is dying in Mexico. "If I go back to see him, there is a good chance that I will be arrested when I return and then my children won't be able to eat. Is it a sin not to be with my father when he is dying?" I am sure that I would not have heard this sort of confession elsewhere in our country.
For this sacrament, I have received three death threats. They were sent to me by mail, by members of a group of armed vigilantes called "The Minutemen." I have declared that our parish, located in Brownsville, Texas, on the Mexican border, would always be a place where people could come for help. We would be a "sanctuary," a sacred place for all human beings.
As I listen to my parishioners, I wonder
once again, at our inability as a nation to create a humane immigration
law.
The present mess we have punishes the most responsible residents of our communities, those who have come here looking for ways to feed their families, by humiliating them and treating them as criminals. The law as it stands divides families and imprisons children. And yet it does -not to secure our nation.
Our American bishops, echoing scripture, have called the immigrant a "blessing" and as a Marist, I can attest to that. For more than 20 years, the Marists have conducted a series of pastoral experiments along the border, projects in which we have simply created spaces for the poorest and most defiled amongst us. In every case, the response to our outreach has been stunning. Hundreds of small communities have been established, groups of people who meet, week in and week out, reflecting on scripture, committing themselves to the way of Mary, creating new churches. These are church communities whose prayer is deep, because they are strangers in a strange land. They are gracious communities, for they survive solely by the grace of God. They are those who know Mary, the Mother of God well, for they carry the Virgin of Guadalupe in their hearts.
These communities are made up of people who are "illegal," "targeted for removal," and a "cause for concern." They are my brothers and my sisters. They are Marists.
[from Today's Marists, May 2008]
[Seifert is also quoted in the Rio Grande Guardian claiming that mandatory evacuations in the face of hurricanes will be widely ignored if the Border Patrol is involved. You can find the article by going to the paper's web page and typing "mandatory evacuations" in the search box.]
World Food Security
and the Challenges of Climate Change
[Statement by Christian-inspired and other faith-based organizations, to the High-Level Conference on World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy, Rome, 3-5 June 2008.]
Zenit – Over 250 faith-based organizations are calling on the Conference to launch an effective, long-term multi-stakeholder process of discussion and action, at national, regional and international levels - based on fundamental spiritual values - in which civil society, including faith organizations, will play a full role.
Published in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian the statement has been circulated to all delegations and submitted to the CSO/NGO Forum of 3 June. The signatory organizations (list posted at with statement texts at www.jpicpassionist.org) includes Roman Catholic religious orders and NGOs, a number.of them with Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, churches members of the Anglican Communion, ecumenical inter-church aid networks. The signatory list remains open and its web edition updated daily.
The statement starts with a spiritual message:
Every faith tradition invites us both to feed the hungry and care for our environment and its myriad life forms. As people of faith, we recognize the moral imperative without exception to change our lifestyle in keeping with the carrying capacity of the earth and the protection of its climate. We also recognize the need to ensure that policies enacted by elected representatives and relevant international organizations contribute to an improved quality of life for every human person, each made in the image and likeness of God, and to the sustainability of ecosystems on which every living creature depends.
We believe that the challenges to be addressed at this conference present a huge opportunity to build a new human society, rooted in our loving reverence for and responsible stewardship of all Creation.
The statement then addresses key issues relating to the conference: human rights, climate change, transgenics, right to food, empowerment of communities and women, biofuels, transport, sustainable agriculture and rural development, education, policies: coherence and implementation, civil society participation.
We advise caution against ‘short-term' solutions. A clear focus, respecting the integrity of creation, must be kept on eliminating poverty and unjust social structures, the root causes of hunger, through a multiple options approach.
On future strategies for climate change the statement says:
We cannot accept proposals involving the eventual removal of at least one billion small farmers in developing countries to towns, leaving future food production predominantly in the hands of large agro-industrial enterprises."
Signatories declare their strong support for the key role of small farmers and their need to be free the exchange seeds and innovations amongst each other. Signatories also advocate policies based on the right to food, food sovereignty, while warning of the need for a highly precautionary approach to transgenics-based biotechnology as well as to the further development of biofuels.
The
Vatican and Voluntary Simplicity
By Bob Downing [Akron, OH, Beacon
Journal]
There is no doubt that global warming is a real threat to the planet Earth and its inhabitants, said the Vatican's ambassador to the United Nations.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore speaking Wednesday evening, April 30, at St. Hilary Catholic Church [Fairlawn, OH] called on those in attendance to simplify their lives by adopting a life of ''voluntary simplicity'' to reduce the impact of each human on the environment.
For full story, visit: http://www.ohio.com/news/18440769.html.
[Media Statement by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI, President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference.]
"A run-off election in Zimbabwe will not be possible
without an immediate end to intimidation, violence and torture and the
deployment of reliable
international election observers."
Out of concern for the people of Zimbabwe, the Bishops of the Catholic
Church in Southern Africa appeals for international and regional pressure
to end the systematic intimidation, violence and torture in Zimbabwe.
The current environment is not conducive to free and fair run-off elections.
Cardinal Wilfred Napier, Archbishop of Durban, and I visited Zimbabwe recently and were told first-hand accounts of systematic intimidation, violence and torture. The victims identified the perpetrators as agents of the Zimbabwe Armed Forces, the Police, the Central Intelligence Organization (C.I.O), War Veterans, Youth Militia and plain thugs.
These human rights abuses are visited not only on those who are thought to have voted for the opposition, but also on those who assisted the Election Process, such as Polling Officers. This 'reign of terror' has seen many deaths, savage beatings and flight from family, homes and communities. Human dignity is intrinsic to every human being, regardless of political affiliation and must be respected. I call on all political parties to reign in their supporters and end this horror.
I question whether a 'free and fair' run-off election is possible unless there is a will to stop this violence. International Election Observers should be deployed immediately to assess both the remote and immediate preparation for the run-off election.
I call on all Zimbabweans to remember the hope with which they entered the March elections so well expressed in the call by civil society in the document 'The Zimbabwe we want' and to do all in their power to restore Zimbabwe to its rightful place in the family of Nations.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI,
Archbishop of Johannesburg.
President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference
(SACBC)
[Intervention by H.E. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, Human Rights Council, Special Session on the Right to Food. Geneva, 22 May 2008.]
Mr. President,
1. – The Delegation of the Holy See fully supports the priority
attention accorded to the current food crisis by means of this special
session of the Human Rights Council. The primary tasks before the global
community are to develop a coherent response within the context of the
multiple initiatives underway and to "mainstream" this crisis
within the framework of human rights. We are faced with the overwhelming
challenge to adequately feed the world's population at a time when
there has been a surge in global food prices that threatens the stability
of many developing countries. This calls for urgent concerted international
action. This crisis shines a "red light" of alarm on the
negative consequences affecting the long-neglected agriculture sector
when more than half of the world's population struggle to make
their livelihood through such work. It calls attention to the dysfunction
of the global trade system when four million people annually join the
ranks of the 854 million plagued by chronic hunger. Hopefully, this session
will open the eyes of public opinion on the worldwide cost of hunger,
which so often results in lack of health and education, conflicts, uncontrolled
migrations, degradation of the environment, epidemics, and even terrorism.
2. – The international community long has recognized a right to food in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 (art. 25) and in the International Covenant on economic, social and cultural rights of 1966 (art. 25), just to mention some juridical instruments that proclaim the fundamental right to freedom from hunger and malnutrition. Conferences and Declarations of intergovernmental agencies rightfully have concluded that hunger is not due to lack of food but rather is caused by the lack of access, both physical and financial, to agricultural resources. The first Millennium Development Goal aims to reduce by one-half the number of the people living in extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. Society must confront the hard fact that stated goals very often are not matched by consistent policies. As a result, many millions of men, women and children face hunger everyday. Higher prices may cause some inconvenience to families in developed countries since they find it necessary to spend 20% of their income on food. However, such prices are life threatening for the one billion people living in poor countries since they are forced to spend nearly all their daily income of $1 per day in search of food. The grave task before us is to design and implement effective policies, strategies, and actions that will result in food sufficiency for all.
3. – The
problem of adequate food production is more than a temporary emergency.
It is structural in nature and should be addressed in the
context of economic growth that is just and sustainable. It requires
measures dealing not only with agriculture and rural development but
also with health, education, good governance, the rule of law, and respect
for human rights. The impact of international trade on the right to food
and the liberalization of trade in agricultural products tend to favour
multinational enterprises and, therefore to harm production by the small
local farms, which represent the base of the food security in developing
countries. A renewed commitment to agriculture, especially in Africa,
appears necessary. To this end, investments in agriculture and rural
development are important. Moreover, the duty of solidarity toward the
most vulnerable members of society must be recognized. When seen through
this ethical perspective, hoarding and price speculation are unacceptable
and individual property rights, including those of women, must be recognised.
The priority in food production should be to benefit people. Unfair subsidies
in agriculture need to be eliminated. To remedy the limitations faced
by small farms, cooperative structures can be organised. The utilization
of land for food production and for the production for other resources
eventually has to be balanced, not by the market, but by mechanisms that
respond to the common good.
Mr. President,
4. – In this complex and urgent debate on the right to food, a new mentality is required. It should place the human person at the centre and not focus simply on economic profit. Due to lack of food, too many poor die each day, while immense resources are allocated for arms. The international community must be galvanized into action. The right to food regards the future of the human family as well as peace in the global community.
Development and Peace Delivers 190,000 Postcards to Canadian Government
[Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.]
Montreal, May 13, 2008
Development and Peace delivered 190,000 postcards to Ottawa today, calling on the Government to appoint an ombudsperson to verify social responsibility by Canadian mining, oil and gas companies in their overseas operations.
Several Canadian MPs, including Viviane Barbot (BQ), Steven Blaney (CP), Diane Bourgeois (BQ), Bernard Patry (L) and Alexa McDonough (NDP), spoke in support of the campaign.
Michael Casey, Executive Director of Development and Peace, stated that "work by the Canadian government and NGOs is often being undone by the irresponsible operations of some Canadian mining, oil and gas companies" and urged the government to heed the appeal of nearly two hundred thousand Canadians.
Also present at the event was Development and Peace's Just Youth group, who staged a street performance on the human rights and environmental violations of Canadian mining companies.
The Canadian government has not yet responded to the report of the Advisory Group of the National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The report, which contained 27 recommendations to improve Canadian companies' CSR performance, was submitted to the government nearly 400 days ago.
Across Canada, members of Development and Peace met this year with 41 federal MPs, to present to them the ombudsperson campaign and inform them regarding the number of signatures gathered in each riding.
Connection
Between Racism and Poverty
Alexandria, VA— Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) hosted worldwide conversations on the connection between poverty and racism in May to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and Racial Sobriety Month.
" Everyday, Catholic Charities agencies see the faces of the poor across America and we know firsthand how race and poverty are interconnected," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, the National Member Service Center for more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies across the country. "Throughout our history, whenever there have been issues that challenge our society and have great impact on the poor and marginalized, Catholic Charities has made bold statements about the moral imperatives that guide us and shape our society. We want to share our experience with the world of how all of us can address injustice by lending our voice to the conversation."
Grounded in CCUSA's paper, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good, the global Webcast looked at the history of racial injustice in America and the importance of making a renewed commitment to racial equality.
While whites make up the majority of the poor in the United States, poverty rates are highest among minorities. U.S. Census figures show that in 2006, the overall national poverty rate was 12.3 percent, with the rate for African-Americans at 24.3 percent, nearly three times higher than the 8.2 percent poverty rate for whites. The poverty rate for Hispanics is 21.8 percent and 23.2 percent for Native Americans.
"We all share in the responsibility of making Dr. King's dream come true," said Carolyn Tisdale, director of Catholic Charities of Memphis, who was at one of more than 130 sites in the United States that participated in the original broadcast on April 2. "I am struck by the fact that it has taken us 40 years to begin to have this discussion again. It is important that each of us assumes that personal responsibility and we participate in making a change."
For further information, please contact: Father Clarence Williams, Sr. Director, Racial Equality & Diversity Initiatives at 703-236-6251 or email: cwilliams@catholiccharitiesusa.org or Candy Hill, Sr. VP Social Policy & Government Affairs at 703-236-6241 or chill@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
CLINIC Invites You to Join IAN
The Immigration Advocates Network ("IAN") is a free exciting and innovative resource for non-profit advocates, organizers and service providers. IAN is a collaboration of leading immigrants' rights organizations designed to increase access to justice for low income immigrants. IAN will promote more effective and efficient communication among existing immigration organizations by providing easily accessible and comprehensive online resources in a password-protected website for legal service providers, pro bono attorneys and advocates. By establishing a website for non-profit organizations with timely information and links to other sites, we will enhance our collective advocacy efforts, share information, and support the work and visibility of our members.
Ian Partners
ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project
ABA Commission on Immigration
American Immigration Lawyers Association
American Immigration Law Foundation
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
National Immigration Law Center
National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
Pro Bono Net
The Advocates for Human Rights
Supporters
The Carnegie Corporation of New York
JEHT Foundation
Morrison & Foerster
What IAN Does
IAN's services to non-profit, pro bono and public interest advocates include:
- A library of substantive resources, including
manuals, podcasts,
online videos and web-based trainings - A national calendar of immigration trainings and events
- Immigration news and practice alerts
- Listservs and announcement lists on immigration topics
IAN's first phase will include information on family-based immigration,
immigration and crimes, naturalization, raids, driver's licenses,
and immigration program management.
To join IAN, go to www.immigrationadvocates.org and click "register." Membership
is free. If you have any questions, please contact IAN at info@immigrationadvocates.org.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
How
can the Justice and Peace Office help you get involved?
T. Michael McNulty, SJ, editor
mmcnulty@cmsm.org
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8808 Cameron St., Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: 301-588-4030
• Fax: 301-587-4575 • www.cmsm.org
