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November 2009 Global Security Priorities Resolution H. Res. 278, introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) on behalf of himself and Rep. Dan Lundgren (R-CA). It is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (1) the President should continue both negotiations with other countries and unilateral initiatives to achieve further reductions in nuclear arms to minimum levels; (2) the President should agree to the verifiable reduction of deployed nuclear weapons of both the United States and the Russian Federation to equal levels of 1,000, and a total nuclear inventory of not more than 3,000, by the year 2015; (3) the Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Program should be enhanced and extended to third countries who request it as a truly cooperative, equally funded program between the United States and the Russian Federation to assist in the reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons throughout the world and to establish an environment of assurance that nuclear explosive material will not and cannot be diverted into the hands of terrorists; and (4) the funds saved through nuclear arms reductions should be used for cooperative threat reduction and to alleviate those problems in the world affecting children and families that can contribute to the support for international terrorism, including— (A) as a first priority, allocating funds annually to extend the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (Nunn-Lugar) at a rate of at least an additional $1,000,000,000 per year, and increased as warranted, to dismantle remaining weapons, establish verifiable safeguards, and improve accounting and physical security; (B) increasing United States contributions to such programs as the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and the Global Threat Reduction Initiative by an additional $2,500,000,000 annually over a period of 5 years, if and when it can be demonstrated that these programs can usefully absorb these funds; (C) in addition to funds already available for such purposes, providing an additional $5,000,000,000 over a period of 5 years to enhance child survival in the world's most needy countries, by scaling up implementation of integrated packages of high-impact and low-cost health and nutrition interventions at the community level; and (D) in addition to funds already available for such purposes, providing an additional $1,500,000,000 annually over a period of 5 years for programs under title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480 (Food for Peace)) and the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, specifically for programs targeted at reducing the incidence of child hunger and increasing child nutrition and educational opportunities. The entire resolution can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.278:Bice (The International Catholic Child Bureau) World Appeal The adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child twenty years ago has led to considerable progress. Yet worrying setbacks and serious violations of children's rights still happen across the globe. Thus, Bice, the International Catholic Child Bureau, an international NGO recognized by the Holy See, launched a World Appeal for a new mobilization on That Appeal leads us to urge the U.S. Senate to ratify the CRC. The U.S. and Somalia remain the only two UN Member States who have not ratified the treaty. As such, we must engage in education and advocacy on the Rights of the Child. I recommend the US Campaign for US Ratification of the CRC website for more information. See childrightscampaign.org/crcindex.php. Advocacy involves social action: "To humanize and transform the social order entails social action ... the necessity of pursuing social justice for all (and particularly for those unable to do so for themselves unaided) which, in turn, involves effecting changes in the existing social systems. One integral component of social action is that of advocacy, the courageous calling of attention to the root causes of poverty and oppression" (Catholic Charities USA Advocacy Manual). As part of a developing educational and catechetical response to the World Appeal, indeed in response to our own recent General Chapters and International Mission Assembly, the Lasallian community of educational ministries in our USA/Ontario Region is planning to hold a Lasallian Convocation at the UN in April 2010 focused on the Rights of the Child. I close with this prayer adapted from Minister of Grace by Brother Jean Pungier, FSC: "If we destroy what oppresses others and if we raise up our down-trodden friend, the darkness of our struggle will be as bright as the noonday sun. Then our feet will learn how to dance, and our dance will discover the world of tomorrow. Our dance will discover God’s world." Report on the Second Special Assembly of Bishops for Africa (October 4 – 25, 2009) At its conclusion and down through the years, it was felt that the issue of reconciliation, justice and peace had not been adequately addressed. Thus, in 2004 the Special Council for Africa, which was constituted after that synod and met each year to review the developments of the Synod, raised the need for a Second Synod. Pope John Paul II heard their request and called for a Second Africa synod to address this theme directly. Pope Benedict, upon his election, confirmed the request once more and the process towards the Synod was begun. In 2005 the Special Council for Africa drew up the Lineamenta (proposed line of work) and after revision and review, in 2006 it was sent to all Africa with questions to respond to and requests for feedback. From the studies and discussions that were generated the Special Council put together the Instrumentum Laboris, or agenda of the Synod and Pope Benedict personally brought this text to Africa in March of 2009 during his visit to Cameroon and Angola. The immediate preparation was in place. The actual synod gathered on October 4, 2009, at St. Peter’s Basilica where 14 African cardinals, 187 archbishops and bishops delegated by the various African episcopal conferences joined 8 representatives of the Union of Superiors General, the 25 heads of Vatican departments, 36 special papal appointed delegates (Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta being one of them), 29 collaborators and experts, 49 auditors, many other assistants for the Synod’s work and a basilica filled with joyful faithful in prayer around the tomb of Peter to inaugurate this three week gathering presided by Pope Benedict XVI. From the beginning the Synod was seen as a process, not just an event. This process would continue after the gathering in Rome. And many saw the Synod as an ecclesial event that concerns the whole Church, giving due attention to Africa as its focus, but enjoying a solidarity that extends to the whole Church. This ecclesial event was experienced the first week as each of the delegates had the opportunity to respond to an issue from the Instrumentum Laboris that was drawn from their local reality. Over 250 interventions of 5 minutes each were shared in the hall. Topics ranged from the challenge to family, to resource exploitation, trade imbalances, debt, climate change, role of women in Africa, conflicts, poor governance, migration, corruption, globalization, HIV/Aids and other health challenges, insufficient media coverage of the real Africa with all its lights and shadows to mention a few. These interventions were complimented by interventions by Rudolph Adada of the UN Special Peace Keeping forces of Darfur and Jacques Diouf of the World Food Program. Also, the five delegates from our Sister Churches of other Communions offered input. These sharings were distilled in two ways: 1. at the end of each day when a general session was held, the last hour and sometimes more were dedicated to an open forum of sorts where any bishop could speak to a topic the needed further comment; 2. through the work of a number of working groups that first met for a half a day that first week as a way of getting to know one another, but by the second week intensified their work with day long work and produced drafts of propositions, numbering 282 in the rough, that would be core of the synod’s reflections and advice which would be given to the Pope for his consideration in any post synod exhortation. At the same time, a commission, formed at the beginning of the Synod, was formulating a special Synod message which would be the public statement of the Synod itself to the Church at the conclusion of the Synod. By the beginning of the third week, the propositions were further distilled to 54 and the message was prepared for final discussion. The final message was presented on Friday afternoon October 23, and is a 43 paragraph message. It is not a summary of all that was spoken in the hall, not an outline of what any Post Synod message may be. It is a simple message, formed by bishops from throughout all of Africa and beyond. The commission that wrote it did consider all the contributions given, but wrote it to be a very straight forward communication that could be easily shared from the pulpit throughout Africa, easily translatable and brought to the people. It is made up of eight segments. The first offers a brief summary of the lights and shadows shared in the Hall, but stressing that not all was dark and gloom. The second section offers, through the practical pastoral experience of the Church since the first synod the theological and spiritual basis for our service to reconciliation, justice and peace. The third section puts the work of the Synod in the context of the whole Church. This Synod was not a meeting of SECAM in Rome, but a meeting of all bishops, Curia, experts, giving the opportunity to discover the worldwide relationship that we have as Church. The fourth section looks at the Church in Africa itself, reviewing all the various categories: Bishops, priests, religious, catechists, laity, youth and even children. Mention was made of how many children were caught up in conflicts and forced to be child soldiers. Each category was called to take up their responsibility to be an agent of reconciliation, justice and peace. The fifth section was an appeal to the World Community. The synod is ever conscious of the global interdependence and our common welfare. The sixth section looks at Africa itself, addressing the synod’s concern for government, civic and development leaders, many of whom have not served the best interests of their people. They spoke with clarity, charity, sincerity and truth. The last section picked up a theme that Pope Benedict mentioned on the first day. Africa is a great spiritual lung. Religion is not a source of division, but a great source of effective joint action for reconciliation, justice and peace. Collaboration with other Churches, Traditional Religions and Islam were encouraged. However, the Synod rejects any country that denies religious freedom. The message closes with a prayer, acknowledging Mary as our Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Africa, but using the words of St. Paul 2 Corinthians 13:11. On Saturday, October 24th, the 57 propositions were made public. These propositions represent the core of the work of the Synod which will be passed on to the Holy Father, the Secretariat for the Synod as well as the newly elected Council for Africa, the review board of sorts which monitors the post synod development of the themes. These propositions task individual bishops and episcopal conference with follow up. These also may become the core of any post Synod exhortation on the part of the Holy Father. The Synod closed with a festive Mass on October 25th, but the process continues and hopefully the experience of solidarity lived here at the Synod will spread to all the places the participants call home. Already during the last week, support teams of SECAM, AMECEA and some of the other regional groups were preparing action plans for post synod follow up. But during these days in Rome it was not just the bishops and their assistants who were attentive to this theme. A large number of concerned groups held forums and dinners and public events to highlight the Synod and its theme. There was a group that gathered each evening at 6:30 in one of the nearby churches of Rome to pray for the success of this Synod. Immediately prior to the Synod there were a number of forums, one in particular organized by 8 lay movements coordinated by Pax Romana MIIC and IYCS with the themes of justice, building a sustainable peace and a reconciled Africa. The Focolari hosted another pre Synod conference. Then during the synod itself the Community of San Egidio hosted some 14,000 African youth, migrants who are without permits from all Italy to show to the powers that be in the Italian Government the need for just treatment to these newly arrived refugees from Africa. Over 40,000 young people have perished attempting to either cross the Libyan desert or the Mediterranean Sea. There is a growing outrage among ordinary people in Italy over this migration issue. The Community of Pope John XXIII which is committed to non violent conflict resolution and personal presence in areas of conflict as an exercise of accompaniment hosted a number of evening dinner gatherings where Synod Fathers would come and tell their stories of mediation and peace making, meet one another and others involved in Justice and Peace work. The Conference of International Missionary Institutes (CIMI) held four evening lectures, again inviting Synod Fathers and other experts who spoke to issues related to the Synod such as restorative justice, African theologies, dialogue with Islam and strengthening justice and peace networks. CIMI pushed to publicize these events and more, since there was the feeling that the public press, both the general public news outlets as well as Church outlets, were not adequately covering this Synod. The Vatican Radio sponsored three meetings where the importance and the role of media were proposed in service to the ministry of reconciliation, justice and peace. Roman universities also took advantage of the Synod to host special lectures and gatherings that would expose issues and studies related to the theme. SEDOS and the Union of Superiors General held conferences on themes such as the Prophetic Role of Religious in Africa today, The Role of Women in Africa today and more..... It was a busy time for many. And the Vatican Press office kept all informed through daily briefings and bulletins that contained summaries of the interventions and other work of the Synod. The Second Synod on Africa does not end in Rome. The process of working towards reconciliation, justice and peace continues in the service, lives and passion of all who shared these days of solidarity in Rome. But the work is ours as well. I suggest that the many religious communities that work in Africa form a 3 person committee to review these propositions and distill the implications that they may have for presence and ministry in the Church in Africa today. Some propositions may confirm our work, as those concerning education and advocacy do. Others may move us, together with the Church in Africa, to new areas of concern and apostolate lead by the Spirit. The Synod is now in our hands. The process continues. Be salt. Let your light shine.20th Anniversary of El Salvador Jesuit Murders November 16, 2009, marks the 20th anniversary of the murders of the Jesuits and two lay women at the University of Central America (UCA). On October 21, 2009, The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution (H. Res. 761, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern [D-MA], with 34 co-sponsors) honoring the murdered Jesuits and lay women and the work of the UCA. The resolution of the bill states: Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- To read the complete resolution, please go to: NCADP (National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty) Annual Conference
Keynote Speaker Conference Registration: $175 ($225 after November 23, 2009), includes Award Dinner. NCADP's hotel rate is $114/night (excluding taxes and fees). Reservations must be made by December 4 to receive the NCADP rate. Torture Is a Moral Issue - Advent Resource NRCAT (National Religious Campaign against Torture) announces the availability of a new resource for Christian clergy to use during Advent 2009.
JustSouth, the newsletter of the Jesuit Social Research Institute of Loyola University-New Orleans, has devoted its Fall 2009 issue to a discussion of race and white privilege. The lead article is entitled, "Got Privilege? The Ironies of White Privilege and the Gospel Call to Conversion." The issue includes a select bibliography of papal, conciliar, Vatican, and U.S. episcopal statements and pastoral letters.
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behalf of children, at an international symposium in June in Geneva. The Appeal is open to all signatures until 31 December 2009. More information is found at 
It has been some 15 years since the First Special Assembly of Bishops for Africa. That first synod had as its theme, "The Church in Africa and her evangelizing mission towards the year 2000: You shall be my witnesses."
