 |
 |
 |
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.
On the 6th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and on the second day of General Petraeus' Congressional testimony on the U.S.'s Iraq war policy, Catholic members of Congress joined with Catholics for an End to the War in Iraq, Pax Christi USA, NETWORK, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, the Jesuit Conference, the Social Concerns Department for the Archdiocese of Washington, CMSM, LCWR, and others in offering a mass for peace and an end to war. Held at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Washington DC, the church was filled with over 150 worshipers, including members of Congress and their staff. In his prayerful and clearly stated sermon, Monsignor Ray East, director of the Archdiocese of Washington's Office of Black Catholics, reminded those in attendance that the U.S.'s response to 9/11 was not grounded in a Christian ethic.
Furthermore, he stated that the sacrifice of Jesus was made so nations would avert war. Underscoring this point was the coincidence that at the exact moment of the Eucharist celebration, St. Peter's church bells tolled commemorating the impact of the first plane at the World Trade Center. In a powerful sign of the prayerfulness of the mass, Monsignor East ended the service by inviting those present to lay hands on the members of Congress and their staff and offered a blessing that they might have the strength and wisdom in pursuing Christ's peace on earth.
[Report by James Salt, Catholics United]
The sixth installment of "Iraq: Catholic Resources for discernment" is now available on the Jesuit Conference web site.
by Robert Gronski, policy coordinator
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Q: How are low-income families able to put food on the
table for their children?
A: Nutrition programs in the U.S. farm bill.
Q: How are family farms able to keep farming when crop
prices are below the cost of production?
A: Farm support programs in the U.S. farm bill.
Q: How can we help protect farmland from environmental
harm?
A: Conservation programs in the U.S. farm bill.
Q: What can the people of God do to feed the hungry,
assure fair treatment of producers, and protect God's creation for present
and future
generations?
A: Improve the U.S. farm bill.
The Church has a stake in the farm bill, now under revision by Congress. In setting farm and food policies for our nation, the farm bill has a crucial impact on how food is grown, what foods are grown, who grows the food and who is able to eat good, nutritious food.
The Gospel calls all of us to feed the hungry, help the vulnerable among us, and care for God's creation. Many people do so through charitable work in their communities and towns. But it is possible to greatly expand our charitable work by shaping public policy and letting Congress know how we feel about the farm bill.
The time to act is now. The House completed their work on the farm bill in late July; the Senate takes up the farm bill in September. Faith and social justice groups are raising their voices and calling for policies and programs that can truly revitalize and sustain family farms. This is good for rural America and good for all who eat.
But aren't family farms virtually gone? It is true that
many who want to farm cannot continue to do so or, if young adults, unable
to
get started. Farmland is expensive and land rental rates keep increasing,
not to mention high costs for machinery, fuel, fertilizer, seeds and
other inputs. New policies can be set in place that will replenish the
countryside with a multitude of sustainable farmers and ranchers. This
can happen in tandem with financial incentives to conserve our natural
resources and new programs to revitalize a healthy food system for all.
Farm Bill Policy Priorities
A top priority is a strong Nutrition program that reauthorizes and improves
the Food Stamp Program, the nation's first defense against hunger,
and bolsters the efforts of the emergency food assistance system. Ask
Congress to maintain full funds for Nutrition, but without pulling funds
from crucial farm programs.
Make farm payments fair
Income support payments provide a safety net for farmers who grow crops
subject to persistent low prices. However, these payments encourage overproduction
and do not fix the low price problem. The House bill continues a failed
policy where most payments go to the largest operations. A major first
step is to limit the amount any farm operation can receive so that more
dollars are available to other agricultural and rural development programs.
Ask Congress to support payment limitation and better target support
for family farms.
Reward good land and water conservation
The farm bill does not receive the funding needed to adequately conserve
land and water on all eligible farms and ranches. The House bill did
increase funding for some programs, but improvements and targeting are
still needed. The Senate should enact conservation provisions that better
support family farms while promoting land stewardship. Ask Congress to
accelerate the conservation of working lands, God's creation, and
substantially increase conservation funding, but limit the amount any
farm or ranch operation can receive.
Ensure fair and competitive agricultural markets
There are few remaining open and competitive markets where farmers and
ranchers can sell their crops and livestock. Markets are increasingly
controlled by large multinational corporations. For many farmers attempting
to sell their crops and livestock, they must enter into contracts with
these corporations. The House bill does not provide sufficient protection
against unfair market practices. As a first step, the Senate bill should
include a fair competition livestock provision that ensures contracts
are fair and markets are open to independent producers.
Restore regional farm markets and local food supplies
The farm bill can help expand the opportunities for farmers and ranchers
to sell their products locally and provide fresher and more nutritious
foods. In addition, policies increasing public awareness about healthy
foods will help build local and regional food systems.
Visit www.ncrlc.com/FarmBillCampaign.html to learn more about these agriculture and food policies and how to talk to Congressional representatives about a fair and just farm bill.
Also see the recent statements and alerts by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/agric.shtml
Here are additional links to learn more about the 2007 Farm Bill:
Farm Bill: House Committee on Agriculture
http://agriculture.house.gov
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html
Senate Committee on Agriculture
http://agriculture.senate.gov
United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov (click on "Farm Bill" shown under "Spotlights")
HELP ORGANIZE A SMALL GROUP; KEEPING THE FAITH IN RURAL
AMERICA
With your help, NCRLC will celebrate its 84th anniversary in many places,
addressing many issues, and in a truly national manner. We ask you to,
sometime during the two-week period of October 27- November 11,
2007, bring together 5 personal friends around
your kitchen table or 50 people (or more) in your parish hall to discuss
group-selected issues
of local and common concern, reflect on their faith, and decide what
they will do to begin to address the issues. This will be a wonderful
way to begin your Thanksgiving celebration early by talking about our
food, where it comes from and who provides it. We'll provide you
with tools to do just that.
We1re calling this gathering of gatherings, Keeping the Faith in Rural America, A local and national conversation. The issues below, that might be considered, are not geographically "rural." They affect all Americans directly and/or indirectly. So, if you're located in New York City or another urban center, we hope you will participate. Your small group participation is valued as highly as that from Oshkosh, Nebraska.
We're interested in many issues, but participants will be encouraged to select the issue of greatest importance and common interest in the group. Your group might focus on HUMAN HEALTH, such as the build up of pesticides (agricultural/home) in human bodies or impacts of confined animal feeding operations (air quality, water quality, antibiotic resistance). The focus might be SUSTAINABILITY, such as water distribution and use (irrigation, drinking water, groundwater use in mining, bottling groundwater for sale), or sustainability of agriculture (local foods, organic foods, GMOs, lack of processing facilities). Some groups may want to focus on issues of GLOBALIZATION, such as the global food system (hunger, trade, food aid, food security, corporate control). Others on SOCIAL JUSTICE, such as agricultural workers (safety, wages, health, immigration, documentation). Another big area is the ENVIRONMENT, such as global warming (energy sources, lifestyle, solidarity, adaptation, mitigation) or increasing water pollution (agriculture, commercial, municipal). And of course COMMUNITY, such as rural community development (capital, assets, leadership, participation).
Most importantly, we hope this initial gathering will lead to another gathering, study, reflection, prayer, personal or collective action. Feedback NCRLC receives from each group will become part of the national conversation on the issues through NCRLC's outreach to religious and civic leaders and their constituents at all levels.
We hope you will invite your friends and networks to organize similar small gatherings in their neighborhoods, communities, or parishes.
For tools to help you organize this small-group gathering, visit www.ncrlc.com and look for Keep the Faith in Rural America. The tools will be available online soon. We need your help and you can make a difference.
Join this national gathering of local conversations October 27- November 11, 2007 and help keep the Faith in Rural America.
USCCB
Migration Chairman Expresses Concern about Direction and Tone of National
Immigration Debate
In a statement released September 27, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, CA, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, expressed concern about the direction and tone of the national debate on immigration. Legislation to comprehensively reform the U.S. immigration system failed in the U.S. Senate June 28. The text of Bishop Barnes's statement follows.]
September 27, 2007
The failure of the United States Senate to pass comprehensive immigration
reform legislation has set back, not ended, attempts to comprehensively
repair an immigration system that is seriously flawed. It is disturbing
our nation has yet to find the will to humanely address this challenging
issue confronting our nation.
The immigration reform debate, while provoking informed analysis and
thoughtful discussion, also has generated harsh rhetoric against migrants
in this country, particularly those without legal status. Fanned by talk
radio and by anti-immigrant organizations, this rhetoric has inflamed
fears and misunderstanding among some portions of the American public,
leading to a polarized and vitriolic atmosphere.
While at the moment the voices of division and fear are loud, with more
education the truth about immigration and migrants in this country ultimately
will prevail. Migrant workers, including the undocumented, provide great
contributions to our nation's economy by working in vital industries,
such as agriculture, construction, and service. Yet, our country has
refused to acknowledge these contributions and has instead relegated
them to a permanent underclass of workers, without full rights in our
society. This is unworthy of a great democracy.
Moreover, the full consequences of federal inaction on immigration reform
are becoming more apparent, as migrant workers across the nation have
become increasingly subject to enforcement raids and other actions that
separate families and lead to exploitation and abuse. We are gravely
concerned with enforcement actions that divide families and target schools,
churches, hospitals, and social service centers, where migrants receive
assistance for basic human needs.
Legislation and administrative enforcement initiatives
at the federal level also are cause for concern, particularly a recently
announced package
of enforcement measures by the Administration. Central to this package
is the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) plan to use Social
Security Administration (SSA) "no-match" letters, which notify
employers when an employee's social security number does not match
the SSA database. DHS and SSA should not use wage and tax data to enforce
immigration law. We are fearful that, because of the inadequacy of SSA
and DHS databases, the use of the SSA 'no-match' letters
could lead to the termination of bona fide workers. We are concerned
that the issuance of the letters could be used by unscrupulous employers
to discriminate against certain workers.
Congressional inaction also has emboldened state and local governments
to fill the federal void, addressing the issue locally through state
legislation and local ordinances. These actions are creating a patchwork
of immigration policies across the nation. To compound matters, local
jurisdictions have been pitted against each other, with some cities or
counties passing anti-immigrant measures. State and local laws that seek
to force migrants to leave the country by denying them the means to subsist
not only violate human dignity, but undermine the common good.
We reaffirm our view that enforcement-only measures at any jurisdictional
level will further drive undocumented migrant workers into a hidden underclass
and create more fear and suspicion in immigrant communities. Such measures
will not repair a system that is inadequate to meet the labor needs of
our economy.
The U.S. bishops acknowledge the right of our country to secure our borders
and enforce immigration law. Such enforcement, however, must respect
human rights and dignity and minimize the separation of families.
As the U.S. bishops have consistently stated, comprehensive immigration
reform, which reforms all aspects of our immigration system, is the best
way to secure our country and humanely and effectively address the problem
of unauthorized migration to our country. We urge Congress to immediately
return to consideration of comprehensive immigration reform. We call
upon Catholics and all Americans to work together constructively to ensure
a positive outcome to this vital national debate.
Excerpts from the statement of Bishop Barnes on Human Trafficking (September 12, 2007)
The movement of people across boundaries is part of a collective human experience. There is an element of this experience that must be eradicated: the trafficking of human beings through the use of fraud, force, and coercion for the purpose of forced prostitution or forced labor.
Now, in the twenty-first century, this practice reaches
every corner of the globe, from Asia and
Africa to Europe and the Americas. It is also present in the United States,
as vulnerable men,
women, and children are trafficked into our country from other lands.
Moreover, U.S. citizens
and residents are trafficked within our country….
The Catholic Church has condemned human trafficking and
has developed social service
programs to serve and protect its survivors….
The U.S. Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration reaffirmed
the commitment of the U.S.
Catholic Bishops to end this abominable practice: "The Catholic
Church…in the United States
stands ready to work with our government to end this scourge. We cannot
rest until trafficking
in human persons is eliminated from the globe."….
As many as 700,000 persons are trafficked globally each
year---men, women, and children.
Survivors of human trafficking are commonly linked by poverty and lack
of opportunity. They
are also connected by their desperation and their perception of migration
as an accessible escape
route. Often they seek to escape life in an oppressive slum, with the
hope of finding opportunity
and a brighter future elsewhere….
Trafficking in persons is a modern-day form of slavery,
and it is the largest manifestation of
slavery today….
The global community, including the United States, is
only beginning to comprehend the scope
and impact of the selling of human persons in the world. As a result,
humane responses to this
phenomenon have been slow, and education of the public lacking. New efforts
involving the
entire international community are necessary to eliminate the root causes
of it, to offer proper
care and attention to its survivors, and to bring its perpetrators to
justice….
Much more must be done and Catholics in our own country
can help, particularly by educating
fellow Catholics and others about the realities of this crime. Parishes
can serve as a meeting
place to discuss this issue and as a center for action to help identify
survivors and provide them
support.
We call upon all Catholics to seek ways to assist dioceses
and local governments in helping
survivors. Catholics also can help educate fellow Catholics and others
about the human
consequences of this crime.
It is hard to imagine that, in the 21st century, fellow human beings could be exploited and forced to work in the sex industry and other industries against their will.
As Catholic bishops, we pledge to use the resources of
the church to help end this affliction. We
also pledge to use our teaching authority to educate Catholics
and others about human
trafficking.
Human trafficking is a horrific crime against the basic
dignity and rights of the human person
and all efforts must be expended to end it. In the end, we
must work together—church, state, and
community—to eliminate the root causes and markets that permit
traffickers to flourish; to make
whole the survivors of this crime; and to ensure that one day
soon trafficking in human persons
vanishes from the face of the earth.
[Read the full statement on the USCCB web site.]
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
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
||||||||
8808 Cameron St., Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: 301-588-4030
• Fax: 301-587-4575 • www.cmsm.org
