FROM THE OFFICE: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO
A petition is circulating calling on New York officials to take action to stop a mosque from being built on Ground Zero. The proposed 13-story mosque would sit two blocks away from Ground Zero. The petition mentions the mosque, which is a Muslim temple or house of worship, as too close to the site "where thousands of Americans fell to an Islamic jihadist attack."
Read More... | INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSITE:
GUIDE TO CREATING AND SUSTAINING YOUR MINISTRY
The Office of Life, Justice and Peace has created a guide--Guidebook for Creating and Sustaining a Vibrant Social Justice Ministry--to help Social Justice / Respect Life committees through the process of creating and sustaining a vibrant social justice ministry in your parish.
This is not meant to be definitive; these are suggestions from successful parish ministries.
Read More... | | NEWS AND ISSUES
GEOGRAPHICAL QUIZ: CAN YOU NAME THE FIVE COUNTRIES ENDING IN "ISTAN?"
A Focus on the Following Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
-Solidarity
Answer: Afghanistan, Tajikistan... Read more... | NEWS AND ISSUES
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 2010 NATIONAL GRANTS
A Focus on the Following Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
-Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has awarded two Oregon programs with its 2010 national grants: Adelante Mujeres for its Forest Grove Farmers' Market and VOZ for its Portland workers' rights project.
Read more... | NEWS AND ISSUESCATHOLIC U.S. Bishops' 2010 Labor Day Statement
A Focus on the Following Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
-Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
Bishop Murphy calls for a "New Social Contract for 'New Things" in today's economy in Labor Day Statement. Labor Day Statement.EN DECLARACIÓN DE DÍA DEL TRABAJO, OBISPO MURPHY LLAMA A NUEVO "CONTRATO SOCIAL" PARA NUEVOS RETOS EN LA ECONOMÍA ACTUAL | | SCRIPTURE READING: SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
Luke 16:19-31
I used to view social justice as working to change companies, corporations, cultures, societies, systems and laws that perpetuate injustice. These injustices manifested themselves as explicit actions, discriminatory practices or unintended, but still unjust, consequences.
Archbishop John Vlazny espoused a simpler and more mature view, however, of social justice as creating right relationships.
Read more... | | RECOMMENDED EVENTS AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Wednesday September 1: OPAL's Rally for the Bus. 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Portland City Hall. Click here for flyer OPAL is a local-CCHD sponsored organization Why You Want to Attend: Environmental Justice is defined as the search for a just solution to the disproportionate burdens of environmental degradation borne by the poor and people of color. U.S. Catholic Bishops, Environmental Justice Public Policy Framework For example, this would include cuts in mass transportation where the poor and low-income, which rely on mass transportation, will bear the brunt of the cuts. TriMet's mission is to provide affordable and reliable bus service for working people, yet fares have risen 70% and on September 1st, TriMet is cutting 70,000 hours of service.
FOOD JUSTICE
Friday September 10 - Sunday September 12: 5th Annual Muddy Boot Organic Festival: Nourishing Spirit: City to Farm. Click here for flyer www.muddyboot.org
-Keynote Speech at 7:00 p.m., Friday: filmmakers Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney, food and agriculture policy advocates, and makers of the films King Corn, Big River and Truck Farm
-Panel Discussion at 4:30 p.m., Saturday: Panelists, including the Director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace, will discuss Food Justice in Our Portland Community
-Events from12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday
Why You Want to Attend: Catholic social teaching insists that all workers-including farmers-deserve wages and benefits sufficient to support a family and live a decent life. Farmers and their employees receive less and less of every dollar spent on food. This is a matter of justice that should be addressed.
Catholic social teaching insists that the poor and vulnerable deserve a preferential option. Children today are especially vulnerable. There are 17 million homes where children suffer the most from hunger because their families do not have sufficient food. In the 2009-2010 academic year, 50 percent of Catholic schools participated in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization provides an opportunity to strengthen the nutrition programs critical to the well-being of our nation's children, particularly Child Nutrition programs provide millions of children with nutritious meals. This is a matter of justice that should be addressed.
BEGINNING OF LIFE
Wednesday September 22: 40 Days for Life. This fall, from September 22 - October 31, several communities in our area will join more than 150 cities around the country and world for the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history-- the 40 Days for Life campaign. (Sunday September 19: 40 Days for Life Kick-Off)
40 Days for Life is a focused respect-life effort that consists of
--40 days of prayer and fasting
--40 days of peaceful vigils
--40 days of community outreach
Click here for more information on 40 Days for Life and specific locations within the Archdiocese KBVM will air "40 days for life DAILY REFLECTIONS" daily from Sept 22 - Oct 31st at 7:30 am & 1 pm, heard locally at 88.3 FM and online at www.kbvm.fm
Why You Want to Attend: Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person-among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life... Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2270, 2271, 227
HOMELESSNESS
Saturday September 25th: Human Rights Festival. 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.at the First Baptist Church, 1175G Street, Springfield. Co-sponsored by the St. Alice Catholic Church. Click here for flyer
Why You Want to Attend: The Festival is organized by Springfield Shelter Rights Alliance (SSRA), a coalition of social service agencies, congregations, public institutions, and grassroots organizations which works to improve conditions for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
As Americans and believers, we are haunted by the tragic reality of so many without decent housing in our land. It is a sign of serious social neglect and moral failure. We ask everyone to join in a sustained and urgent effort to find creative and effective responses to this national tragedy. A great and good nation cannot turn away as people wander our streets looking for a decent home. U.S. Bishops Statement on Homelessness
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