Peace & Justice Weekly Updates

Join Dominican Sisters of Peace as we strive to bring PEACE and justice to our world in this post-truth era. Each week, our Justice Promoter will share important information (including action alerts, prayer opportunities and much more) that will help you to spread peace in your own local community and our world at large.

 

October 3 – Peace and Justice Updates

Justice Committee Announcement from the Eco-Justice Committee

October 4th is the Feast of Sr. Francis of Assisi. Read this short reflection from Sr. Jane Belanger on Care for Creation and how we, as Dominicans, can learn from Francis’ example to commit ourselves to both compassionate contemplation and Gospel-centered action to care for the Earth.

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Click here for the October issue of Stop Trafficking!

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As Congress returns from August recess, we are gearing up for debates on the federal budget. NETWORK is leading a national letter-writing campaign to Speaker Paul Ryan (a Catholic himself) letting him know that a budget that cuts protections for the most vulnerable families is out of line with Catholic teachings and values.

NETWORK is asking all Catholic Sisters (and Associates) to write a personal letter which includes the following:

  • Introduce yourself; be sure to include your religious order affiliation, where you are located, and a brief description of your ministry.
  • Choose an area or a few areas of the Trump budget that would have a particular impact on the people you minister to in your community or that resonate with your personal experience. Briefly explain the impact of the budget on you or your community using personal experiences when relevant.
  • Highlight the principles of Catholic Social Justice that apply to the issue areas you’ve mentioned and emphasize the importance of a faithful budget that uplifts human dignity and meets the needs of people at the margins.
  • Mail your letter to the NETWORK office by November 10, and we will deliver all of the letters to Speaker Ryan’s office on Capitol Hill.

NETWORK Lobby
25 E. Street NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001 

For more information, click here.

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DACA Action Alert from LCWR
October 5 is the absolute deadline for DREAMers to register for DACA. NOW is the time to bring the Dream Act 2017 to the floor of the House for an up or down vote. Dreamers deserve it. We must demand it.

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Ask Republican Representatives to Sign the Discharge Petition
One hundred ninety-four Representatives have signed the discharge petition, which “discharges” H.R. 1084, the “Today’s American Dream Act” and substitutes the text of H.R. 3440, the “Dream Act 2017.” We need just 25 more Republicans to do the right thing—sign the discharge petition—and give the Dream Act 2017 a vote on the floor of the House.

Please call your Republican Representative today and every day until we get a vote. Urge her/him to do the right thing. If she/he supports DREAMers, then it’s time to step up and take action. SIGN the discharge petition and give the Dream Act 2017 an up or down vote.

Click here for talking points and a sample script.

Posted in Peace & Justice Weekly Updates

Peace & Justice Updates – September 5, 2017

Catholic Call to Justice Event
Saturday September 9
9 am – noon
Christ the King Catholic Church, 2777 East Livingston Ave, Columbus.
The opening session will focus on defining social justice with a reflection on the life of Pope Francis followed by an overview of Catholic Social Teaching. See this flyer for more information.

From Maryknoll Office for Social Concerns
Two years ago, Pope Francis released his groundbreaking environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’. Since then, world leaders, businesses, and individuals have made commitments to reduce fossil fuel emissions and to help climate vulnerable communities around the world. The recent change in the U.S. government’s approach to the climate crisis has left many people asking: “What should we do now?” Join Christians around the world in prayer and action for the “Season of Creation” from September 1 to October 4. Click here for a toolkit, and here for a prayer for the Earth.

Stop Trafficking
Click here for the September edition of Stop Trafficking!

USCCB Establishes New Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
The committee will focus on addressing the sin of racism in our society, and even in our Church, and the urgent need to come together as a society to find solutions. To read more, click here. For USCCB resources on racism, click here.

Opportunity for Action from the Immigration Reform Committee
The Benedictine Sisters of Erie have started an initiative called “Silent Peace Walks“. The Immigration Reform Committee invites you to implement a Silent Peace Walk around the Motherhouse, your school, learning center, or neighborhood with an invitation to others to join this “strategy for peace.” A current intention for the Silent Peace Walk is that love and compassion be the primary actions for the DACA families. To bring more peace to the world, walk in silence for peace. Mindfully be present and experience peace within and around you. Pray for peace and for our immigrant brothers and sisters and for Dreamers.

Assembly Action Steps

Action Alert from Interfaith Power and Light
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and DOT (Department of Transportation) announced they will begin reconsidering the fuel efficiency standards for cars and passenger trucks which means they are open to rolling back the standards. Click here to tell the EPA and DOT to keep us moving forward with strong fuel efficiency standards.

Action Alert from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) shares the disappointment of millions of people across the country who had hoped and prayed that President Trump would continue the protection offered Dreamers by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In the wake of this unconscionable action by President Trump, we urge Congress to immediately take up and pass the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017.

DACA was a common sense path to stability for families, communities, and local economies and a reaffirmation of American values. Ending DACA will cause irreparable harm to our families and communities and force 800,000 of our young people back into the shadows

Please make three important calls TODAY!

Call your Representative (1-888-496-3502) and call each of your Senators (1-888-410-0619). Call twice to be connected to both Senators.

Suggested text:
My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY/STATE]. I am outraged that President Trump announced the end of DACA today. I urge you to do everything in your power to protect Dreamers by making sure the bipartisan Dream Act 2017 becomes law. As Catholic sister and a member of [ YOUR CONGREGATION], our faith calls us to love our neighbor. DACA recipients are contributing members of our communities. They are Americans in all things but citizenship. They deserve our protection.

Will the [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] do all they can to pass the bipartisan Dream Act 2017, so that DACA recipients gain protection under the law? Thank you for your time.

Learn more about Dream Act 2017.

Dreamers are our neighbors, our students, our friends. Please stand with us and #Faith4DACA and #DefendDACA. Call your Members of Congress and forward this email to your friends and family so they can make their calls too.

Posted in Peace & Justice Weekly Updates

The Dominican Sisters Conference Issues a Statement Regarding Racism

The Dominican Sisters Conference places the transforming grace of the Dominican charism at the service of our world and Church, especially in responding to the cry of the poor and to the urgent need to preserve Earth’s integrity. The DSC has issued a statement in response to the recent white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville. To read the entire statement, click here.

Posted in Peace & Justice Weekly Updates