Current Topics

Sri Lanka - Alert

Global Climate Change

ACTION ALERT
Representatives from 163 countries are attending a conference in Thailand to look at a new global pact to replace the 1997 Kyoto accords. This United Nations-led meeting focuses on ways to reign in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which are blamed for the rise in global temperatures. Your efforts are needed to contact representatives from USA and Canada.
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Read The Winter 2008 Update from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change.

A summary of the UN-sponsored climate change talks held in Bali in December 2007, "United Nations Climate Change Talks in Bali - A New Climate Deal?" is now available.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued a resource, "Climate-Change Policies Can Treat Poor Families Fairly and Be Fiscally Responsible."

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment issued a resource, "A Religious Agenda on Poverty and Global Climate Change."

The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change issued a resource, "A Catholic Approach to Climate Change," in November 2007.

From the Missouri Catholic Conference, November 2007

Papal Message to Environmental Conference, September 1, 2007, "Highly Industrialized Countries Must Share Clean-technologies."

John Carr's written testimoney to the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate June 7, 2007.

A J/P Alert from the Justice and Peace office of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men focused on climate change.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations spoke in Cincinnati on global climate change.

"Developing Ecological Consciousness for a Planet in Peril" by
Susan Rakoczy, IHM. Published in Woodstock Report, March 2007, No. 87

USCMA members passed a Resolution at its 2006 Annual Meeting expressing concern for the future of God's creation and the one human family.

The Environmental Justice Program (EJP) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) began in the fall of 1993 and is located within the Department of Social Development and World Peace (SDWP). Its mission is to EDUCATE and MOTIVATE Catholics to a deeper reverence and respect for God’s creation, and to ENGAGE parishes and dioceses in activities aimed at dealing with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor. EJP acts as a resource for Catholic dioceses and state Catholic conferences, and through them Catholic parishes.

The Regeneration Project helps to deepen the connection between ecology and faith. Its Interfaith Power and Light campaign is mobilizing a religious response to global warming in congregations through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation. Learn more about Interfaith Power and Light programs in the US and how to become an affiliate of an Interfaith Power & Light program.

For more articles on Global Climate Change.

Immigration

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent an urgent message regarding Legislation currently before Congress on immigration - H.R. 4088, the Save America through Verification and Employment (SAVE) Act, better known as the "Shuler-Tancredo" bill. This bill is an enforcement-only proposal that would increase monies for border protection and detention and would mandate a nationwide employer verification system. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) along with other national Catholic agencies opposes the enactment of H.R. 4088.

Check the list of Republican Representatives who have not yet signed onto the Discharge petition. If your member has not yet signed onto the discharge petition, contact them and encourage them not to sign. If your member has signed write to express your disappointment.

Check the list of specific Democratic targets of high priority. If your member has not yet signed onto the discharge petition, contact them and encourage them not to sign. If your member has signed write to express your disappointment.

You may use this action alert with talking points and sample letter.

On a related issue, the USCCB Committee on Migration recently met with Assistant Secretary Julie Myers of the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Myers heads the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency of DHS and is responsible for the enforcement raids around the country. Read the press release summarizing that meeting.
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Immigration is one of the most talked about issues in the United States. With bills pending
in Congress on immigration reform advocacy on all sides of the issue is going on. As Catholics we are called upon to let Catholic Social Teaching inform our understanding of this topic. As Catholics, our focus must be the dignity of the human person and the welfare of families.

An article on immigration, "A Reflection on Migration: Bridging the Divide over Immigration" by Paula Minaert appeared in a recent Woodstock Report.

In letters to the Presidential candidates December 12, 2007 Cardinal Roger Mahony urged all candidates to "show leadership on the issue of immigration" and to "work with your fellow candidates and the American people to find a humane and comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system."

The bishops serving the state of Maryland published "Where All Find A Home: A Catholic Response to Immigration." In it, Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl and Wilmington Bishop Michael Saltarelli urge Catholics to engage in faith-filled discussion of the issue.

Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa, OK has also published a pastoral letter, "The Suffering Faces of the Poor Are the Suffering Face of Christ" in both English and Spanish.

Cardinal Martino spoke at the Annual Meeting of the European National Directors of Pastoral Care of Migrants, September, 2007, The Church Must Feel Concerned Regarding Immigrants.

Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People sponsored a Seminar on "The Role of Migrant Women in the Promotion of Multicultural Identities" was held in Rome, 5-6 September 2007.

Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Florida, testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, May 22, 2007

For more articles on Immigration.

Torture

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is encouraging congregations to view
Rory Kennedy's HBO documentary "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" during the week of October 21-28. In a nation-wide project called "Spotlight on Torture," the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has arranged for DVD copies of "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" to be available to 1,000 congregations, on a first come, first served basis for showing during the week of October 21-28. The film is a masterful examination of one of the great moral issues of the 21st century. You can get a copy for your congregation by clicking here. Please forward this link to as many of your friends as you think might be interested.

USCMA members passed a Resolution at the 2006 Annual Meeting endorsing the statement of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, "Torture is a Moral Issue."