potential of similar raids in Indiana.
Cardinal Mahoney says that the call for broad immigration reform is a moral issue.
To learn more about the SAVE Act in Congress which is enforcement only legislation.
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.
Torture
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, NRCAT, in alliance with Evangelicals for Human Rights and the Center for Victims of Torture, launched an effort that calls upon the President to issue an executive order banning torture based on six core principles embodied in a Declaration of Principles. We are calling this effort the "Campaign to Ban Torture." Prominent faith leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities, as well top officials from every Administration since the 1970s, have joined together to endorse the Declaration of Principles. The success of this effort depends upon thousands of people of faith and other opponents of torture joining together to endorse the Declaration of Principles. Your endorsement will help end U.S.-sponsored torture. We urge you to endorse the Declaration. To read the full Declaration. To endorse the Declaration.
"Torture Is A Moral Issue Catholic Study Guide," a recent publication of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops,looks at church teaching as it relates to the use of torture by government authorities around the world and mixes in biblical passages that evoke Jesus' call to "love your enemies." Written by the Catholic Leadership Council within the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the guide was written for use by discussion groups and classes in Catholic settings as well as individuals, families and others interested in studying the issue.
"Faith Groups Mount Campaign Against Torture"
As Congress and the Bush administration skirmish over still-secret interrogation techniques, American faith communities are mounting a national campaign to prohibit torture and cruel and inhumane treatment of US-held detainees. More than 175 religious organizations have joined the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). Their aim is to build a moral consensus among Americans on the issue and to bring government policies in line with US law and international norms. "Religions of the world do agree on basic tenets about how people should treat each other because of the dignity of the human person," says the Rev. Richard Killmer, executive director. The group involves mainline and evangelical Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and other members. See the complete article in the Christian Science Monitor.
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."
You are invited and encouraged to sign the statement available on the National Religious Campaign Against Torture website.
Another helpful organization on the issue of torture is Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International in Washington, DC.
A recent article in the New York Times by Peter Steinfels, "A Topic in the Air but One That Political Candidates Declined to Touch: Torture of Prisoners."
War In Iraq
The International Catholic Migration Commission and US Conference of Catholic Bishops released their April 2008 report "Iraqi Refugees in Syria" from their Mission to
Assess the Protection Needs of Iraqi Refugees in Syria.
"From Conquest to Community, From Violence to Reverence." Join people of all faiths in the Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq on October 8, 2007
We include a list of other possible actions people of faith can participate in on the War in Iraq.
In the months leading up to the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq several Catholic
organizations and individuals began a conversation about a shared response to
the war and occupation of Iraq. The official leadership of our church has stated its
disappointment about the war, but this message has gone unheard and unheeded.
NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, has participated in this
conversation from the beginning. NETWORK developed a plan for development in Iraq
trying to shift funding within the supplemental and the 2008 budget from military
activity to actual development work.
A number of Catholic religious communities have signed a letter "Response to the President's Proposal for A Change of course in Iraq."
All Life is Sacred
Catholics for a Peaceful End to War and Terrorism, Holy Week,
April 16, 2003
Bishops' President Deeply Regrets War; Calls for Prayer, Protection of the Innocent, And Steps to Avert Humanitarian Crisis Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville (IL) March 19, 2003
Iraq: The Way To Peace, Resources for Dioceses and Parishes
Office of Social Development & World Peace, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
USCMA Board President Meets with Pope John Paul II
The visit to Rome was organized by the National Council of Churches USA. Fr. Joe Nangle, OFM was representing Pax Christi USA.
Letter of Support to the Churches of the Holy Lands
Millennium Development Goals
The president of Caritas Internationalis is lamenting that at current rates of progress, the Millennium Development Goals set to be attained by 2015 may take 100 years to reach in a joint statement from Caritas and the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity sent to the Group of Eight leaders.
The eight goals are:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality & empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development
2005 marked the first five-year review of the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals. These Goals which had been agreed upon by all of the United Nations member countries form a blueprint to meet the needs of the world's poorest people. With 2015 as the target year for completion of the eight goals, world leaders met in 2005 to review progress made thus far in achieving these important goals.
A framework of 8 goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators to measure progress towards the Millennium Development goals was adopted by a consensus of experts from the United Nations Secretariat and International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank.
A chart indicating progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals as of September 2005.
To read the Millennium Development Goals Report 2005
In 2004 the USCMA membership "recognizing the great need for a more just sharing of the world's resources" passed a resolution to affirm and support the UN Millennium Development Goals.
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