Save the Date - Aug 23rd - Faithful Citizenship talk

"Dangers and Directions for the Catholic Voter"

WHAT: A special and very timely talk by John Carr, Secretary of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Developmentof the U.S. Conference of Catholic BishopsSaturday.

WHEN: August 23, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: St. Francis Cabrini Parish Hall, 3201 E. Presidio Rd., Tucson

John will outline the mission of the Catholic Church in political life and the message of the U.S. Bishops’ statement "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." [pdf]

He will examine the political and ecclesial context for Faithful Citizenship as well as the assets the Catholic community brings to public life. He will suggest some dangers and directions for Catholics who take seriously the challenges of Faithful Citizenship in this election year.

John’s talk is sponsored by the Diocese of Tucson and is open without charge to the public.

For more about the speaker, John Carr, see: http://www.diocesetucson.org/Carr.html

For more on Faithful Citizenship, see: http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/

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The Catholic Worker Movement Re-Affirms Its Opposition to War

THE CATHOLIC WORKER MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO OPPOSE WAR -- STATEMENT URGES U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS TO ACT

At the conclusion of the 75th Anniversary Gathering of the Catholic Worker movement, held in Worcester, Massachusetts from July 9 -­ 12, 2008, Catholic Workers from across the United States and from Germany issued a statement responding to unending war, ecological destruction and economic collapse; callingthe leadership of the church to speak out now; and urging their church and nation to join them in personal, political and spiritual actions. Over 500 Catholic Workers attended the gathering, the largest in these times, hosted by Ss. Francis & Therese Catholic Worker and the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker communities.

The Catholic Worker was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression, as a Gospel-based response to the needs of those times. The Catholic Worker vision lives on in over 200 communities worldwide. The statement urges the leadership of the church, "now and without evasion, to break its silence and to wield the authority provided by the nonviolent gospel of Jesus Christ, by calling the entire nation to repent for the war crimes we have committed in the so-called War on Terror."

Read the 75th Anniversary Statement “We call on our church and nation to join us in repenting our affronts to God” at:

http://www.pieandcoffee.org/2008/07/14/catholic-workers-75th-anniversary-statement/


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Thanks to Felice Cohen-Joppa for information and links
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Our Lady Queen of Peace - Pray for Us

Our Lady
Queen of Peace

From Wikipedia:

Our Lady of Peace or Queen of Peace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. She is represented in art holding a dove and an olive branch, symbols of peace. Her official memorial feast is celebrated on January 24 each year in Hawaii and some churches in the United States. Elsewhere, the memorial feast is celebrated on July 9.

Pax Christi Prayer Vigil Monday July 7th

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God." Mt 5:9

Come and join Pax Christi Tucson for a PRAYER VIGIL for peace in Iraq on Monday July 7th.

(We hold a prayer vigil on the first Mondy of every month).

Where: DeAnza Park (Speedway and Stone)

When: 7:00 pm. It lasts about 25 minutes.

Anybody is welcome to join us!

To learn more about Pax Christi, see the Pax Christi USA statement of purpose.

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An Evening of Hope and Healing – in recognition of torture victims worldwide

An Evening of Hope and Healing: UN Day in Observance of Torture Victims
will be held tonight, Wednesday July 2nd, 2008.

The evening is held in recognition of survivors of torture worldwide and the June 26th UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Youth poetry and art, speakers addressing legal, psychological, policy, and personal aspects of torture, advocacy actions and a candle light procession and vigil comprise this non-partisan and secular event held at Southside Presbyterian Church Location: 317 W. 23rd street, from 7:00
PM – 10:00 PM.

Citizens’ actions on specific torture cases prepared byAmnesty International will be available for concerned citizens, as well a Candle Light Procession and Vigil to the local public shrine, El Tiradito, at Main Street and Cushing Street in downtown Tucson.

The event is free and open to the public.

Co-sponsoring Organizations are: Amnesty International Tucson, the Center for Prevention and Resolution of Violence, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest -Asylum Program, Owl and Panther Project, Torture on Trial, Tucson Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association of Southern Arizona.

The full event schedule and organization’s electronic links specifically relating to the event or survivors of torture testimony and advocacy are listed below.

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Full Schedule for July 2nd, 2008 Event:

7:00 - 8:00 pm

Poetry readings by youth of the Owl and Panther group precede speakers.
Speakers:

Rachel Wilson, JD, PhD, Lead Attorney for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest's Asylum Program – Legal Challenges in Protecting Torture Survivors.
Lucy Wilson, Clinical Psychologist, CPRV – Hope and Healing
Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez – A Policy Perspective on Torture
Leonardo Maturan – Life In Prison

Following the speakers, the audience is invited to:

8:00 - 8:45 pm

-- Chalk drawings artistically developed by youth of the Owl and Panther group on public view in the adjacent patio.

-- Enjoy light refreshments and non-alcoholic drinks.

-- Review and act on specific cases presented by Amnesty International in Tucson of persons currently imprisoned who are at risk for torture. Participants may send post cards requesting international and national legal procedures be followed and that no violations of the rights of detainees be allowed by responsible authorities. Letters from federal representatives who were asked to present their views on torture will be available for viewing.

8:45 - 9:10 pm

Assemble for procession of Candle Light Vigil toward El Tiradito Shrine on Main Street at Cushing Street.

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Organizational Links Related to Survivors of Torture

Amnesty International – Worldwide Torture Cases
Owl and Panther Project – http://www.owlandpanther.org/
United Nations Association of Southern Arizona - http://www.untucson.org/
United Nations background on torture:
Asylum Program of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
Torture on Trial – http://www.tortureontrial.org/

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