Diocesan Health Care Reform Forum is tonight!

DATE: Monday September 21, 2009
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Most Holy Trinity Parish 1300 N. Greasewood Road

Read more in this recent (Sep 17) article in the Arizona Daily Star:

Tucson diocese to host a forum on health reform

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School of the Americas (SOA) Watch: Human Rights Activists Sentenced

From the SOA Watch website: http://www.soaw.org/

"Today, on January 26, six human rights advocates appeared in a federal courthouse in Georgia. The "SOA 6," ranging in age from 21 to 68, were found "guilty" of carrying the protest against the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) onto the Fort Benning military base. The six were among the thousands who gathered on November 22 and 23, 2008 outside the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia to demand a change in U.S. policy towards Latin America and the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC."

To learn more, see:

What is the SOA?

About SOA Watch

Take Action to Close the SOA/ WHINSEC

Bringing it all to prayer:

SOA Prayer Service

(Designed by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth of Bardstown)

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Juneteenth

From the Juneteenth Worldwide
Celebration website:
http://www.juneteenth.com/

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society. © 1996 JUNETEENTH.com


As we reflect on the origins and meaning of Juneteenth, may we be called to prayer for an end to racism and slavery of all kinds throughout the world.

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A stirring message from the "Voice of the Poor" arm of the Phoenix St. Vincent de Paul Society: (forwarded by Joanne Welter)

Thoughts on Christian Social Responsibility
by Ron Mayer, Phoenix St. Vincent de Paul Society

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves the poor and the afflicted of our community, and is directly impacted by the controversy involving illegal immigration.

The Society has taken a public position that regardless of what views we hold concerning the nature of the problem and the possible solution of the problem, we all have one item in common. We are Christians. Undocumented persons are still human beings who are made in the image and likeness of God. In the eyes of God, they are no different than you and me. As a consequence, they deserve to be treated as human beings.

We cringe at aspects of the history of our country in dealing with immigrants. From the treatment of the Irish fleeing the famine of Ireland wherein they were treated as devious papal serpents undermining the foundations of America to the Chinese workers who built our railroads and upon completion were shunned and marginalized from their community. The tragedy is that it is happening again. There is a hysteria pervading our society wherein it is open season to mistreat and abuse undocumented persons. The stories extend from undocumented persons refusing to report crimes committed on them or those that they witness because their reward for being a good citizen is to be arrested for deportation to Sheriff’s deputies being stationed at parishes that are predominantly Hispanic on Good Friday intimidating persons to stay away for fear of their immigration status being questioned.

St. Vincent de Paul is asking for two items. First, that any discussion involving immigration contain and convey the attitude that these people are human beings and deserve to be treated with human dignity. And secondly, that you contact your elected representatives in Congress and at the state level and request that any legislative solution not violate basic human rights.

When Jesus Christ said, “Feed my sheep and take care of my children”, he did not make an exception for persons who do not have their immigration status in order. If we as Christians do not stand up and voice alarm at the current treatment of undocumented persons, who will?

To learn more about the St. Vincent de Paul Society's Voice of the Poor advocacy group see: http://www.voiceofthepoor.org/ & http://www.capwiz.com/svdpusa/home/

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Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech

Today's National Public Radio's Morning Edition has a thoughtful segment on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech given the day before he died. It includes an interview with an eyewitness of that memorable event, a video clip of a segment of the speech, a link to an audio of the entire speech, plus the text of the speech.

NPR story: Remembering MLK's Prophetic 'Mountaintop' Speech

On this page you can also find several other NPR stories on Dr. King and his fight for the poor, justice, and civil rights. Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the death of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assasinated in 1968.

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U.S. Bishops' new "Faithful Citizenship" Statement

The U.S. Catholic bishops recently approved their new faithful citizenship statement, titled "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility."

Here is their official Press Release (November 14, 2007)

The complete text of the statement can be found in PDF format at the USCCB's Faithful Citizenship webpage, URL: http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/


Also available at this URL are PDF documents containing:

(1) The text for a Bulletin Insert titled "The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" which includes a nice section on the 7 Key themes of CST: "What does the Church Say about Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square -- Seven Key Themes"

(2) Links to four other Bishops' Documents on politicians and the responsibilities of Catholics in public life.

(3) A link to a doctrinal note from the Vatican on some questions regarding "The Participation of Catholics in Political Life."

(4) A 5-page parish resource titled "Parish Planning Ideas for Parish Staffs and Parish Councils" (complete with a section on "Do's and Don'ts for Parishes")


A final quote from the press release:

The Faithful Citizenship statement concludes with a “call for a renewed kind of politics:

-- Focused more on moral principles than on the latest polls;
-- Focused more on the needs of the weak than on benefits for the strong;
-- Focused more on the pursuit of the common good than on the demands of narrow interests.

"This kind of political participation,” the bishops claim, “reflects the social teaching of our Church and the best traditions of our nation.”

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NOTE: To order distribution copies of the Statement or Bulletin Insert (when they become available) visit http://www.usccbpublishing.org/ and click on "New."