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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More on Health-Care Reform -- a social justice guide

From Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good:

"The issue of health care transcends political labels of "left" and "right." Something more is at stake: the dignity of the human person. Providing access to quality and affordable health care is a moral imperative. As people of faith, we are called to ensure that the value of human life is placed above profit and that our elected officials are creating policies that benefit the common good, not just a select few. Though Congress is preparing to recess, we need to continue to advocate for health care reform that benefits ALL people, including immigrants and their children."

PICO, a national network of faith-based community organizations and Sojourners -- in collaboration with the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good -- have put together a Guide to the Health-Care Reform Debate. [pdf]

The guide is designed to educate and spark discussion and thought about how to live out God’s call for justice in our world. This guide includes biblical background, a status update on the state of U.S. health care, a look at past attempts at health-care reform, a helpful guide for understanding all the terms, options, and key choices in the current debate, a look at the role of the faith community and what values can shape our healthcare decisions, plus a list of what you and your community can do to promote health-care reform that makes coverage more affordable to families and serves the common good.

Click here to download the guide [pdf] It provides valuable information about the health care reform debate from a faith-based perspective and can help us all to learn how to speak out on behalf of justice.

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good reminds us:

As Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." With almost 50 million Americans-including 9 million children-lacking health care coverage, we can't afford to wait for just health care reform any longer.

For more information, visit the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good HEALTH CARE page:

http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/health-care

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Take Action on Health Care!

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging us to get informed and involved in the ongoing health care debate and make our views known -- especially with respect to Health Care Reform that Respects Life and Human Dignity.

Read the entire ACTION ALERT at this link:

http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-07-27-alert-health-care.pdf

On July 17, Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent a letter to Congress saying, “The USCCB looks forward to working with you to reform health care successfully in a manner that offers accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.” Abortion must not be included as part of a national health care benefit. “No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.” Bishop Murphy argued that any legislation should reflect longstanding policies “on abortion funding, dates and conscience protections because they represent sound morality, wise policy and political reality.”

The full text of Bishop Murphy’s letter can be found online at:
www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-07-17-murphy-letter-congress.pdf

TAKE ACTION and contact our senators and representatives with your views on Health Care NOW!

Grijalva.house.gov
Giffords.house.gov
Kyl.senate.gov
Mccain.senate.gov

For more information, please contact Kathy Saile, Director of Domestic Social Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, at ksaile@usccb.org

Legislative Updates from "The Voice of the Poor" & The Arizona Catholic Conference

It's a critical time right now for the poor in Arizona as the State Budget hangs in the balance. . .

St. Vincent De Paul Society in Arizona has a legislative/advocacy arm. It is called ‘The Voice of the Poor’(VOP) and is based in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Learn about it at:

http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/VoiceofthePoor.htm

The Mission Statement of Voice of the Poor (Diocesan Council of Phoenix):

Believing in the dignity of every person, Voice of the Poor supports Catholic social teaching. Under the direction of the Diocesan Council, we will advocate for justice on behalf of those in need, while educating St. Vincent de Paul members about economic and social issues impacting the poor.

You can find weekly VOP ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES and ACTION ALERTS at this link:

http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/VOP_WklyLegislativeUpdates.htm

The Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson.

You can find ACC ACTION ALERTS at this link:

http://www.diocesephoenix.org/acc/index.html

Get updated on the issues and make your voice heard for the poor!!

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Learn about the U.S. Department of Peace Campaign

Why a U.S. Department of Peace?

"A Department of Peace will provide the institutional framework within which to research, analyze and create nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict. With this capability, the President and Congress will have immediate access to the expertise that is so deeply needed in our post-9/11 world; we make the study, creation and use of nonviolent solutions to conflicts a national priority; and we expand our ability to address the root causes of violence. Peace then becomes a tangible goal as opposed to a lofty ideal."

[Source: The Peace Alliance FAQ]

Kucinich Reintroduces Department of Peace Bill with 62 Cosponsors

Washington,D.C. (February 4, 2009) -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) yesterday reintroduced legislation that would authorize a Cabinet-level Department of Peace.

It is well known that in times of economic difficulty violence increases. When relationships are strained by economic hardship, domestic violence, violent robbery and abuse of children and animals all increase. When the world is facing possibly the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression, now is not the time to ignore social issues and interpersonal relationships, now is the time to make special attention to make sure that our relations and health do not suffer along with your pocket books, stated Kucinich.

The Cabinet-level Department authorized in the legislation embodies a broad-based approach to peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution at both domestic and international levels. The Department of Peace would serve to promote non-violence as an organizing principle in our society, and help to create the conditions for a more peaceful world.

Peace is a foundational principle of this Congress and of this country. This bill gives it a chance to have an animating power in our civic life by addressing the issues of domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, violence in the schools and racial violence, added Kucinich.

The bill number is HR808.

(see an earlier version of the bill HERE)

To learn more, visit: The Peace Alliance website

and find out about the upcoming :
National Department of Peace Conference:
Peace Within Reach: People and Politics Partnering for our Common Security

March 20-23, 2009 in Washington D.C.
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/605/147/

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Obama and abortion -- any hope?

As was widely expected by those on both sides of the abortion debate, on January 23rd President Obama rescinded The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (known as the "Mexico City Policy") which prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive Federal funds from using those funds "to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning, or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions."

In response, the USCCB issued a statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities:
President Obama's Reversal of Mexico City Policy 'Very Disappointing,' Says Pro-Life Committee Chair

For those of us longing for a widespread awakening to a Consistent Ethic of Life approach that cherishes life "from womb to tomb" -- is there any hope?

To probe deeper, read what President Obama stated after he signed the order:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/statement-released-after-the-president-rescinds/

Here is a Catholic New Service story about the issue, expressing some varying perspectives:
Obama signs order reversing Mexico City policy

And two New York Times articles with additional views:
Obama Reverses Rules on U.S. Abortion Aid
Family Planning and the Path to Progress


And on his blog, Jim Wallis, of Sojournors (a long-time social justice advocate from a faith-based perspective) offers some thoughts with a glimmer of hope:

I am encouraged that President Obama’s first action on abortion was to release a statement supporting a common ground approach to reducing abortion, even as he also reiterated his policy of supporting legal choice. Even more significant was his decision not to issue an executive order rescinding the “Mexico City policy” on the day of the anniversary of the Roe decision and the annual March for Life. For the past two decades, this particular rule has become a back-and-forth of instituting and repealing as administrations have changed—almost as a partisan tit-for-tat.

In breaking the symbolic cycle, President Obama showed respect for both sides in the historically polarized abortion debate, and called for both a new conversation and a new common ground. I hope that this important gesture signals the beginning of a new approach and a new path toward finding some real solutions to decrease the number of abortions in this country and around the world.

Read Jim Wallis full blog post here:
President Obama’s Call for Common Ground on Abortion Reduction


As always . . . let us bring this issue to prayer:

A PRAYER FOR LIFE SOURCE

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life..."
-Deuteronomy 30:19

We believe in you, Holy Spirit, Giver of Life.

We lay before you the prayers of those who are deprived of life;
the unborn, who never saw the love in a mother's eyes;
the aged and infirmed, who became another's "burden";
the suicides, who lost all hope;
the criminals, who invited scorn and revenge;
the victims of war, poverty, and other crimes of violence, who were unprepared for death.

We worship and glorify you, Holy Spirit, Divine Wisdom.

We lay before you the prayers of those who struggle with questions of life and death:
women unprepared for motherhood;
healthcare professionals;
child and adult caregivers;
the chemically and emotionally dependent;
justice, legal, and military personnel;
all abused or underprivileged seekers of acceptance.

Holy Spirit, Speaker of Truth, we lay before you our hearts of flesh that we may both heed and be your prophets of holy and revered life:

to defend with your passion and zeal those who have never tasted life and those whose lives seem to drag on interminably;
to uplift the lives of the hopeless and of the despised with your
compassion and love;
to bless the good in every person and curse the bad in every evil.

Living Spirit of God, all of life comes from you and has meaning and purpose. May all the peoples of the world unite in solidarity and unconditionally choose life.

Amen

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ACTION ALERT: Children's Health Bill (SCHIP)

USCCB ACTION ALERT:

Urge Support and Improvements to Children’s Health Bill (SCHIP)

TAKE ACTION NOW! (Bill may be considered on Monday Jan 26)

Call your senators about the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and urge them to support:

· increased funding to reduce the number of uninsured children by nearly half, maintaining and expanding coverage, reducing enrollment barriers, and expanding outreach, and respecting the roles of families;

· provisions in the legislation allowing states to interpret the word “child” to include the period from conception to birth;

· coverage for legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

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NOTE: Urge your senator to support improvement and expansion of SCHIP, provisions covering children from conception to birth, and coverage for legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

Several Senators will be particularly important on the provisions covering legal immigrants, including Sen John McCain.

An amendment is expected that would eliminate current provisions that limit access to SCHIP for legal pregnant immigrant women and legal immigrant children during their first five years in this country even if they meet all the other requirements for the program and have no other source for health care coverage. Please urge the Senators to support this amendment eliminating the 5-year rule for legal immigrant children and pregnant women.

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WHY IS THIS ACTION IMPORTANT NOW?

More than 9 million children in our country are uninsured. Through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), states receive federal funds to provide health insurance for millions of low-income children throughout the United States. Today the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on an expansion of SCHIP. The Senate vote will take place in the next few days. This is an important opportunity to promote several key improvements to the program—coverage of currently uninsured children, coverage of children before birth, and coverage of legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

WHAT DOES THIS ISSUE HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH?

Catholic teaching tells us that everyone has “the right to live” as well as “the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services” (Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, #11).

Catholic teaching affirms the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the inherent dignity of every human being. We insist that access to adequate health care is a basic human right, necessary for the development and maintenance of life and for the ability of human beings to realize the fullness of their dignity. A just society protects and promotes fundamental human rights and dignity, with special attention to the basic needs of children and the vulnerable, including the need for safe and affordable health care for all.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Contact your Senators now to urge support and improvements to SCHIP. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 or find your Senators’ contact information at http://www.congress.org/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Saile, Director, Domestic Social Development, USCCB, ksaile@usccb.org, (202) 541-3134

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Inauguration Day: A Prayer

A prayer written by Jane Deren
from the Education for Justice site:

"The swearing in of a new president is a momentous occasion in a nation's history and an appropriate time for prayer. Use this prayer to pray for the newly elected president, Barack Obama, for the needs of the country and for all those who hold public office and serve the common good. "

Prayer for the Inauguration

The common good calls us together on this day.
As winter’s dark hours reveal a new horizon of hope,
We gather to renew a shared purpose
And embark on a new beginning.

We are challenged to move beyond the differences and divisions
Of the past year, the past decades, even the past centuries.

It is time for a new beginning, a time to move into a new future.
Help us all, Lord, to glimpse the grace that marks this day.
Help us to touch the hope that springs from a deep source.

We ask Your blessings on our new president
and the new administration.
May they work with integrity, discernment and a united purpose.

You call us today to renew our vision of a hopeful future.
We ask Your blessings on us all, that we may summon the will
To live as a nation united, with consideration for every citizen,
Concern for the global community and care for God’s Creation.

Guide us as we move forward grounded in care
for the common good
Like a river moving from its source
to green a parched and brittle land.
We ask this of You, Source of All Being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

-Jane Deren
http://www.educationforjustice.org/

Support an End to Torture

An ACTION ALERT [pdf] from the USCCB:

TAKE ACTION NOW!

The inauguration is around the corner. Send emails to the Transition Team http://change.gov/page/s/ofthepeople” encouraging President-elect Obama to issue an executive order ending torture soon after taking office.

WHY IS THIS ACTION IMPORTANT NOW?

On January 14, John Carr, USCCB’s Executive Director for Justice, Peace and Human Development, participated in a press conference urging the incoming administration to set a new tone and act to end torture. That same afternoon, USCCB joined with other faith groups in a meeting with members of President-elect Obama’s Transition Team. They presented a letter signed by 34 religious leaders, including Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Chairman of USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, and discussed the need for quick action by the president-elect to issue an executive order ending torture as a way to restore America’s moral credibility in the world.

The Transition Team was very receptive and cited President-elect Obama’s statement last week that “under my administration, the United States does not torture, we will abide by the Geneva Conventions.” Action now would affirm this position, reinforce the message sent at the January 14 press conference and meeting, and encourage Mr. Obama to act quickly.

WHAT DOES THIS ISSUE HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH?

The Church teaches that torture is morally wrong and can never be justified. Pope Benedict XVI said that “the prohibition against torture ‘cannot be contravened under any circumstance.’” The U.S. bishops in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship [pdf] labeled torture as “intrinsically evil.” The attached remarks by John Carr [pdf] lay out the arguments against torture in further detail.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Write emails calling for President-elect Obama to issue an executive order banning torture as soon as possible. Go the http://change.gov/page/s/ofthepeople, fill out your contact information, and write “torture” in the “another issue” box. When the “Your ideas” box comes up, write something like “As a Catholic, I call on the President to act quickly to end torture by issuing an executive order based on the Declaration of Principles endorsed by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.” You may also contact your members of Congress through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or http://www.congress.org/ to have them endorse this Declaration of Principles [pdf].

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Virginia Farris, Foreign Policy Advisor, International Justice and Peace, USCCB, vfarris@usccb.org, (202) 541-3182.

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Don't Miss it -- John Carr Faithful Citizenship talk is tonight!

"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: TONIGHT 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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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 Communication Campaign

Did you know you can find a video or audio "Daily Reflection of the Scriptures" online at CCC-TV? It's just one of many ways in which the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) seeks to spread the good news of the Gospel.

The CCC has also put together a variety of educational resources at the USCCB's Faithful Citizenship website to assist Catholics in forming our consciences as faithful citizens during this political season.

This weekend in the U.S. we are asked to donate to the USCCB's Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC). Here's what the CCC does (quoted from "Who We Are" on the CCC website):

In 1979, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) established the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) to respond to the domestic communications needs of the Catholic Church in the United States. Through the CCC, the US Bishops fund media programming, projects, and resources that promote Gospel values and foster the pastoral teachings of the Catholic Church.


The work of the CCC, including the funds set aside for these grants, is made possible by the generous donations of Catholic parishioners from all across the country to the CCC’s annual appeal. Proceeds from this collection are divided equally between each diocese and the CCC’s national office in Washington, DC.


Dioceses use their 50% share of the CCC Collection to support local communications efforts such as televised Masses and diocesan newspapers. And, on the national level, CCC funds support the development and production of a wide range of media programming.


For more than 25 years, the CCC has been serving dioceses and parishioners by spreading faith-filled messages locally and nationally on radio, television, in print and on the Internet.

Learn more about the CCC and some of its recent activities at the Catholic Communication Campaign website.



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Action needed: May 8th meeting of the Casa Maria Coalition!

Background: In January a blog message was posted about the Casa Maria Housing Coalition and in March a message went out about a rally to SOS Save Ochoa School . The following post gives an update on the school issue and announces a meeting to address the next issues faced by the Casa Maria Housing Coalition:


In case you haven’t heard the news… THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SPARED! Thanks to Brian and the Casa Maria Coalition (including many Just Faith participants), the TUSD Board has voted to keep the schools open! This is great news for the families of Casa Maria, but the struggle goes on…

On May 22 the City Council will meet again to continue discussions on the Rio Nuevo project, moving the Greyhound bus station to Marana (where homeless and low income families will have NO ACCESS) and police/immigration issues.

Please join us at Casa Maria (Maryada’s house) this Thursday, May 8, at 5 pm, to discuss these issues and ways to support our Casa families. Your presence is important and COUNTS! as we have seen this past week!

On behalf of Brian and all those at Casa Maria, Thank you for your support and willingness to stand as a voice for those who aren’t able to speak.

YOU CAN AND DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!! See you Thursday!

sent in by Barbara Padilla

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Action Alert on the housing market crisis in support of families and communities

From the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development

via Joanne Welter, Tucson Diocesan Social Mission Office

ACTION

Contact your Senators (call the capitol switchboard 202.224.3121 or http://www.senate.gov/ to find your Senators and their contact information) and urge them to help families most in need keep their homes and stabilize their communities.

• Urge them to establish protection for families who get subprime loans or other non-traditional mortgages.
  
• Urge them to provide stronger protections for homeowners vulnerable to predatory lending practices.


• Urge them to provide some relief to troubled homeowners.


• Urge them to oppose federal preemption of stronger state and local anti-predatory lending laws.
  

CURRENT SITUATION

The Senate is considering a bill that would provide tax breaks to home builders; it makes available $4 billion in additional Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to States and local governments who could use the money to help struggling homeowners refinance their troubled mortgages; and, its also funds more mortgage counseling. Little assistance is provided directly to low-income families struggling to pay their mortgage.

BACKGROUND

More than two million families across the country that bought their homes with subprime mortgages are likely lose them to foreclosure. This crisis is having a drastic effect on the American economy, especially the housing market.

This crisis was brought about, in part, by some unscrupulous lenders who targeted minorities, the elderly, and the poor with high priced loans. These particular lenders or mortgage brokers used a variety of practices including outright fraud and deception in some cases to sell their product (e.g. charging borrowers excessive, often hidden fees; successively refinancing loans at no benefit to the borrower; making loans with little regard to a borrower's ability to repay; and engaging in high pressure sales tactics). These subprime loans were then packaged together and sold on world markets as mortgage-backed securities. When the homeowner could not make the monthly payment, it was not the lender or mortgage broker who lost their investment, but the owners of the security.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Congress in 2002 insisting that “[e]fforts to revitalize neighborhoods and to expand homeownership among low income families are being threatened by abusive lending practices. These practices, termed predatory lending, trap far too many unsophisticated and vulnerable people, often the elderly, into high cost loans that frequently lead to foreclosure after stripping any equity from the home. The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns this sort of speculation, this usury, as morally illicit.” (2409)

For More Information:

Thom Shellabarger at the USCCB, 202-541-3189 or tshellabarger@usccb.org

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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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Catholics and The Common Good

From a kindred Blog:

Here is a segment of the vision statement on the blog of the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good:
http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/ :

"Our Catholic tradition calls us to participate actively in public life in the service of human dignity, social justice and the common good. These teachings – to put community before self, principle before profit, and the public interest before political expediency – are central to our Catholic tradition. Catholics in Alliance is committed to creating the necessary conditions for a culture of life that reverences the life and dignity of the human person over greed, materialism and the politics of division."

What is the Common Good? <== Read what the Catholics In Alliance have to say.


Want to learn more? subscribe to: The Common Good E-Newsletter.

In doing so, you will get timely announcements and news analysis on issues related to Catholics and the Common Good, such as the following item:


News From the Common Good Convention

The Common Good Convention, a national gathering of community leaders dedicated to social justice, will take place July 11-13 in Philadelphia, PA at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel. The Convention, inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, is being convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and sponsored by 19 social justice organizations. Representatives from the sponsoring organizations and hundreds of others will explore how the common good, a foundational concept of Catholic Social Teaching, can unite peoples of good will behind a platform that emphasized the interdependence, justice, charity and cooperation that are essential to good governance.

We hope all of you will participate in the building of our common good platform. Click here to view the process document for helping build the Platform for the Common Good.

The Common Good Convention website is now available. You can register HERE.

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Sleuthing in Your Supermarket: Learning to Shop with a Conscience

Sleuthing in Your Supermarket: Learning to Shop with a Conscience

Kitty Ufford-Chase, Faith Community Coordinator at the Community Food Bank, offers a five-session course at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, (just East of Swan on 22nd St.) on issues surrounding food and faith Monday evenings from April 7 through May 5 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Awareness meeting room.

The following will be explored:

• The history of supermarkets, current and future trends, and how the supermarket fits into the global food system.


• Supermarket advertising, marketing and consumption: understanding the corporate role, and the messages we get from supermarkets.


• Environmental impacts within the supermarket itself, in its supply chain, and in the household.


• Social justice in the food system and supermarkets from middle-class and low-income perspectives: accessibility, affordability, and food appropriateness.


• Looking at alternatives and options for action to support a more just food system.

The fee for the five-session class is $15 to cover supplies; any money left over will be donated to the Food Bank by UUCT. Scholarships are always available and always given.

Please email mike-greenbaum@qwestoffice.net or call him at 326-8831 to sign up. Payment may be made by credit card by calling Jean in the church office at 748-1551.

Take Action: Respect for Unborn Life

From the The Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC):

The ACC is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson

Support Partial Birth Abortion Ban

AZ Legislature Passes Partial Birth Abortion Bill

Take Action!

Please Ask Gov Napolitano to Sign HB 2769

Support Arizona's Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Please Ask Governor Napolitano to Sign HB 2769
HB 2769 is important pro-life legislation that essentially duplicates the Partial Birth Abortion Act passed by Congress in 2003 and upheld by the United States Supreme Court last year. Despite the passage of the federal law, however, there is still a need for a state ban on partial birth abortions so that Arizonans do not have to rely on the United State Department of Justice to bring such actions.

Additionally, a state ban is helpful because federal prosecutors attempting to enforce the current partial birth abortion ban must first show that interstate commerce is somehow impacted. With a state ban, however, local prosecutors can bring forth such charges without having to deal with interstate commerce issues.

Partial birth abortions involve a horrific procedure to which most people are opposed. HB 2769 is a reasonable piece of legislation aimed at making sure that they do not take place in Arizona.

Please follow the TAKE ACTION links in this alert and urge Governor Napolitano to sign HB 2769.

Take Action!

New Faithful Citizenship website

The United States Catholic Bishops (USCCB) now have a brand new website on Faithfull Citizenship at: http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/

The site has sections targeted for: All Catholics, Diocesan & Community Leaders, Parish & School Leaders, and Young Catholics. Links within each section will take you to a many different kinds of resources, e.g. What the Church Teaches, Prayers and Reflections, suggestions on Taking Action, Family Guide, Do's and Don'ts when addressing the issues, planning ideas. The section for Young Catholics has a "Are You A Faithful Citizen" quiz, podcasts and music -- with a video to come soon.

Action Alert on Anti-Torture Bill

From the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office of International Justice and Peace:

URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO SIGN ANTI-TORTURE PROVISIONS

issued February 28, 2008

Why this issue is important? The Church stands firm in denouncing torture as it undermines and debases the dignity of both victims and perpetrators. Pope Benedict XVI said "the prohibition against torture cannot be contravened under any circumstance."

The Senate voted 51-45 to pass HR 2082, the FY2008 Intelligence Authorization Act, which contains anti-torture legislation (Section 327) expanding the prohibition against torture of detainees to all U.S. intelligence agencies and their agents. Now the bill faces a possible veto by President Bush on March 5. We urge you to contact the White House and express your support for President Bush signing those anti-torture provisions of HR 2082 into law.

Background: USCCB was successful in joining with other organizations in pressing the Senate to pass HR 2082 on February 13, 2008 with its anti-torture provisions intact. It was a triumph as it prohibits cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners held by U.S. intelligence agencies. Earlier legislation supported by USCCB had prohibited torture of those held by U.S. military and required that interrogation techniques conform to the standard now offered by the U.S. Army Field Manual. While the Conference cannot presume to be experts on the Manual, one of its guiding principles which USCCB supports echoes the Golden Rule, i.e. we should not use any technique against an enemy that we would not like to have used against our own military or civilians.

While USCCB does not take positions on the more technical and other provisions of the Intelligence Authorization Act, we believe the adoption of the anti-torture provision (Section 327) in HR 2082 would go a long way to restoring U.S. credibility in the international community by helping the U.S. regain the moral high ground. Respect for the dignity of every person, ally or enemy, must serve as the foundation of security, justice and peace. We cannot win the war against terror by abandoning fundamental moral values.

ACTION REQUESTED: Ask your members to call the White House at 202-456-1111 or send an email to President Bush at comments@whitehouse.gov to express support for the anti-torture provisions in HR 2082 and urge him to sign this legislation.

For more information contact Virginia Farris. Office of International Justice and Peace, USCCB, 202-541-3182, vfarris@usccb.org. See the op-ed on torture signed by Bishop Thomas Wenski and four other religious leaders which is being offered for placement.