Latest OMI JPIC News
URGENT: Ask your U.S. Representative to vote NO! on HR 4760 and HR 6136 June 20th, 2018
(Action alert developed by USCCB Justice for Immigrants)
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are voting on June 21st to pass H.R. 4760 and H.R. 6136. We join Justice for Immigrants (JFI) and other faith groups in recommending that Representatives vote NO on both bills.
Both of these bills address DACA eligible youth, but require drastic cuts to family-based immigration and eradicate protections for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. Here are some of our concerns:
HR 4760
- H.R. 4760 does not include a pathway to citizenship for the limited number of DACA recipients eligible for protection.
- H.R. 4760 fails to adequately address family separation and will lead to increases in child and family detention.
- H.R. 4760 heightens the asylum “credible fear” standard and will undermine existing and critical protections for unaccompanied children.
HR 6136
- H.R. 6136 fails to adequately address family separation and will lead to increases in child and family detention.
- H.R. 6136 heightens the asylum “credible fear” standard and will undermine existing and critical protections for unaccompanied children.
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ (JFI) website to send this action alert to your U.S. House members.
Here are two new resources and more in depth-backgrounders from JFI on the two bills. Also visit JFI’s DACA/Dreamer Resource page:
H.R. 6136 -One page background of some points of the bill.
H.R. 4760– One page background of some points on the bill.
Protect Immigrant Children and Families and Keep Them Together June 20th, 2018
Reflection
“And who is my neighbor?”
He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
Luke 10: 29; 36-37
Background
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – JPIC Ministry expresses solidarity with many religious voices and communities in condemning the separation of children from their parents at the U.S/Mexico border. We support the concerns as expressed by other Catholic voices including United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that migrant children and families seeking safety must be kept together. A zero tolerance policy of separating children from their parents is not a deterrent. As people of faith, we are called to stand and protect the dignity of poor and abandoned people, especially vulnerable children and parents crossing the border.
“When the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our “neighbors” and everything around us.”
(Pope Francis to Join Session of U.S Congress- September 24, 2015).
Action
Tell Congress to Stop Separating Families & Protect Family Unity. Join U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign action calling for the protection of immigrant children and families seeking safety and shelter from violence by keeping these families together.
Prayer
God: We pray for all people. We pray for those who leave their countries of origin in search for a better life for their families. Help us to stand strong in our actions of solidarity and prayers. Give courage to elected leaders to do the right thing of enacting laws that protects all immigrant children and their families. You always make something new in each one of us. With your help, let us build a better world for all people. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Five Things You Can Do to End Family Separation: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/2016site/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Five-Ways-You-Can-Help-Stop-Family-Separation.pdf
Update
On June 20, the Trump Administration announced an executive order on family separation. Together with other faith partners, we will provide an update in the coming days on whether this order ends the zero-tolerance policy on migrant families.
2018 World Refugee Day: Take Action & Pray for Refugees June 18th, 2018
The United Nations General Assembly in 2000, designated June 20 as World Refugee Day. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is one who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
For many years the Catholic Church, through its various agencies has actively raised awareness about the plight of refugees through education and advocacy, and directly provided services for them.
These efforts take place on the international level through organizations like Catholic Relief Servicesand Jesuit Relief Service, and domestically, through Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Here are some ways to become involved:
Download a 2018 World Refugee Day Resource.
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ website to read more about the U.S. Bishops’ campaign to support immigrants and refugees.
Leading Oil and Gas Executives Attend Climate Change Conference Hosted by Vatican June 12th, 2018
On Friday, June 8, leading oil and gas executives attended a climate change conference hosted by the Vatican titled, “Energy Transition and Care for Our Common Home” and held at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
The conference is follow-up to Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home, which was released three years ago on June 18.
Visit this website to read Pope Francis’ address to meeting participants
Visit these links to read more about the conference:
CAFOD
https://cafod.org.uk/News/Campaigning-news/Pope-fossil-fuels-energy-call
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/09/pope-francis-tells-oil-bosses-world-must-wean-itself-off-fossil-fuels
Pope Francis Announces Synod of Bishops for Pan-Amazon Region June 12th, 2018
The Vatican has announced plans for a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Pan-Amazon region. The event will take place in October 2019. The theme for the event is “Amazonia: new pathways for the Church and for an integral ecology” and will bring together Vatican officials and prelates and consultants from Latin America’s Pan-Amazon region.
Click here to read the full story
Visit the Vatican’s website to download the Synod’s preparatory document (available in Italian, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese).
Sr. Ann Diehl, CSJ Named Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate June 6th, 2018
 Photos courtesy of Janice Cooke |
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Congratulations to former OMI US provincial secretary and archivist Sr. Ann Diehl, CSJ, for 26 years of service to the Oblates and still counting. On June 4, Sr. Ann received the designation of Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate during a Mass and program held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The ceremony was officiated by Oblate Superior General Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, assisted by US Provincial Fr. Louis Studer, OMI. Following the Mass, a lunch reception was held at the Oblate residence. Sr. Ann has been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 54 years.
