News Archives » North America
Illinois Bishops call for Immigration Reform and Support of Immigrant Families January 10th, 2012
The Bishops of Illinois opened National Migration Week, which started January 8, with a statement calling on Catholics to provide support to immigrant families and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
During the next six months, each diocese in Illinois will share the stories and realities of immigrant families in their parishes and communities. These stories will be published in diocesan newspapers, bulletin inserts and on our website.
If you have actions, news and reflections about the National Immigration Week from your community, parish or diocese, please share these with the JPIC office.
January 11, 2012 — Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 5th, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the U.S., thanks to passage of a resolution by the Senate on June 22, 2007 making January 11th a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of Human Trafficking around the world.
Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, and forceful detention of people either from one country to another, or within countries. Threats, force and/or deception are typical. Those being exploited are either unpaid, or given a very small payment for their work, prostitution or other sexual exploitation, and are not free to leave these abusive situations. Each year, there are between 600,000 and 800,000 people trafficked across borders throughout the world. There are many more trafficked within countries as well. The United States is not immune to this problem; Many are trafficked within U.S. borders, as well as into the U.S. from outside.
Human Trafficking is rapidly growing, despite the efforts of many to control it. Wherever there is poverty, war, flood, famine, or any kind of upheaval, unscrupulous people prey on the vulnerable. Women and children are especially affected, but many men are as well.
Many of us are unaware of the number of slaves (yes, slaves) we use to maintain our lifestyles. Go to www.slaveryfootprint.org for a series of questions that will show how many slaves it takes to maintain the way you live.
For ideas on what to do, check out the website for Breaking the Snares – A resource for parishes to use in combating Human Trafficking by the Sisters of the Divine Savior; see their parish resource.
In addition, explore the following:
- Stop Trafficking Newsletter and other resources: http://www.stopenslavement.org/archive.htm#handouts
- End Child Prostitution and Trafficking: www.ecpat.net (Website also available in French and Spanish)
- Google The Dark Side of Chocolate to find several sites that show how children in Africa are involved in the chocolate that is so available to us.
Catholic Sisters launch billboard campaign for immigration reform December 22nd, 2011
Ten communities of Catholic Sisters based in the Upper Mississippi River Valley have launched a public awareness campaign called: “Welcoming Communities.” The campaign is to insure that delegates to the Iowa caucuses, potential candidates and voters remember the critical issue of comprehensive immigration reform. The campaign is calling also the White House and U.S. Congress to work together to enact immigration reform.
The billboards with the message, “I was a stranger an immigrant and you welcomed me” are being posted on December 12 and will remain up through early January 2012. The message, based on the words of Jesus, is taken from the Gospel of Matthew.
“We declare ourselves ‘Welcoming Communities’ in affirmation of our Catholic tradition that holds sacred the dignity of each person,” the Sisters said in their statement, “and we invite other communities and people of faith to join us in becoming ‘Immigrant Welcoming Communities’ through prayer, reflection, education and action.”
For more information visit, http://www.clintonfranciscans.com/news-and-events.html OR www.facebook.com/catholicsisters
Death Penalty: Oregon Declares A Moratorium On all Executions December 19th, 2011
On November 22, Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon announced that no more executions will take place during his term. Catholics and several other opponents of the death penalty praised Governor Kitzhaber for placing a moratorium on the use of the death penalty for the rest of his term.
Portland Catholic Archbishop John Vlazny applauded the decision. Faith groups in Oregon mobilized actions, petitions and letters in support of the moratorium. Oregon now joins 16 other states and the District of Columbia that do not have the death penalty. Of those 16, Illinois had abolished the death penalty most recently, in an action early in 2011.
Investors Urge Senate Leadership to Allow Implementation of Clean Air Act Rules December 19th, 2011
Photo Credits: Likely Impact Congress Blocks Pollution Limit Updates
The Missionary Oblates joined thirty-two faith-based and socially responsible investors in a letter to the Senate leadership urging timely implementation of Clean Air Act rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most notably, the Cross State Air Pollution rule (CSAPR) and Mercury and Air Toxics rule (Utility MACT). Arguing that the proposed rules would create jobs and save lives, the investors added that, based on their discussions with electric utilities, the proposed rules would not threaten the reliability of the electric system.
Read the letter (Download PDF)…
