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Oblate JPIC Welcomes Action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform January 30th, 2013
The Missionary Oblates JPIC have joined other people of faith in applauding the announcement made by President Obama and the bipartisan group of Senators calling for necessary reform to fix the broken immigration system.
Yesterday, on January 29, President Obama called on Congress to enact immigration reform that would create a pathway to citizenship for individuals who are currently undocumented, including undocumented youth or ‘DREAMers’, fix the immigration visa system to reunite separated families, and promote the integration of newcomers.
On January 28, a bipartisan group of eight U.S Senators had released a framework, which includes a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented in the nation. It also would reduce family backlogs in the immigration system, which requires family members to wait years to reunite with their loved ones.
President Obama’s immigration reform pillars and principles by the Senators represent a good starting place for Members of Congress to come together to create a reformed immigration system that better serves families and the common good.
As the new Congress considers comprehensive immigration reform legislation, it is important that people of faith make their voices heard and demand humane action on this issue in 2013. Stay tuned for updates on how to take action for comprehensive immigration reform.
Fleeting Responsibility Abounds in 2013 January 30th, 2013
We were greeted in early January with yet another announcement about a settlement between regulators at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve with 10 major U.S. banks concerning charges of abusive and faulty practices in the home foreclosure process. This time the amount was $8.5 billion. It included relief of varying amounts of money for those who were victimized in the process.
Peace & Life Connections: January 25 January 25th, 2013
We reproduce the Consistent Life “Peace & Life Connections” weekly newsletter on this website. If you are interested in more information, or in subscribing to the e-newsletter directly, please visit www.consistent-life.org/ Please note that we do not edit the content of this publication.
January 22, 2013 – 40 Years
The March for Life this year is being held January 25, so next week’s issue should report on our Consistent Life activities there. Meanwhile, the Red Letter Christians published a “Dialog on What it Means to be Pro-life” for the occasion, with CL Endorser Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo. It explicitly mentions the consistent life ethic.
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Obama Declares January 2013 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month January 25th, 2013
All over the country, coalitions, churches, religious orders and individuals are mobilizing their communities this month to be the voices for those who are trapped in modern-day slavery. Many communities are organizing film viewings or a speaker series. And others are taking a less traditional approach. Some of the most interesting stories include:
- Techies are competing for cash to come up with new technology to combat human trafficking.
- The Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi Heights are ruining people’s lunches. Go, Sisters!
- In Ohio, a coalition is setting up camp in Wal-Mart to provide education on the issue of human trafficking.
- One business in North Carolina is baking cupcakes to end slavery.
- A stay-at-home mom is taking advocacy to new heights by climbing Mt. Everest to raise awareness!
USCCB Anti-Trafficking Program Invited to White House to Contribute to National Strategic Action Plan
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Climate Change: A Priority for the Holy See January 24th, 2013
Since 2009, Pope Benedict XVI has explicitly supported the idea of an international treaty through the United Nations to address climate change. The Holy Father has offered this support in his 2009 Message to the Climate Change Summit, 2010 Message to the Diplomatic Corps, and his Angelus on November 27, 2011.
For 2013, it appears that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will make an international agreement a top priority as well. According to the Associated Press, one of his chief concerns in 2013 will be securing a binding international agreement to address climate change: Climate change is fast happening – much, much faster than one would have expected [. . .] Climate and ecosystems are under growing strain [. . .] I will do my best to mobilise the political will and resources so that the member states can agree to a new legally binding global agreement on climate change.
