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Zimbabwe Bishops Call for National Reconciliation October 12th, 2009
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a pastoral letter: “National Healing and Reconciliation – God can heal the wounds of the afflicted”. The pastoral statement released on October 1 says, “Zimbabweans have been divided by disagreements on how national resources and social goods are to be owned, used and distributed. At the centre of economic conflicts has been the distribution and re-distribution of land. The post independence economic downturn that was partly caused by the experimentation with structural adjustment programmes and the crisis of leadership that has continued to dog our country led to frustration.”
Read the letter (Download PDF)
Faith-based Organizations and Immigration Advocates Urge Senator Schumer to Ensure Fair Immigration Policy October 12th, 2009
The Missionary Oblates joined with over 30 organizations representing faith based organizations, immigrant, human rights and civil liberties advocates, and community groups in sending a letter to Senator Chuck Schumer urging him to include fair and humane immigration reform standards in the upcoming U.S. Immigration and Border policy legislation.
For the last few months, Senator Schumer has been holding public hearings about the comprehensive Immigration and Border reforms. The encouraging tone from these Senate hearings has been that the time for immigration reform is now. The letter calls on Senator Schumer to ensure that “any proposed changes to immigration enforcement must reflect fundamental fairness, cardinal American values and international human rights norms.”
Read the letter (Download PDF)
New Brochures on Water Use, Food, Safe Cleaning Products, Fair Trade and More! October 7th, 2009
Updated brochures on environmental issues from the Oblate JPIC Office are now available in English and Spanish.
Topics include:
- Earth Friendly Products
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Focus on Food
- Hints for Saving Water in Your Yard
- A Look at Fair Trade
Spanish versions are also now available:
- Productos amigables para el planeta
- Reducir, Reutilizar, Reciclar
- Enfoque En La Comida
- Consejos Para Ahorrar Agua En Su Jardín
- Un vistazo al comercio justo
We are encouraging widespread distribution of these materials. Click on each topic above to download a PDF for printing and distribution.
Have you prayed for the Africa Synod today? October 5th, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday celebrated a special mass to open a month-long synod of African bishops to discuss their continent’s conflicts, social injustice and poverty under theme: The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.” Pope Benedict praised Africa’s rich cultural and spiritual treasures, calling them a “spiritual lung” for the world. Almost 200 bishops from 53 African states have gathered to discuss how the Catholic Church can help resolve the continent’s social injustices.
Yes Africa matters, an initiative by the Catholic Task Force on Africa in Washington DC, of which the Oblate JPIC office is a member, brings YOU the latest information from the Synod especially through a Live daily blog on the African Synod by Fr Rocco (AFJN) and reflections published by religious communities in Rome.
There is a diverse representation by the Synod for Africa; amongst the participants is U.S. Catholic Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta, leaders from Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches in Africa; director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, a Muslim, who will address the assembly and Rudolf Adada, the former head of the Joint United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Mission for Darfur, Sudan.
Stay tuned!!
The Olympics – Yet Another Victim of America’s Broken Immigration System October 2nd, 2009
Newspapers are reporting today that during the official Q & A session following the Chicago bid for the Olympic Games, I.O.C. member, Syed Shahid Ali, from Pakistan, asked President Obama how smooth it would be for foreigners to enter the United States for the Olympic Games. He added that doing so can sometimes be “a rather harrowing experience.”
While this I.O.C. member’s concerns raise a red flag about the need for a change in our immigration policies, a litany of voices have been warning for years that the U.S. is slowly adopting an anti-immigrant and visitor policy that is harming business, higher education and families.
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