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Religious Institutions Urge Senate to Pass Financial Transparency Legislation December 13th, 2019
Nearly 80 national religious bodies and local churches, synagogues and Muslim groups, including Missionary Oblates sent a letter to the US Senate urging passage of the ILLICIT CASH Act (S.2563) and the Corporate Transparency Act (S.1978).
OMI JPIC partner Jubilee USA coordinated the letter. In a press release, Jubilee’s director Eric LeCompte notes: “It will be more difficult for dictators to use shell companies to secretly steal development aid and for human traffickers to hide their profits once this legislation passes the Senate. The legislation reveals the true owners of shell companies to law enforcement.”
The letter states: “We write to urge you to support legislative actions in line with our faith…legislation that promotes transparency, fights corruption and protects the vulnerable,” stated the religious groups which included the Evangelical Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and United Church of Christ Churches.
The legislation is supported by the White House and passed the House of Representatives in October.
Read the Religious Organization Senate Transparency Letter here
Link for Sharing the Press Release: https://www.jubileeusa.org/pr_cta_letter_2019
Link to Religious Senate Letter and Signers: https://www.jubileeusa.org/jusa_cta_sign_on_letter_2019
Link for your Faith Community to Sign-on before next Senate Delivery: https://forms.gle/bzUEuXejacH5iS6T6
Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations and 700 faith communities working with 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee USA builds an economy that serves, protects and promotes the participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA wins critical global financial reforms and won more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world’s poorest people. www.jubileeusa.org
Advent Reflection – First Sunday December 1st, 2019
What Shall I Wear at Christmas?
Romans 13:11-14 – First Sunday of Advent (A)
Each year, during the weeks leading up to the holiday season, advertising strips of traditional Christian songs in order to set the stage for a commercial process. Let us listen for a moment to these jingles on the radio, not to enjoy but to see how they don dressed up and cheerful tunes, making the original words of faith disappear as they are switched with commercial refrains and choruses. This all as an attempt to hypnotize us and make us believe that to be generous and to love is to consume, to buy material goods and to offer them to those who are dear to us. Far be it from me to suggest that we should all stop, but I ask: Is this what “Christmas Magic” really means? I this what we have reduced it to?
We are entering the Advent season, which has nothing to do with the stressful coming and going of our bodies and finances, which is the race for Christmas presents. Advent is, in fact, a liturgical time that predisposes us to celebrate joyfully the coming of the Son of God in our world. For us Christians, it is a question of not remaining passive in front of this dark display of an outrageous materialism that has been imposed on humanity. Thus, the apostle Paul urges us to take concrete action, that akin to waking from sleep (Rom 13.11; Eph 5:14), in order to live in the open and free ourselves from our alienating behaviors (Rom 13:13). He exhorts us to “clothe yourselves in the Lord Jesus. “ (Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24) Wearing Christ as in the wearing of a garment, bringing the Good News and bearing the Spirit’s fruits (Gal 5.22 to 23), this is for me the true meaning of Christmas!
Serge Cazelais
Biblical Specialist and Historian of World Religions
Originally published in French from Échos de la Parole – Office de cathéchèse du Québec.
Translated by Bro. Joey Methé OMI.
Republished with permission from the author.
Catholic University Students Meet for Evening Prayers in French at Oblate Administrative Offices November 6th, 2019
In anticipation of All Saints’ Day, students from Catholic University (Dept. of Modern Languages) met for evening prayers in French at the Oblate Administrative offices across the street from the school.
There were twelve participants at the prayer event, organized by Br.Joey Methé, OMI. The students later publicly extended a warm thank you to Frère Joey for hosting the prayer group, posting about the event on social media and the school’s website.
There are tentative plans for OMI JPIC to host more of these events in the future.
Taking a Stand: ICCR Hosts Annual Event on Protecting Human Rights Defenders November 6th, 2019
On Tuesday, October 29, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) hosted its annual event, “Taking a Stand: Corporate Action to Protect Human Rights Defenders” in New York City. The event focused on protecting human rights defenders from the threats they face. Moderator, Chris Jochnick, led an exciting discussion with Ines Osman of MENA Rights Group; Nicole Karlebach of Oath: A Verizon Company; and Bennett Freeman of the Institute for Human Rights and Business.
Later on conference participants, including ICCR Board Chair, Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, celebrated the event’s success at a reception.
Br. Joey Methé, OMI Professes 2nd Vows October 22nd, 2019
On Thursday, October 17, 2019, Br. Joey Methé, OMI renewed his 2nd vows to the Congregation in the presence of U.S Oblates and his Provincial, Fr. Luc Tardif, OMI of Notre-Dame-du-Cap Province in Quebec, Canada. The renewal of vows was done during a prayer service presided over by Fr. Tom Coughlin and Provincial Tardif offered these words with the assembly: It is with joyful hearts to see you renewing your vows for another year and to commit yourself to live your life as an Oblate authentically and always open to helping others. We are lucky to have you and we bless you as you continue your journey with us.
The OMI JPIC office shares in the joy of Br. Joey’s recommitment for another year and pray God’s grace and blessings on him.
(From L to R) Br. Joey Methé, OMI and Fr. Luc Tardif, OMI
PROFILE: Br. Joey Methé, OMI
Br. Joey Methé, OMI, is a creative professional who has always been passionate about social solidarity and ecological justice. He began his activist work when he was elected President of l’Association des étudiantes et étudiants francophones (AEF) at Laurentian University in Sudbury (Canada), advocating for the linguistic rights of francophone students and fighting for unhindered access to post-secondary education. He then went on to work for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa for over 9 years as the Communications Director. After years of leadership in the student movement in Canada, he became a religious brother with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on August 1st, 2018. This was his way to answer Jesus’ call to be in solidarity with those who are forgotten, abandoned and oppressed.
Br. Joey is from Notre-Dame-du-Cap Oblate Province in Canada and is currently studying Theology at the University of St Paul, Ottawa.
He was the 2019 summer intern at the JPIC USA office and has now become a part of the office staff. As an oblate brother in formation, he hopes to learn from the expertise of the JPIC staff, continue his work studying and analyzing the mining/extractives industry, and offer his creative media production skills to the OMI justice, peace and integrity of creation ministry.
