News Archives » Social Justice
U.S Catholics:Religious Freedom Initiative – June 21 – July 4 June 15th, 2015
A “Fortnight for Freedom,” – June 21-July 4 is a 14-day period of prayer, education and action across all dioceses in the United States in support of religious freedom. Launched by U.S Catholic Bishops, several initiatives and events are encouraged to highlight the importance of defending religious freedom.
The theme for 2015 Fortnight for Freedom is Freedom to Bear Witness to the Truth of the Gospel. For Catholics, these fourteen days are significant because it incorporate series of feasts of Saint Peter and Paul and June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day.
For more please see USCCB website for liturgical resources and information on special event in your parish.
Fortnight for Freedom Resources here.
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Prayer from USCCB Fortnight for Freedom 2015)
Oblate Community Supported Garden Hosts Feast in the Field at Godfrey Illinois. June 12th, 2015
Recently the Oblate Community Supported Garden at La Vista in Godfrey Illinois hosted the well-attended and successful Feast in the Field. The dinner was also celebration to honor La Vista Oblate Community Supported Garden and its dedication to help feed the local community sustainably. St. Louis’ top culinary and restaurants prepared the dinner menu.
Doing this event is customary for La Vista Community Supported Garden. The goal of Oblate supported garden is to be a source of renewal for human, social and physical health. It also provides healthy, nutritious food and builds a diverse community.
For the Missionary Oblates, this celebration in many ways lives our mandate for integrity of creation. It is also timely that in the coming weeks, we are looking forward to Pope Francis’s Ecology Encyclical ‘Laudato Sii’ (Praised Be). For the faithful community, the Pope’s Ecology Encyclical is an Invitation to Reflect and Respond to its Call to Action.
Oblate JPIC Meet Organizational Partners June 4th, 2015
Oblate JPIC maintains a collaborative relationship with some organizations that support us in the ministry for justice and peace and those who get financial support for programs from the U.S Missionary Oblates.
This week, the JPIC staff has been meeting with partner organizations that are based in Washington DC. Oblates JPIC Director Fr. Ponce and George met with the leadership team from Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and also with the Latin America Working Group (LAWG).
Both organizations have a long history of strong commitment to human rights and social justice with a deep understanding of U.S foreign policy towards Latin America.
The meetings focused on sharing common areas of collaborations, learn about new initiatives, programs by the partners. It was also a moment to explore opportunities for future support and collaborations on new challenging issues in the JPIC ministry.
These organizations expertise in campaigns, research and advocacy allow us to do far more than we could alone as JPIC office. Their commitment to social justice and integrity of creation is admirable. JPIC is glad to have them as partners.
Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran Bishops Call for an End to Detention of Families March 27th, 2015
The current policy of family detention is unworthy of our nation; Humane alternatives to detention are available
Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran bishops visited with young mothers and children who have fled violence in their home countries and are now incarcerated at Dilley Detention Center in Dilley, Texas, on March 27. The faith leaders called upon the federal government to halt the practice of family detentions, citing the harmful effects on mothers, children and the moral character of society.
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio, Texas, whose archdiocese includes Dilley, was joined by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle, and Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, Texas. Bishops Michael Rinehart and H. Julian Gordy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America also joined them on the visit. Since last summer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has detained hundreds of families at detention centers in New Mexico, Texas, and Pennsylvania, under a new family detention policy aimed at families fleeing violence in Central America.
“After this visit, my primary question is: Why? Why do we feel compelled to place in detention such vulnerable individuals –traumatized young mothers with children fleeing persecution in their home countries?” said Archbishop García-Siller following the visit. “A great nation such as ours need not incarcerate the most vulnerable in the name of deterrence. The moral character of a society is judged by how it treats the most vulnerable in our midst. Our nation’s family detention policy is shameful and I implore our elected officials to end it.”
Bishop Elizondo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, added: “The detention of families serves no purpose and undermines due process. It especially harms children, who experience emotional and psychological harm from detention. The policy is a stain on the administration’s record on immigration.”
Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, Texas, said humane alternatives to detention exist and should be used for the population.
“The government should consider placing these families in humane alternatives to detention, where they could live in the community and access needed services, including legal representation,” Bishop Tamayo said. “The Church is ready to assist in this effort.”
Information on the USCCB position on family detention can be found on the USCCB website at:
Read the Bishops’ Letter to President Obama here…
