News Archives » Social Justice
U.S. Bishops Outline Legislative ‘Principles and Priorities’ For New Congress January 26th, 2011
The poor and vulnerable must not be neglected in times of difficult choices
Respect for the dignity of all human life an underlying principle
Subsequent letter on health care reform reflects bishops’ principles at work
In a letter to Congress dated January 14th, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), outlined the “principles and priorities that will guide the public policy efforts” of the Bishops’ Conference during the new legislature.
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8th Day Center E-Newsletter is a Good Resource January 21st, 2011
Stay connected with the 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago by signing up to receive their electronic newsletter sent on the “8th Day” of each month. The e-newsletter will provide you with up-to-date information on the work of 8th Day, including actions, events and reflections.
To sign-up to receive the e-newsletter, contact Beth at beth@8thdaycenter.org.
January 11th – Human Trafficking Day January 12th, 2011
January 11th is Human Trafficking Day, so we encourage you to spend some time learning about slavery in the modern economy.
Human trafficking — the buying and selling of human beings — is far from a thing of the past. Free the Slaves estimates that over 27 million men, women, and children are enslaved in the world today, being forced to labor in fields, factories, sweatshops, brothels, battlefields, and private homes.
People are trafficked within countries and across borders, and they are trafficked to and from almost everywhere in the world — the Polaris Project estimates that 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States every year, in addition to thousands of citizens being trafficked within the country.
In early January, President Obama declared January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Today, January 11th, is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Read more on the Care2 blog or check out our website page on human trafficking for a host of links and resources on human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Help Stop Human Trafficking in Hotels January 10th, 2011
Trafficking of people – especially women and children – is a huge problem around the world, including the Unites States. A campaign is underway with hotels to raise awareness and stimulate action on this issue.
While the Oblates have taken action as shareholders with hotels and other parts of the travel industry, it is now possible for individuals to take action.
Please consider using this letter which you can copy and take to any hotel where you stay. It expresses concern about human trafficking, especially that of children for sex and asks that the hotel be aware and active on this issue. Please note that there is a space at the bottom of the letter for you to fill in your contact information so the Hotel Manager can send a response.
Download Sample Letter to Hotel
Thank you for taking action on this important issue!
Community Organizing Booklets Available January 7th, 2011
Engaged in community organizing? Looking for some good resources? Interested in learning more? Check out a new series of small booklets on community organizing from ACTA Publishing in Chicago.
Titles include:
Reflecting with Scripture on Community Organizing; author Jeff Krehbiel explores four key passages from the Bible and how they might inform community organizing. There are directions in the back of the book for using the reflections for group discussion.
Rebuilding Our Institutions; by author Ernie Cortes. This booklet contains his analysis of the need for mediating institutions if democracy is to flourish.
Action Creates Public Life by Ed Chambers, argues that it is by taking action that we define who we are as adults. Chambers’ previous booklets, The Power of Relational Action and The Body Trumps the Brain are also available.
Effective Organizing for Congregational Renewal by Mike Gecan offers advice and case studies on how to use the tools of community organizing inside congregations of all faiths and denominations.
ACTA Publishing is a lay-owned religious-oriented press which publishes “a wide variety of materials for those attempting to live out the Christian faith in their daily lives, on their jobs, with their families, and in their communities.” The new booklets focus on CO especially as practiced by the Industrial Areas Foundation.
Booklets retail for $5.95 each, with discounts available for multiple copies.
The Press also offers other books of interest to people active in the life of their communities. Order the booklets and learn more at www.actapublications.com. Go to the Community Organizing part of the site to find the list of booklets listed above. If you need further assistance, please contact the OMI JPIC Office by calling or emailing Mary O’Herron or Christina Herman.
