News Archives » News
Universal Declaration of Human Rights @ 70 December 10th, 2018
December 10th is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the United Nations is leading world leaders and the international community in celebrating the adoption of these set of principles (30 in all) that were established to safeguard the inherent dignity of every human being.
Among the many activities taking place around the world, the Alliance Defending Freedom International will deliver thousands of signatures from more than 170 countries in support of The Geneva Statement, which urges the international community to uphold the fundamental right to life, family, and religious freedom, as recognized by the declaration. The Geneva Statement calls for new commitments from the international community.
The United Nations was founded in the aftermath of WWII in 1945. Some of the principal objectives for founding the organization as outlined in the preamble of the UN Charter were; “to prevent the occurrence of future atrocities by affirming faith in fundamental human rights, in dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women, and of nations large and small and the commitment to promote better standard of life in larger freedom.” These fundamental human rights are all captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10th December 1948. This day is observed every year as the International Human Rights Day.
The human rights doctrine is also influenced by tenets of Catholic Social Teaching – in the basic concept of human dignity. The Declaration has many phrases from Catholic Social in the documents. Some of examples are outlined in a 2001 book, A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written by former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon. This book is widely considered one of the definitive histories of the human rights document. While Catholic ideas can be found in the document, author Mary Ann Glendon notes that it is just “one of many sources of influence on this impressively multicultural document.”
Still relevant today as they were in 1948, the UN Declaration of Human Rights has been translated into 513 languages, making it the most translated document in history.
LEARN MORE
Video: History of the UDHR: https://bit.ly/2B9wnX2
Short articles on each of the 30 Articles of the UDHR: https://bit.ly/2BFvDpg
Read more at UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1027981
70 years of progress on Human Rights: https://www.humanrights70.org/#home
Breaking: U.S. Provincial Issues Statement on Border Wall’s Impact on La Lomita November 29th, 2018
Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, U.S.Provincial
November 29: The Very Rev. Louis Studer, OMI, has issued a statement regarding the proposed border wall’s encroachment on an historic, sacred space in Texas.
This is in response to a story which originally appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller Times which was re-posted on OMIUSA.ORG. Click here to read that story.
Read Fr. Lou Studer’s statement.
Read the story in the Brownsville Herald.
Missionary Oblates Partner Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (MVHP) Featured in Lowell Sun November 29th, 2018
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is proud to celebrate the continuing mission and work of our long-time partner Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (MVHP)!
Among other projects, they are involved in the creation of safe and affordable housing in and around Lowell, MA. The Oblates were founding partners of the partnership and have been active supporters of their effort to help first time home buyers, from the many diverse communities of the Merrimack Valley, realize their dream.
Read the story in the Lowell Sun.
We Wish You a Blessed Thanksgiving! November 21st, 2018
Jubilee USA Network Hosts 2018 Council Meeting November 13th, 2018
On November 7 and 8 Jubilee USA held its Annual National Council Meeting to inform constituents about the crisis in Puerto Rico, responsible lending and borrowing practices in the developing world, especially in Somalia, and Africa’s new debt crisis.
Jubilee USA is a coalition of diverse organizations and international partners including faith communities who advocate for debt cancellation for the world’s most impoverished countries. They also promote fiscal responsible economic policies. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate JPIC has long been a participating member of Jubilee USA. Staff recently attended the 2018 council meeting held at the Methodist building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
The annual meeting events included a congressional briefing on November 7 focused on the theme; Lifting Vulnerable Communities: Ensuring Access to Medicines in Trade and Agreements and US Policy. Presenters at the Jubilee USA council meeting were representatives from American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Puerto Rico Coalition on the Debt and American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Panelists reminded attendees of the urgency of the Puerto Rico debt crisis and their recovery efforts, and the growing debt crisis in Somalia and other nations in Africa.
Engage with Jubilee USA by participating in Jubilee Weekend 2018. Join other Religious groups and partners in a weekend of reflection, prayers and actions to end extreme poverty and transform our global economic system.
- Sign up here and find resource for actions and prayers for Jubilee Weekend November 16 – 18, 2018: https://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee_weekend
