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Oblates from Latin America share their faith experience on justice, peace and the integrity of creation July 26th, 2016
By Fr. Miguel Pipolo, OMI
The OMI 1982 Constitutions and Rules made a point to introduce the ministry of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation as a main preoccupation of its members. It is good to remember this as we go through the third year of the Oblate Triennium. This ministry cannot be absent from our missionary activity. I hope that sharing our experience in Latin America will help other Oblates in their desire to serve the poor wherever we are.
The economic and social policies in the long Latin American colonial period in Latin America were meant to keep the poor people under the rule of the governing class. Economic and social tragedies were not lacking. These policies affected in depth the poor and the most abandoned in the region. Unspeakable torture and deaths have occurred everywhere, but especially in the countries of Central America and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, the so-called “southern cone” of high material wealth. And this happened in a supposedly Catholic continent.
The Oblates working in Latin America shared the lot of the poor; its pastoral work suffered a turn-about of 360 degrees following the II Vatican Council. The Church was with the poor, even if some bishops were not interested in speaking out in their favor. Many bishops were exemplary shepherds, like Bishop Helder Camara of Recife, Brazil. No suffering was lacking.
Read the full article at OMIWORLD.
Compassionate Refugee Legislation Introduced in U.S. Senate July 21st, 2016
On July 14, 2016, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Refugee Protection Act of 2016, which includes provisions to address many of the severe, longstanding problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems. The Missionary Oblates JPIC office welcomes the introduction of significant legislation — the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. We strongly support this legislation and believe it is compassionate. We also affirm the principles that the bill will help to restore the United States as a welcoming nation for those suffering persecution around the world. Our hope and prayer is that all Members of Congress join the lead sponsors to support passage of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016.
If passed into law, the legislation’s many significant provisions would require the implementation of humane reforms to the immigration detention system. It would also provide increased support to ensure refugees are fully welcomed and it would require appointed legal counsel for unaccompanied children and other vulnerable migrants in immigration proceedings.
Missionary Oblates JPIC joins in solidarity with diverse faith-based organizations as well as human and immigrant rights organizations in supporting the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. The legislation reflects many values which the faith community supports and will show compassion and a strong commitment to protecting refugees, asylum-seekers, vulnerable children and other migrants arriving in the United States.
Join us in commending the co-sponsors of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. We will issue a full action alert in the coming weeks.
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI Speaks at Vatican-Catholic Relief Services Conference on Impact Investing July 15th, 2016
The Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing took place from June 26-28, 2016. The three-day conference, themed “Making the Year of Mercy a Year of Impact for the Poor,“ was co-hosted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Catholic Relief Services.
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI, presented at the conference and gave an interview to Devin Watkins of Vatican Radio.
Visit Vatican Radio to read the full news article and listen to the interview.
Urgent Action: Urge Congress to Pass the Conscience Protection Act NOW! July 12th, 2016
(JPIC action alert is adapted from an alert action resource by USCCB)
July 13, the House is scheduled to vote on the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. Recent action by the federal government allowing California to continue forcing health plans to cover abortions has prompted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to call for an immediate federal remedy. Oblates JPIC strongly supports the Catholic Bishops and urge you take immediate action in support of the Conscience Protection Act of 2016 H.R. 4828/S. 2927.
It is critical that you contact your representatives and urge them to take immediate action to enact the Conscience Protection Act of 2016 H.R. 4828/S. 2927). Even if you have responded to a previous alert, please contact your representatives again and urge them to support this bill.
On July 13, the House is scheduled to vote on the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. It would amend the Public Health Service Act to “codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider’s refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortion.”
In 2014, California started forcing almost all health plans in the state to cover elective abortions, even late-term abortions. Religious employers in California that offer group health plans to their employees lodged an objection with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has oversight responsibility for enforcing federal conscience laws. On June 21, HHS declared, contrary to the plain meaning of current federal law that the California Department of Managed Health Care can continue to force all health plans under its jurisdiction to cover elective abortions.
What is more, other states such as Washington and New York may be following California’s lead. These actions clearly violate a federal law known as the Weldon Amendment, which forbids governments receiving federal health care funds to discriminate against those who decline to take part in abortion or abortion coverage. Unfortunately, this amendment has limitations that may make it difficult to enforce.
While HHS badly interpreted the Weldon amendment, the Conscience Protection Act (CPA) of 2016, (H.R. 4828/S. 2927), will make it even clearer that sponsors or providers of health plans that do not include elective abortion cannot be discriminated against. The CPA will protect health care providers from being forced to pay for or participate in abortions, and allow victims of discrimination a “right of action” to defend their rights in court. For example, nurses threatened with loss of their jobs unless they assist in abortions have found they have no right to go to court to see the law enforced. Congress should reaffirm a principle that has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support: Government should not force hospitals, doctors, nurses and other providers to stop offering much-needed health care because they cannot in good conscience participate in destroying a human life.
TAKE ACTION:
- Send an email to your Congressional Representative
- Contact your Representative by phone. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or call his or her local office.
Suggested Message:
I urge you to enact H.R. 4828/S. 2927, the Conscience Protection Act of 2016, to defend the conscience rights of those who wish not to be involved in supporting abortion. Enacting this law is even more urgent with the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow the state of California to continue forcing health plans to cover elective abortions. This bill is needed now to stop further discrimination against all people who respect unborn human life. It is wrong for government to force Americans to violate their deeply held convictions on respect for human life.
CONCLUSION:
Missionary Oblates JPIC Applauds Final Release of a Rule on Oil and Mining Transparency June 30th, 2016
The Missionary Oblates Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation office applauds the final release of a rule by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which requires oil, gas and mining companies to disclose and report payments they make to governments for resource extraction. Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010) requires U.S.-listed oil, gas and mining companies to disclose what they pay to governments in annual filings.
This rule will increase transparency on payment for extractives, especially to governments in Africa and Latin America. We believe this rule will make a significant difference in the lives of poor people living in resource rich countries by allowing more transparency from oil, gas and mining companies about payments made to national or regional governments.
Knowing information about payments received for resource extraction will empower local communities to demand their governments invest into local community initiatives, especially in schools, hospitals and roads. Missionary Oblates JPIC staff participated in several partner meetings, signed-on to letters and attended conferences that called for the adoption of stronger rules on resource extraction.
