News Archives » Economic Justice
Bishops of G8 Nations Call On Their Leaders to Assist the Poor in Developing Nations July 1st, 2009
The Catholic Bishop’s Conferences from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland and USA are urging their leaders, members of the Group of Eight (G8) major industrialized countries, to adopt a set of shared actions designed to protect and assist poor people in developing nations who are suffering from the economic meltdown.
The appeal is contained in a joint statement to the G8 summit 2009, the next meeting of which takes place in Italy on July 8-14. The bishops’ letter refers to an earlier message from Pope Benedict XVI addressed to a G20 meeting where the Holy Father called for more development aid to poor countries. The Pope remonstrated that poor nations did not generate the crisis hence should not be its victims.
Following is the full text of the letter
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Oblates Work with Parishioners to Save Mortgages April 27th, 2009
John Lasseigne, OMI is a priest at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in the Southern California community of Pacoima, where one in every nine homes is in some stage of foreclosure. He says the people in this community were targeted by predatory lenders and given loans they never should have qualified for.
Fr. Lasseigne and others at Mary Immaculate, has been working with One-LA, a community organizing effort in Los Angeles, to help parishioners re-finance problematic mortgages.
CNN recently did a story on this effort. Watch the video…
The Spring 2009 issue of JPIC Report now available March 18th, 2009
The Spring issue of JPIC Report is now available, with hyperlinks to email addresses and websites mentioned in the text. (Download PDF)
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Foreclosure Prevention and Job Stimulus Plans Presented to Rep. Howard Berman of California February 4th, 2009
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate staff three parishes in the Los Angeles area. They are active supporters and participants in an effort to address the acute challenges facing homeowners and others hit by the severe economic downturn in their area.
Two proposals to stem foreclosures and stimulate job training were presented recently to the area’s Congressional representative, Howard Berman, a senior democrat in Congress. Presentation took place on January 25 at an assembly of more than 500 people from churches, synagogues and unions in San Fernando CA.
One LA Job Training Plan (PDF)
Cardinal George, OMI writes President Obama, Articulates Priorities of the Catholic Church January 23rd, 2009
Francis Cardinal George, OMI – as President of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops – has written President Obama counseling him not to “…reverse current policies against government-sponsored destruction of unbom human life”. (Download PDF of the letter)
In a second letter focusing on a broader range of issues, Cardinal George outlines the principles and priorities that guide the public policy efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In it, he outlines an agenda for dialogue and action, and expresses the desire to work together with the new Administration “…to defend human life and dignity and build a nation of greater justice and a world at peace”. The focus is on the needs of the poor, the marginalized and the unborn, and included a call for the renewal of responsible international leadership. (Download PDF of the letter)
