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Oblates and their People Caught in the Crossfire in Sri Lanka – Take Action Now! January 28th, 2009
An estimated 250,000 Tamil civilians are trapped in a small (250 sq mile) area of jungle in northeast Sri Lanka as the government military battles the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). Six Oblates, who along with their people have moved for several months to avoid the fighting, are now trapped on the front lines.
An immediate cease fire, followed by the establishment of a corridor of safety must be established to enable the trapped population to escape to safety zones removed from the fighting.
Emails to Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and others are urgently needed. Please take action today – click here to use the suggested letter to the President in our recent Action Alert.
No Safe Haven for Tamils in Sri Lanka January 23rd, 2009
A major military campaign by the Sri Lankan government to defeat the LTTE – the Tamil Tigers – is causing immense suffering and increasing civilian casualties among the Tamil population. Fleeing their homes to avoid the fighting, men, women and children have been forced into an increasingly small area in the northeast of the country, near Mullaithivu. With humanitarian workers told by the government to leave the Vanni (north) in September, food and medical supplies are in short supply and information is limited.
We continue to hear from priests and others who have remained in the area, and they are appealing for United Nations intervention to stop the bloodshed. Read the Open Letter to UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon from the Priests and Religious in the Wanni
Click here to read more »
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)
Faith Groups Call on Obama to Infuse Stimulus Package with Economic Justice January 16th, 2009
The Oblates and others in the ecumenical faith community have written President-Elect Obama calling for moral leadership that works for justice, stewardship, and sustainability for God’s community. In addition to providing resources to stimulate economy, a stimulus package should also foster the common good and invest in a vibrant, sustainable economy that protects God’s creation and God’s people.
Inauguration and March for Life Expected to Fill Washington January 16th, 2009
Washington will host millions starting this weekend, with the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, January 20th. This will be followed by the 2009 March for Life on Thursday, January 22. An inter-faith National Prayer Service is scheduled for Wednesday at the National Cathedral in Washington. The event is invitation-only.
The inauguration is expected to draw a record-setting crowd of between 1.5 and 3 million people. The theme of the inauguration is “A New Birth of Freedom,” commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. President Obama will be sworn in using the Lincoln Bible.
The March for Life is an annual protest of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion which was handed down on January 22, 1974. A large group connected with the Oblates is coming to Washington for the March and will be staying at the Oblate national headquarters during their stay. The March begins at noon on the National Mall at 4th Street and processes to the Supreme Court to the north of the Capital building. More information on the event is available at the website of the March for Life Organization and Defense Fund.
If you are coming to Washington, be prepared for frigid weather. Need information on what is happening during the inaugural weekend and when? Check the Washington Post’s Inauguration Central.
The US Capitol Visitor Center has now opened – following six years of major construction. The sweeping entrance to the underground facility is on the east side of the Capitol building and hosts exhibition rooms as well as a restaurant and gift shops.
