Justice Peace Integrity of Creation

Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation

“There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried, said St. Oscar Romero.”

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office is a ministry of the Sisters of St.Francis. Because we live in a world ripped apart by many divisions there is a critically urgent need for all of us to be educated on issues. Then the need follows for each of us to step forward together taking action with and on behalf of those whose voices are ignored and marginalized. We are called to be prayerful and prophetic; we are called to stand up with all of our sisters and brothers/all of creation.

May each of us cry, see, pray and actively participate in bringing about the reality of Jesus’ gospel message – a message that resonates with all major religions.

Noella Poinsette, OSF
Director of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

P.O.Box 100
Oldenburg, IN 47036
npoinsette@oldenburgosf.com

812-933-6409

Corporate Stances

June 20: World Refugee Day. Along with others in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis we participated in the “Chalk Our Walk” event. Here are some photos of our 5:30 crew participating in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ “Chalk Your Walk” event in support of refugees.
Along with Pope Francis we, the Sisters of St. Francis, believe “The Church without frontiers…spreads throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity in which no one is seen as useless, out of place, or disposable…Jesus Christ is always waiting to be recognized in migrants and refugees, in displaced persons, and in exiles, and through them he calls us to share our resources and occasionally to give up something of our acquired riches.” [Message for 2015 on World Refugee Day – Pope Francis]

The following is a statement from LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious). As members of LCWR we, the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, IN stand in full support of this statement and ask you to stand with us in calling our Senators (202-224-3121) for the action named below. Our children demand this of us.
Click HERE to read the statement

"VOCES8 performs 'This Is My Song' to the tune of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, arranged here by VOCES8 tenor, Blake Morgan. TEXT Vv1&2 by Lloyd Stone, v.3 Blake Morgan

On this Ash Wednesday we invite you to join us in the prayer and fasting that Pope Francis has called for today - prayer and fasting for the people of Ukraine in this time of profound pain as they struggle to defend their freedom/their democracy in their beloved land.
We had a special prayer service on Monday. We have also been contacting our legislators in DC about many things: TPS for Ukrainians who are here, humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees in Europe, sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia to end this unjust war, etc. We are hanging a Ukrainian flag at our entrance and have ordered some yard signs like the above photo.
We hope you will join us in prayer and in advocacy for these our sisters and brothers.

You can listen to "This Is My Song" as Voces 8 sings it. We used this beautiful song in our prayer on Monday; it's a wonderful song recognizing the beauty of all people in all lands. May all of our hearts and all of our lands be healed through justice in peace everywhere.

This is my song, O God of all the nations, A song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is, Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine. But other hearts in other lands are beating, With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean, And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine. But other lands have sunlight too, and clover, And skies are everywhere as blue as mine. *This is my song, O God of all the nations, A song of peace for their land and for mine. So let us raise this melody together, Beneath the stars that guide us through the night; If we choose love, each storm we’ll learn to weather, Until true peace and harmony we find, This is our song, a hymn we raise together; A dream of peace, uniting humankind. *modified from Stone’s original poetry."

Lining up for the procession - Sisters Noella, Dianne, and Amy are there in row 2

Sisters Dianne, Noella, and Amy taking a quick break from the procession in front of the White House

On Friday, Dec. 3 almost 100 Catholic Sisters gathered in DC to call on President Biden to end Title 42. This is an inhumane practice of denying migrants even the possibility of applying for asylum at our southern border. Sisters Amy Kistner, Dianne Kaimann, and Noella Poinsette were among those present.

You can watch the livestream of the event at https://networklobby.org/title42livestream/
At 39:39 the speakers begin with sharing stories of those working at the border and also Santiago giving his own personal story. These were powerful presentations; these give evidence of why we must end the use of this despicable policy. President Biden has the power to end this; Congress has no role in ending this and in honoring international law on the right to asylum.

Join us in calling for an end to Title 42.

What would have happened if the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph had been met by Egyptian authorities with such hardness of heart as they fled Herod's death squad?

Contact the White House
1. Email the White House about this event – Tell them to Rescind Title 42

2. The White House comment line is only open Tuesday-Thursday from 11 AM-3 PM Eastern. Dial 1-888-496-3502 to call the comment line.

Click HERE for additional photos.

WATCH POWERFUL VIDEO FOOTAGE as one family, accompanied by a Catholic bishop, was denied the opportunity to request asylum. On Sept 25 Sisters Amy Kistner and Noella Poinsette were privileged to participate in this action at the Nogales, AZ port of entry. Mary Ellen Koyle from Michigan joined us in this journey.

Actually, we were on the Mexican side of the border accompanying 25 families who told part of their stories as they requested to be allowed into the United States applying for asylum. This is an internationally recognized right that our country has been denying to thousands as we use Title 42, a public health policy, as an excuse. Besides the 25 families there were hundreds of others there marching with us in support and about another hundred on the US side of the border wall.

These sisters and brothers of ours have fled their homelands in an effort to protect their children. Husbands and other family members have been killed and many of these migrants know their fate will be the same if they remain at home. Some of the violence at home is because of the US propping up dictators, training military forces in repressive techniques, and funding corrupt governments rather than working with the people to improve their lives at home.

What happened on the 25th? The bishop of Tucson, AZ accompanied the first family as they requested asylum. There was no acknowledgement of the family or the bishop; the gate was pulled down; the family’s request was rejected. The port of entry was closed. We waited through a downpour. An hour or so later the port was opened again and families proceed with their stories and requests for asylum. Again Border Patrol officers simply ignored these sisters and brothers. There was no compassion – no acknowledgement that a human being stood on the other side speaking/living/suffering.

On our return drive to Indiana the car broke down. We were stranded on I-44 west of St. Louis for a few hours as we waited for AAA to find help for us. We were told that tow trucks only pick up two people – so which of us was going to be the 3rd person who got to stay stranded on I-44’s shoulder for eternity? When a two-seater tow truck arrived for all of us Gene drove us and the car to St. Robert, MO. At Toyota we found out that the car was destined for crushing and we began calls for rentals – no one way rentals. Finally on the next day we got to Sr. Rita Thomas’ place and Sr. Dianne Kaimann drove from Oldenburg to pick us up.

Why tell you all of this? One call after another was more and more frustrating and distressing. How were we going to get back? But our experience was NOTHING compared to what our families at the border are going through every moment of every day for months and longer. We had people who were trying to help us. The migrants face the possibility of extortion, kidnapping, trafficking, murder constantly in dangerous northern Mexican towns. They don’t know who to trust. And then our Border Patrol acts as though they are invisible and worthless. Our government’s response tries to rob them of their dignity.

As stressful as our return was we’re humbled by the courage, patience, and determination of these sisters and brothers south of our border. We’re thankful that we could share in a piece of their life journeys.

The migrant families we stood with had a clear call to action for everyone in the U.S.-- contact President Biden and ask him to end the inhumane Title 42 policy and restore access to asylum for those fleeing grave danger. TAKE ACTION! As Catholics, we are called to love our neighbor and accompany the vulnerable. We need to live out these Gospel values by taking action today.

Let us pray and take action on behalf of our Afghani sisters and brothers.
While the U.S. military withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban gains control, we watch with horror as panic and desperation spreads among ordinary Afghans and especially among groups who will be particularly vulnerable under Taliban rule, including former U.S. allies, women and girls, and religious and minority groups. You can join us in praying this prayer for Afghanistan from Christian Aid.
In an effort to address this unfolding tragedy, we invite you to contact the Biden administration to urge them to greatly expand opportunities for Afghans seeking refuge from violence, including through humanitarian aid and particularly through welcoming the most vulnerable Afghans into the United States.
If you want information on who is accepted as a refugee and the process, watch a 5 minute video. Some have the misperception of refugees coming here and getting everything free; this is not the case. https://networklobby.org/welcome-to-networks-summer-immigration-education/ A few other short videos are also on this site - related to immigration.

On Wednesday, August 11, several of us attended a Save Our Democracy rally at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.
The Sisters of St. Francis were one of the many sponsors of this event. The purpose was to raise awareness and rally support for S1, For the People Act; the House has already passed this bill and it now needs a vote in the Senate. Majority Leader Schumer has said that this will be a top priority when the August recess ends. More than 400 bills have been submitted in state legislatures since January; most of these make it more difficult for citizens to vote. For the People Act would set basic uniform standards across the country protecting our right to vote. For more information on some of these protections, including an end to gerrymandering, greater access to mail in voting and early voting, transparency regarding donors, etc. go to https://networklobby.org/issues/votinganddemocracy/
Afterwards Sr. Annette Grisley and Sr. Noella Poinsette had a good conversation with one of Senator Braun’s aides – although we did not convince him of the urgency of passing this bill. You can help with this. Call 202-224-3121 and ask for your two Senators to urge them to vote “yes” on this bill. The strength of our democracy depends on it.

REDISTRICTING WITH INTEGRITY: A MATTER OF FAITH
https://faithfuldemocracy.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Gerrymandering-Final.pdf

Sr. Noella was one of the speakers at this event. There were seven other speakers from churches and civic organizations.

The 2nd photo shows a few of our Sisters who were in attendance.

AUGUST 6 – 9
REMEMBER HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI: END NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

August 6 and 9 mark the anniversaries of the days more than three-quarters of a century ago when the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki awakened the world to the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. More than 13,000 nuclear weapons remain, and experts warn that the risk of nuclear catastrophe is at its highest level in a generation.
In Oldenburg we will have a special prayer service on August 9 to remember, to atone, and to pray for an end to nuclear proliferation.
Click HERE to read more.

NATIONAL FAITH FAST
FOR A WAY TO CITIZENSHIP

On Saturday, June 19, about 10 of us fasted in solidarity with others around the country and in DC. Why? There is an ongoing fast as part of a prayer and public witness for the purpose of passing legislation that will provide citizenship for the 11 million undocumented in our country.

Click HERE to watch the FAITH FEST video.

World Refugee Day 2021
As friends of refugees in the United States, we celebrate the positive impact refugees have on U.S. communities - including the hundreds of thousands who have been working on the frontlines of pandemic response. We know the challenges newcomers face are greater than ever and that we must rally in support of rebuilding and strengthening the refugee resettlement program and promoting policies that help refugees rebuild their lives in the United States.

Scientists and Catholic Leaders Call on President Biden to Work for a World Free of the Nuclear Threat

Juneteenth Prayer - Let Us Not Forget
from the Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team

Matthew 6:24 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

PASS “FOR THE PEOPLE ACT” & the “JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT”

Click HERE to read more.

Welcome to the Week of Action for Citizenship for All!
LCWR has joined the “We Are Home Campaign”. This week is a week of action calling for “Citizenship for All”.

Call both of your Senators this week! 202-224-3121

Sign the Letter to the Biden Administration: (read here) Faith leaders, people of faith, and faith organizations/denominations have signed. People of faith are invited to sign on here:
bit.ly/FaithLeaders4EWCitizenship
The deadline to sign is Wednesday, May 5!

BLACK SISTERS' CONFERENCE AND LCWR ISSUE STATEMENT on conviction of Derek Chauvin for murder of George Floyd.

Click HERE to read the article.

On April 7-9 Sisters Janet Born, Ruth Eggering, Annette Grisley, Amy Kistner, Delouise Menges, Noella Poinsette, Rose Marie Weckenman, and Claire Whalen were out in wind and rain boycotting Wendy’s.
Why? It was a National Week of Action.

BELONGING BEGINS WITH US...
In this time of spring, resurrection, new life let us join with others in creating places where others feel at home among us.
Let us be a spark of welcoming. Let us speak through our actions of seeing each other as sister and brother rather than “the other”.
Let us not be afraid of anyone who appears to be different in some way; this is only an illusion.
Click HERE to enjoy a one minute video; then click on “menu” for stories and/or ideas for joining in.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) joins with the world in praying for peace after witnessing the violence and lawlessness in our nation’s capital. We are deeply concerned about the state of our country and the future of our democracy. Our hearts ached as we watched these despicable actions that threaten not only to destroy the seat of our government but to rend the bonds that unite us. We commend and thank the members of Congress who courageously continued their service to the nation last night even amid the chaos.

In our increasingly divided nation, we renew our commitment to the common good and pledge to take up the challenge to use our energy to repair our democracy and contribute to the work of building a more perfect union. We invite all people of good will to join us and we call on our elected leaders to point the way.

Corporate Stance on Racism...

On the 170th Anniversary of their founding January 6, 2021, the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, promulgated the following Corporate Stance on Racism.
Recognizing the wondrous diversity, culture and color among all God’s beloved peoples, we, the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana forcefully condemn the sin of racism that is the root of so much historical and current injustice...

In 2001 we issued our Corporate Stance on the Death Penalty.
It begins as follows. “We, the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, strongly oppose the death penalty as contrary to the Gospel and to our particular Franciscan call to peacemaking and justice for the poor.”

Voting Is An Act Of Love

This week, the Franciscan Action Network is proud to release “Compassion”, a powerful, personal reflection on the plight of refugees and immigrants who knock on America's door.
In the first months of his papacy, following the tragic loss of life at Lampedusa, Pope Francis called for the world to show compassion to refugees and immigrants.

His Holiness wondered at our world’s hardness and indifference.

He asked, simply “Has any one of us wept…?”

For the young mothers carrying their babies? For these men who were looking for a means of supporting their families? We are a society which has forgotten how to weep, how to experience compassion – "suffering with" others: the globalization of indifference has taken from us the ability to weep! In the Gospel we have heard the crying, the wailing, the great lamentation: "Rachel weeps for her children… because they are no more". Herod sowed death to protect his own comfort, his own soap bubble. And so it continues…
Let us ask the Lord to remove the part of Herod that lurks in our hearts; let us ask the Lord for the grace to weep over our indifference, to weep over the cruelty of our world, of our own hearts, and of all those who in anonymity make social and economic decisions which open the door to tragic situations like this. "Has any one wept?" Today has anyone wept in our world?

In the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare, we weep. Let us remember the endless tragedies at borders everywhere, especially the ongoing tragedy at our own nation’s border – and show compassion.

On the Eve of the Ecumenical Season of Creation...

Pope Francis forcefully spoke out against acts of “plundering” against God’s creation and called on all people to take action to protect God’s gifts “today, not tomorrow, today.”
His Holiness, speaking in his monthly Pope Video for September, said countries and companies in the Global North exploit “natural gifts from the [Global] South, generating an ‘ecological debt.’

“Who is going to pay that debt?” he asked.
“Furthermore, the ‘ecological debt’ is enlarged when multinationals do outside their countries what they are not allowed to do in their own. It is outrageous.”
His message calling on all people to act comes as Christians around the world are beginning the Season of Creation, the annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home.

Families Belong Together

Even though six children and dozens of adults have died in U.S. immigration custody, ICE continues to hold children and families in family jails with confirmed COVID-19 cases. By holding these families in unsanitary jails — which Judge Gee described as “on fire” — ICE is cruelly playing with their lives.

While Judge Gee has now ordered the release of children from these jails by July 17, she only has jurisdiction over the children in these jails–not their parents or caretakers. Without all of us speaking out to demand the release of these children and their families, ICE may use this court order to attempt to tear children away from their parents again.
Crisis demands that we lean into our humanity and dignity as a nation. We demand that not one child is taken from their parents, that all the families be released together immediately, and that these family jails be permanently shut down.
LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) has joined other groups in demanding the above actions. As part of LCWR we, the Sisters of St. Francis (Oldenburg) stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers presently held in detention in very unsafe conditions. We invite you to take action with us. Sign the #FreeTheFamilies Petition. Invite others to join us in this action for justice.

Click HERE to view the video.

Remarks on the Suspension of Due Process at the Border

25 June 2020 | Ciudad Juárez
Remarks on the Suspension of Due Process at the Border (excerpts)
– Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz

Click HERE to read the letter.

Ignatian Prayer Vigil for Lamentation and Racial Justice

The Ignatian Solidarity Network invites you to experience our Virtual Prayer Vigil for Lamentation and Racial Justice broadcast on the one month anniversary of the killing of George Floyd (June 25, 2020).

The virtual vigil offers an opportunity for each of us, members of the Ignatian family, to experience shared prayer across our network to lament and commemorate the Black lives that have been lost due to police brutality and white supremacy in the United States.

Click HERE to watch the link to the prayer.

A Franciscan Response to America’s Racial Unrest

We stand with the Franciscans of the St. John the Baptist Province. Black Lives Matter. This can be a time of transformation in our country – a time of moving towards true justice for every person in this country – a time of building the “beloved community” of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a time of being faithful to Jesus’ vision in the gospel – a time when we recognize the dignity of every person created in the image of God.
Click the link below to read the video.

A Franciscan Response to America’s Racial Unrest

Pope Francis and U.S. Bishops Respond to George Floyd’s Killing“

I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr George Floyd. My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognize that “the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”
~Pope Francis

Embracing the Uncertainty: What I Learned From My Evacuation During The 2014 Ebola Outbreak (FROM THE IGNATIAN SOLIDARITY NETWORK)
Author: Josh Utter | March 17, 2020

Click here to Read Article

Notes Written to Detainees in Georgia

Recently under the direction of Justice and Peace Coordinator Noella Poinsette, several Sisters gathered to design and write cards to immigration detainees at the Stewart Center in Georgia. This was in conjunction with a project being done in a local area of El Refugio. Notes were written in English, and some in Spanish, to simply let detainees know that they are not forgotten. There are people on the outside who care about them and who are working (and praying) to change our immigration policies so that they reflect Catholic social teaching – recognizing the inherent dignity of each person created in the image of a loving God – and recognizing the right of anyone to migrate, especially when they are fleeing the imminent threat of death. Notes were written to show solidarity with these sisters and brothers who are marginalized and criminalized.

Hopefully the notes will lift the spirits of some who wait not knowing how long and often not knowing where the rest of their family has been detained or deported to.
“I would like to ask you all to see a ray of hope as well in the eyes and hearts of refugees and of those who have been forcibly displaced, hope that is expressed in expectations for the future, in the desire for friendship, in the wish to participate in the host society… I admire the courage of those who hope to be able gradually to resume a normal life, waiting for joy and love to return to brighten their existence. We can and must all nourish this hope!” Pope Francis

S. Carmen de Barros Scholarship

Every year the Sisters of St. Francis sponsor a scholarship for latinx students who are interested in attending a Catholic high school and would like an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Please read below for information. The attached links below will give you all the information you need regarding the scholarship and application.
This scholarship is named in honor of Sr. Carmen de Barros who was born in Cuba and came to Marian College (now University) in Indianapolis as a student in the 1940s. For several years she was in ministry in Chicago at a House of Discernment for Hispanic women. She and other Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana have been in ministry with Hispanics in parishes, migrant camps, and in El Paso. In the past we were mostly in educational ministries; now one way that we continue these ministries is through this scholarship that aids Latinx youth in receiving a Catholic high school education.
This is an annual $750 scholarship for a maximum of four years depending on the continued financial need, a satisfactory academic performance commensurate with ability, and a satisfactory student conduct record.

What are the requirements to be eligible?

must be an Eighth Grade Latinx student applying to a Catholic high school;
must have a minimum average grade of “C” ( or its equivalent );
must submit a statement demonstrating financial need;
must submit two recommendations – from a principal, teacher or youth leader;
must submit a short explanation telling how you are living at least one of the Hispanic values.
must fill out the student application form.

All completed applications must be received by March 27, 2020. If any form is missing, the application will not be processed.
They are to be sent to:
Attn: Sr. Noella Poinsette, OSF
Sisters of St. Francis
PO Box 100
Oldenburg, IN 47036
Any questions? Contact Sr. Noella at npoinsette@oldenburgosf.com or (812) 933-2409

Students Experience Las Posadas

Noella Poinsette, Justice and Peace Coordinator, helped the students of Oldenburg Academy (located next to the Sisters’ Motherhouse in Oldenburg) experience what it’s like to be rejected when seeking shelter as Mary and Joseph when they were looking for lodging as in the Christmas story with which we are all familiar. The four freshman religion classes of Miss Emma Lindle did a Las Posadas on January 14th.

Las Posadas is a Mexican custom in which people go to a house on the seven nights preceding Christmas looking for room in the inn; on the first six nights they are turned away. A song is sung with the pilgrims and the innkeepers alternating on verses with the story of rejection at the inns. The students sang this traditional Las Posadas song at various rooms in the Motherhouse proper where they knocked on doors “seeking shelter”. It was obvious that the Sisters were uncomfortable playing their role of rejecting the students and sending them off. On the seventh day they are welcomed in; this happened in Sr. Noella’s office where there was a celebration of gratitude with chips and salsa. The students condensed this seven day experience into one class session.

During the following day’s class Miss Lindle led the students in reflecting on their experience as Mary and Joseph in their quest for shelter and their experience of rejection. It is hoped that this exercise of the Christmas story sheds some light on modern day experiences of what it feels like to be rejected as an immigrant or in any circumstance. It is an experience of bringing the gospel to life in our present day reality; in trying to better understand how the gospel speaks to us today Sr. Noella then spoke of refugees throughout the world. She shared stories and photos of those she has had the blessing of knowing – people like Teodora (God bearer) who was 8 months pregnant as she walked from El Salvador with her friend Santos Santos (holy holy) to give birth to her child in a land where she would not need to fear for that child’s life.

National Migration Week 2020

U.S. Catholic Church Stands in Solidarity with Immigrants and Refugees Observation of National Migration Week: January 5-11, 2020
The following article is taken from the USCCB website quoting Pope Francis’ recent statement of immigration. We print it here to state why this week is set aside to bring attention to the needs of immigrants world over. The Sisters of St. Francis are committed to finding ways of bringing this awareness forward and working for justice in this area. For more information see the USCCB.org website.

WASHINGTON—Globally, there are more than 70 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to political instability, violence, and economic hardship. Pope Francis has challenged people to move from a culture of “indifference” to a culture of solidarity, which will help them to embrace the poor and marginalized, and those struggling to find a better life.
For nearly a half-century, National Migration Week has been observed in the United States to highlight the situation of immigrants and refugees and unite in prayer to accompany them. The theme for this year’s observance (January 5-11) is “Promoting a Church and a World for All,” and reflects the Church as a welcoming place for all God’s children.
“As a founding principle of our country, we have always welcomed immigrant and refugee populations, and through the social services and good works of the Church, we have accompanied our brothers and sisters in integrating to daily American life,” said Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. “National Migration Week is an opportunity for the Church to prayerfully unite and live out the Holy Father’s vision to welcome immigrants and refugees into our communities and to provide opportunities that will help them and all people of good will to thrive.”
Educational materials and other resources for National Migration Week are available on the Justice for Immigrants website.

The Children Really Are the Future

When it comes to what we are to be concerned about and spend our time on, the children of this world come to the forefront. Homelessness and childhood are a major concern in this age. You will find an article from the New York Times which highlights the lives of two children indicative of this massive problem in the United States and around the world. These are children who struggle to lead normal lives, go to school and feel a sense of love and belonging.
The long days of homeless students are eye-opening. There are 2.5 million homeless children in the US; that’s 1 in 30 across the country. Darnell, 8, lives in a shelter and commutes 15 miles a day to school. He loves football practice but struggles to read. Sandy, 10, has moved seven times in five years. She loves school, but her teachers worry about her.
They are just two of the 114,000 homeless students in New York City. Our reporter and photographer followed them for one day, from sunrise to sunset, to capture how much effort, help and luck it takes for a chance at a decent education. Click here to read a short account of a problem that touches all our lives whether we know it or not.

Somewhere: World Children’s Day

Let us be aware that November 20th is World Children’s Day. The video is produced by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The purpose is to contribute and promote international collaboration to increase international respect for human rights and justice. The video is beautiful – singing and photos. See below for video.
At its heart, “Somewhere,” the latest song from Portland, Maine’s Pihcintu Chorus, is an anthem for universal tolerance and acceptance. The song is soulfully delivered by Shy, an 11-year-old former refugee from Namibia. On the chorus, Shy is joined by the other 33 members of the group and it is clear from the emotion and power that this song is not simply an anthem; the lyrics are the lived experience of all the young women singing. “If we believe, we can achieve / We can be anything on Earth we want to be” they sing.
The song also encapsulates the mission and vision of the chorus. Pihcintu is a word from the Passamaquoddy, an indigenous community from northeastern North America. It means “When she sings, her voice carries far” — and it’s the perfect name for this chorus.
Pihcintu is comprised of refugee and immigrant girls from 22 countries who have made Portland, Maine their new home. They come from countries like Burkina Faso, Iraq, Vietnam and El Salvador. Many fled war, violence and persecution, but have found safety in the Pine Tree State’s vibrant refugee community.
Click here to view the video of the Pihcintu chorus and increase your awareness that there is a place for everyone on the planet.

Climate Change Action

The Sisters are engaging in a cooperative effort to draw attention to the global climate change crisis. They are participating in a call for public action/strikes the week of September 20-27 to bring the crisis to our attention. We will be holding a prayer service on September 20 at 12:45 PM in the Motherhouse chapel and you are invited to join us there or wherever you might be in calling attention to this critical global concern. Please note the following information about the crisis we face as a world today.
The actions are being organized by 350.org and international environmental organization addressing the global climate crisis. Its goal is to end the use of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy by building a global, grassroots movement. Safety and justice for people around the globe is critical to its mission. 350.org works with local community groups to bring climate justice to worldwide attention. They are calling for public worldwide actions to address the critical global situation. Below you will find several articles and links that provide more information about the crisis and the September actions.
An article by Bill McKibben on the drastic action which needs to be taken now regarding the climate change crisis: New Yorker Article, McKibben
Information of global climate strikes in general: Climate Strikes in September
Further information about 350.org and their concerns/actions: 350.org
Don’t forget to join us in prayer on September 20 at 12:45 PM in the Motherhouse chapel and in our continuing prayer for local and global action in the climate crisis in which we find ourselves today.

Franciscan Approach to Season of Creation

If you would like to join us in celebrating the Season of Creation from a Franciscan point of view you might like to refer to the prayer and reflections attached here. After the introduction you will find a prayer/reflection for each week using Franciscian themes and topics from September 1 to October 4. Pope Francis uses the phrase ‘integral ecology’ and warns against a narrow scientific
focus on the modern environmental crisis. It might best be seen as a type of package to guide our daily living. Focused first on Christian worship of the Creator of all, Integral Ecology has implications for choices in the human journey, our life style and values – to confront the impact of ‘dictatorial economics’ on the world’s poor and the earth itself. The Pope invites us to revisit the integral connection between Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

Why We Do What We Do

One of the Chapter priorities that the Sisters of St. Francis are focusing on during the next five years is Poverty: Women and Children. Because of this we joined in a Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children on July 18 and on July 24 this photo was taken. This banner “Immigrants and Refugees Welcome” includes a graphic of the Holy Family fleeing from Pilate to Egypt as refugees. It is now standing on our front lawn near our chapel. Why is it there? Why do we stand behind it? Why do we see the migrants at our southern border as sister and brother who deserve to be treated with the utmost dignity? Why do we work for comprehensive immigration reform?
In Hebrews 13:1 our God commands us, “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” In Matthew 25:35: we hear, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” Some of us have been to the border recently; we’ve seen the faces of mothers, dads and children; we’ve heard their stories – stories of fear for their children’s lives and their own. Our hearts have been broken by these and the continuing stories of inhumane treatment by our government in ICE detention centers. As people who deeply love our country and the values/ideals our armed forces have shed blood for – and as people trying every day to be faithful to the gospel, we have chosen to publicly profess our commitment by displaying this banner.

The Dignity of All

Recently several Sisters and Associates of the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, traveled to Texas to work with the refugees coming over the border into the United States. They stayed two weeks working with Catholic Charities. Here is S. Noella Poinsette’s reflection on why she feels called to work with refugees bringing a compassionate presence to them and honoring their inherent dignity.

Click HERE to read S. Noella's reflection

Standing Against Racism

The Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, belong to an organization called LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious). This national group of women religious is sponsoring a campaign from April 3 – May 15, 2019 to bring the root causes and concerns on the subject of racism to the public’s attention. Each Wednesday they will post a message to promote and inspire all of us examining racism, our complicity, and its destructive effects. If you would like to see these posts go to the LCWR facebook page linked at the end of this paragraph. We hope you will find these posts to be thought-provoking and moving–knowing how the subject of racism affects all of us. The LCWR and the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, are committed to “go deeper into the critical work of creating communion, examining the root causes of injustice and our own complicity, and purging ourselves, our communities, and our country of the sin of racism and its destructive effects.” Click here for the posts and the other works of the LCWR. http://www.facebook.com/lcwr.org

Teaching Tolerance not Hate

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office would like to call your attention to the increasingly concerning issue of hate in the United States at this time. It’s a difficult issue to discuss and even to admit it is a problem. It seems hate groups are getting a lot of press coverage and teaching tolerance and respect for human beings as the sacred beings they are gets a bit lost.

There are two websites you might be interested in that deal specifically with the rising concerns of dealing with hate on several levels and the necessity/responsibility of teaching tolerance and respect. The first presents the many levels of hate speech and action including: hate and extremism, children’s rights, immigrant justice and more. You can find it here at the Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org The second website deals with teaching tolerance on a number of topics: race and ethnicity, religion, ability, class, etc. You can find these subjects at the bottom of the page when going to their website: http://www.tolerance.org

MSD Movement in Perspective

What happened at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas School a little over a year ago has changed the face of how America sees the face of gun control, how violence in schools has become a household subject, and how teenagers can rally around a cause. Much talk has occurred, but we forget how long it takes to enact change in our society. The students of MSD have begun a movement that is difficult to ignore. Here is a look at last year at this time compared to what they have initiated in these United States.

VALENTINE’S DAY, 2018, ONE YEAR AGO:
Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (MSD) School with a semiautomatic rifle. In just 6 minutes he had shot and killed 17 students and staff and 17 more were wounded. This changed the lives of the students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas School forever! They became activists against Gun Violence and the NEVER AGAIN MOVEMENT MSD was born! The students organized student walk-outs at schools across the nation and a “March for Our Lives” walk in DC and around the country. Marches drew more than one million people. The movement produced two books: David Hogg and his younger sister, Lauren wrote a book, entitled #NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line. Other students wrote a book entitled: Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement. Nikolas Cruz is being held in prison without bail.

VALENTINE’S DAY, 2019, A YEAR LATER:
The teens haven’t stopped working, urging young people to register and vote. They lobbied for tighter restrictions on firearms. They challenged the National Rifle Association and the politicians who support it. The students who arrived at school on this Valentine’s Day in 2019, a year later, wore MSD maroon attire and brought flowers not for their friends but for the memorial garden in front of the school. The garden “Project Grow Garden” is a peaceful place where flowers bloom, candles burn and colorful rocks display these words: “Parkland heals together” and “Love Heals All”! The Broward County Superintendent held a news conference at the school. He addressed the progress made in the past year to increase school security district-wide. The Superintendent gave the students and families the opportunity to spend the day in the manner in which they wanted. Students who chose to attend school for the half day participated in service projects Linda Beigel Schulman, the mother of Scott Beigel, the geography teacher who died a hero one year ago when he saved students. Spoke at the press conference and said: “Today never really had to happen. I believe reasonable gun control legislation must be passed in every state.”
In the Congress of the United States, HR 8 has emerged as one of the first pieces of gun violence prevention legislation up in the House of Representatives. This bill is “To require a background check for every firearm sale”, turn ordinary gun loans into felonies, ban handguns for young adults, and authorizes fees. This is a positive step towards gun safety for the common good.
If you agree that this is a direction to go, call your senators and representatives and let them know that you want this law passed.

Commemoration of a Modern Day Martyr

This week, we commemorate the death of Sr. Dorothy Stang, “Martyr of the Amazon.”Sr. Dorothy was born in the United States, and a Sister of Notre Dame De Namer. She moved to live with the poor in rural Brazil. There, she witnessed first-hand ranchers and loggers exploiting farmers and indigenous people, stealing land, cutting down forests, and murdering those who spoke up.
Sr. Dorothy courageously spoke up herself. Over several decades, she pushed for protection of Brazil’s rural poor, especially those in the Amazon. Because of her work for justice, she was named to a death list, and eventually murdered.
Here is how her sisters tell the story: “on February 12, 2005, on a dirt road at the Boa Esperanca settlement in a rural area in Para, two hired gunmen fired six shots and killed Sister Dorothy . . . As the gunmen approached Sister Dorothy, she took her Bible from her bag and began to read the Beatitudes: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice.”
In October, bishops from around the world will gather in the Vatican for a month-long conversation on protecting the Amazon and its people. We at Global Catholic Climate Movement will bring care for the Amazon into our programs throughout the year. Please mark your calendars for important moments in the coming weeks:

For Lent, we invite you to add plant-based meals to your diet. It’s a surprising truth that cattle farming is the single largest reason for deforestation in Brazil, and that the average serving of meat has 60 times the greenhouse gas emissions of a serving of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eating plant-based meals is a way to honor our Lenten tradition of simplicity and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. Watch for Lenten resources next week.
For Earth Day, we invite you to plant a tree in your church community to symbolize your commitment to protecting the Amazon and its people. Begin planning today! An overview of our Earth Day celebration is available here. A full planning guide for Earth Day will be shared soon.Sr. Dorothy Stang said, “we are only here on the land a few decades. Use every day to bring joy and not greed to our tired land so full of anguish.”
Our actions and choices matter. We pray with gratitude for Sr. Dorothy’s witness, and we pray that her spirit of justice will illuminate the path for us this year.

Prayer to End Human Trafficking

The plight of more people than we want to admit is often in the hands of others with no sense of the value of human beings and their innate freedom to determine their own fates. With the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of kidnapped and trafficked persons, we offer a prayer service and readings to use as you will to bring the evil of human trafficking to the forefront. You will find two attachments. One is the prayer service mentioned and the other contains the readings which should be used in the prayer service. Let us remember the frailty of those without power and the responsibility we have to bring this atrocity to an end.

Climate Justice Moves Forward Slowly

The question to ask—did COP24 in Katowice, Poland, advance climate justice? Yes and no! Negotiators from over 190 counties agreed to keep the Paris agreement alive and completed most of the rules that countries would follow in reporting their pledges, but they were not able to heed scientists’ warning to step up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions lower than the UNFCCC 2015 guidelines. The main work of these delegates was to codify the rules for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, especially how pledges would be reported. This task left little time to address how countries will move toward the lower global warming target of 1.5˚Celsius in our century. Analysis of current pledges from COP21 (Paris) show that these efforts are not even sufficient to reach the Paris goal of 2.0˚C. Scientists tell us our world is already a bit above 1˚C from pre-industrial global levels.
Part of what hindered such bold action in Katowice, Poland, and kept the negotiators tied to “consensus- building” over word changes that could be acceptable to all delegates was the “rising right-wing nationalism” led by our own government. President Trump’s officials unveiled two schemes promoting fossil fuels. This action encouraged a few other countries to “behave badly” with attempts to wreck the summit’s welcoming of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) October report. Their efforts minimized IPCC’s warning that humankind has a smaller window of opportunity to keep global warming below 1.5˚C, namely just under 12 years.
Delegates did agree that all nations would follow the same pledge reporting rules allowing for some flexibility for countries needing that if they gave an explanation. Reports on progress to meet national commitments, or pledges, must begin in 2024 and every two years thereafter. During some sharing sessions, countries who are already making significant progress to cut emissions shared their information.
As for climate funding by developed countries to provide aid to developing countries to assist with climate change adaptation and mitigation and jump start use of renewables, the rules agreed to in Katowice seemed to undermine the urgency of this monetary aid.
Market mechanisms for voluntary trading of carbon offsets did not get settled at COP24. Instead this was shifted to further work at the next UN climate change conference to be held in Chile in 2019.
But the Katowice conference did affirm the global “stocktake” action agreed upon in Paris. Every five years nations will come together at these Climate Change Conferences to “take stock” of progress toward the long- term goal of avoiding dangerous global warming and to encourage additional efforts to reduce emissions drastically. The rules spelled out at COP24 allow for “loss and damage” to be reported in the global “stocktake.” This was an important win for developing countries since they are expected to feel the impact of climate change first and be less-prepared to deal with such impacts.
A significant discussion was led by Poland regarding the importance of a just transition for workers currently employed in fossil-fuel related jobs. The final document emphasized the need for emission-reducing policies to ensure a just transition of the workforce to create decent work and quality jobs.
These are highlights of outcomes at COP24. To get full detail, google “COP24 Outcomes” and choose from the entries. Probably more interesting would be information about NGO’s and other organizations holding events at COP24. Next month I will report on these events and climate actions.
Claire Whalen, OSF

Ten Ways to Fight Hate

Hate in America has become commonplace! It is acted out by individuals and/or groups who feel they must kill or confront those who are not the same race, religion, disabled, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. Bias is a human condition and American history is rife with prejudice. When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is considered a hate crime. Since 2010, law enforcement agencies have reported an average of about 6000/year to the FBI. But government studies show that the real number is higher-an estimated 260,000/year. And many hate crimes are not reported.
All over the country, people are standing up to hate and promoting tolerance and inclusion. Good people are rising up against hate – often in greater numbers and with stronger voices.

The Southern Poverty Law Center puts out these 10 principles to fight hate in your community:

ACT: Do Something! In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the perpetrators, the public and the victims.
JOIN FORCES: Reach out to allies from churches, schools, clubs, and other civic groups. Create a diverse coalition of children, police and the media.
SUPPORT THE VICTIMS: If you’re a victim, report every incident-in detail. If you hear about a hate crime victim, show your support.
SPEAK UP: Speak up in ways that draw attention away from hate, toward unity.
EDUCATE YOURSELF: Determine if it is a hate crime and not a bias incident. Determine if a hate group is involved and research its symbols and agenda.
CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE: Hold a unity rally or parade to draw media attention away from hate.
PRESSURE LEADERS: Elected officials and other community leaders can be allies. Some must overcome reluctances – and others their own biases.
STAY ENGAGED: Promote acceptance and address bias before another hate crime can occur.
TEACH ACCEPTANCE: Bias is learned early, often at home. Schools can offer lessons of acceptance and tolerance.
DIG DEEPER: Look inside yourself for biases and stereotypes.

ACTIONS THAT COUNTERACTED HATE
Sixth grade class in Morgantown, WV paints over hate graffiti on outside wall of Convenience Store.
Man in Sacramento, CA leads a campaign to stop the sale of Neo-Nazi clothing at Target Store.
When the Klan announced plans to clean up a stretch of road under the Adopt the Highway program in Palentine, NY, teenagers flooded City Hall with so many applications that the Klan was pushed onto a waiting list.
In Pulaski, TN, birth place of the Ku Klux Klan, came to rally there, they found the town closed down for business – including McDonald’s, the grocery store and Walmart.
When the Klan planned a rally in Indianapolis, IN, local museums, the state capitol, and other attractions opened their doors to citizens for free. Community leaders held a youth rally for Hope in a ballroom. A coalition including the mayor and IN Colts placed a full page ad in the Star against the Klan.

Source: Southern Poverty Law Center
Presented as information from JPIC of the Oldenburg Franciscans.

Climate Justice March (Lawrenceburg, IN)

A march for “climate justice” will be held in Lawrenceburg on Saturday, September 8.
Solarize Indiana is organizing the local march in conjunction with the worldwide Peoples Climate March. The worldwide demonstration is a large-scale activist event to advocate action against climate change. March organizer Sister Claire Whalen, of Oldenburg, has been holding meetings across southeastern Indiana this year to share with residents the benefits of converting their homes and businesses to solar energy. “I had planned to sign-up for the Indianapolis March, but given the great turnout my solarizing team had in Lawrenceburg and in Versailles this summer, we decided more folks could show their support for transitioning to clean energy if a more local march were available,” Whalen told Eagle Country 99.3.

The local march, planned by both Solarize Indiana and GinnFarms, will start at the Lawrenceburg Community Center at 10:00 a.m. Participants will walk to Newtown Park, where they will engage with and distribute information sheets to farmers market vendors and their customers. Whalen says the group will then deliver to the Lawrenceburg Mayor’s Office a letter with signatures requesting that the city council take action to begin using solar energy on municipal buildings as soon as possible. “We will be asking the Mayor and City Council to commit to supporting clean energy resources beginning with municipal buildings. We also hope that our state representatives will take this message to heart in their deliberations,” says Whalen.

If it rains on Saturday, the event could be moved inside the Lawrenceburg Community Center, where the group would decide on another plan of action besides a march. Those who cannot walk but want to join the demonstration can meet at Newtown Park. Non-walkers should meet at the Center in case of rain.
To join a march near you click here to find a march site on the world map at the bottom of the page. It says, “September 8- Rise for Climate.” Post your zip code and several sites may be shown. Click on your choice and follow the directions.

Death Penalty is “Inadmissible…An Attack on the Dignity of the Human Person”

Pope Francis often spoke out against the Death Penalty. In an address to the US Congress in 2015, he called for the global abolition of capital punishment. Popes before him have spoken out against the Death Penalty: When visiting St. Louis in 1999, Pope John Paul the II called the death penalty “cruel” and “unnecessary”; Pope Benedict XVI also appealed for an end to the Death Penalty.

Bishops in every state that has the death penalty have spoken against it.
This month Pope Francis took a decisive step against Capital Punishment declaring that it is “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” This a change to the Catechism which is the official body of the Church’s teachings. Many will object that is a “punishment” so that makes it right. The Catholic Communication Campaign says that “the death penalty represents the failure of our modern society to fulfill the theological and moral demands of justice. Justice demands that society begin with the recognition that each human person is created in the image and likeness of God and must work in all its endeavors towards the benefit of the human person. The use of the death penalty denies our call to true discipleship.

Sister Helen Prejean, advocate and author of Dead Man Walking always said: “people are more important than the worst thing they have done in their lives.” When actress Susan Saran heard that a man who she had been writing to on death row had received an execution date, she was shaken for she had gotten to know him as a person, she asked Helen what she should do. Helen answered: “Just what you have been doing. Be his friend. You give him dignity.”(From The Death of Innocents by Sister Helen Prejean, 2005.)
When Bud Welch’s daughter was killed in the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing, he was all for the death penalty. But then he remembered that his daughter told him that she was against it and so he began to work against the death penalty for Timothy McVey. All the other families who had members killed in the bombing left him alone in his work against the death penalty until after McVey was executed. Then they started attacking him for his objections. When he asked a therapist why they were coming at him now after the execution he was given this answer – they had McVey to place their anger on but after he was executed and the anger and pain did not subside they went after Bud Welch.
Activists against the Death Penalty often say: “Why do we kill someone to prove that killing is wrong.”

Some people are kept on death row for so long that they are different people by the time they are executed.

More blacks are executed than white offenders which is racism.
Death Penalty is against respect for life – a life that God created.
In 2001, we Oldenburg Franciscans, affirmed a corporate stance where we stated that “we…strongly oppose the death penalty as contrary to the Gospel and to our particular Franciscan call to peacemaking and justice for the poor.”

To renew this commitment sign the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty at www.catholicmobilizing.org

Associate Clare Bain’s Work at the Border

Associate Clare Bain and her daughter recently traveled to the Texas border last month to work with the immigrants there. We volunteered at a center run by Catholic Charities in McAllen, Texas. The immigrants we saw had been processed and released by ICE, many with ankle bracelets to track them. At the center, they were counseled one at a time, to receive advice and support, and a packet explaining that they didn’t speak English. Many of them had children with them, so I think they were recent migrants. We saw a large group from Honduras, along with many other countries, El Salvador, Guatemala and Cuba.
While the adults were being counseled, the children were fed. We gave them chicken noodle soup, bread (cut up hot dog buns) and bananas. We also had lemonade and water. I fed some of the children who were too little to eat the soup by themselves, or were intimidated by the whole ordeal. Some of them didn’t like the bread, so I showed them how to dip it in the soup first. That was a winner! I asked one tiny, talkative boy” to sing a song. He sang “Feliz Cumpleaños” at the top of his voice, and others joined in. It was a moment of joy for all of us.
After the adults were counseled, they came into the other room and ate lunch. After that, they were given a number, and then stood in line with their children to receive clothing, (we had sorted clothing donations all morning) and then use the shower.
This went on all day and evening. We went home in the afternoon for a late lunch, and returned at 7:30 pm with cold Coke and Sprite we had bought for them. It was very hot there, and the immigrants and volunteers were thrilled to have the drinks. I heard that somebody donated an air conditioner, and that will be a big relief when that is installed. We saw temperatures of 110 degrees.
At 11:00 pm the people were transported to a Basilica, where they spent the night.
I was touched by my interaction with the immigrants. They are parents, with children, looking for a safe place to live, in a country where their children can thrive. They are our children, our families, our brothers and sisters! The Gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to care for one another, especially the least among us!
We stayed with the beautiful family of two of our parishioners. They left Mexico because there was violence right next to their home. Luckily, they had papers. In 2010, they and their three daughters, took only their clothing and a truck, and left a ranch, a house, all their belongings behind. The mother said that Mexico was like Syria with constant gunfire.
The welcome we experienced from this family touched our hearts. They gave up so much, and built a new life and a beautiful home that they shared lovingly with us. They volunteer with Catholic charities regularly. They reminded me of the popular t shirt that says “ Kindness is everything.”
I felt called to go to the border, and everything fell into place as I had a place to stay, and guides for this journey.
When I told my daughter, Elizabeth what I was doing, she wanted to come with me. She said, “I’m so tired of being angry and scared, I just want to do something to help.”
Reflecting on this, I think many of us are angry and scared, and feel so helpless. I have learned this week that we just do what we can. I have decided I don’t want live my life being against things, I want to be for things! I am for families staying together, feeding the hungry, praying for those in need, hospitality, and the power of kindness. As it says in my host family’s kitchen, “fe, familia, amigos.” Truly, kindness is everything.

Francis and the Sultan/Franciscan Federation

Some of us returned recently from the Franciscan Federation Gathering in Buffalo, New York. The topic this year was Franciscans and Muslims: Lessons from the Past and Prospects for the Future. The speakers were Franciscan Sister Kathy Warren and Franciscan Father Michael Calabria. Following is an article from the Global Sisters Report written by Sr. Dorothy Pagosa. Click here for the link.

Poor People’s Campaign

Poor People’s campaign was a project Martin Luther King Jr. was working on when he was assassinated in 1968. In describing this campaign, Dr. King saw it as a shift from the “reform movement” of desegregation and voting rights to a “revolutionary movement” that would demand nothing less than a “radical redistribution of economic and political power”. In Dec. of 2017, nearly 300 people gathered in DC to reignite the Poor People’s Campaign. They were here to address this litany of injustices: deaths caused by lack of health insurance, the rollback of voting rights, corporate drilling on Native American lands, homelessness, police violence, an unbelievable minimum wage, Flint’s inability to provide its citizens with clean water, political corruption.

This movement realizes that real change does not take place in DC, it begins with people doing the ground work in their own communities but many times need help because they have been so disempowered and hopeless.

The Poor Peoples Campaign has many demands for the poor that are centered in these areas:
Systemic Racism: “We all have the right to vote and the right to accountable political representation.”
Poverty and Inequality: “The truth is that the millions of poor people in the US today are poor because the wealth and resources of our country have been flowing to a small number of people and federal programs are not meeting the needs of the poor. “
Ecological Devastation: “The truth is that our policies have not fundamentally valued human life or the ecological systems in which we live. Instead, it has prioritized private, corporate and financial interests over our precious natural resources.”
War Economy and Militarism: “The truth is that instead of waging a War on Poverty, we have been waging a War on the Poor, at home and abroad, for the financial benefit of a few. It is morally indefensible to profit from perpetual war.”
National Morality: “We demand that all policies and budgets are based on whether they serve the general welfare and lift up lives and environment.”
I counted 32 demands that come under the above areas. I thought that is a lot of demands but as I read them I realized that all were necessary to fulfil the Catholic Social Principles especially Dignity and Respect of the Human Person, and the Preferential Option and Love for the Poor and Vulnerable.
Did You Know: there are fewer voting rights in 2018 than there were 50 years ago when the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights were passed?
Did You Know:  while the US economy has grown 18-fold in the past 50 years, wealth inequality has expanded, costs of living have increased, and social programs have been restructured & cut dramatically?
Did You Know: we imprison and detain more people, especially the poor than any other country?
Did You Know:  13.8 million US households cannot afford water?
Did You Know: currently .53 of every federal discretionary dollar goes to military spending and .15 is spent on anti-poverty programs?
Did You Know:  that thousands of people die every year from anti-poor policies?
Did You Know:  there are 140 million people who are poor or low-income in the US today?

According to Frances Fox Piven, a professor of Political and social theory, two things have to happen, “You have to cause a certain amount of disarray, and you have to be an electoral threat.   He says: “The former is important because poor people lack traditional forms of power such as money, authority and social connections. When protesters occupy a government building, block traffic, they exercise the only form of power available to them: withdrawing their cooperation from social and civic institutions. The latter is important because ultimately if the movement is to win specific policy concessions, they have to be shepherded by elected politicians.”
(Information taken from Sojourners’ Magazine, May, 2018 and Poor People’s Campaign’s website).

ALL LIFE IS SACRED

“We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family. There are no frontiers or barriers, political or social, behind which we can hide, still less is there room for the globalization of indifference.”
Laudato Si (Chapter 5, par. 52)
Pope Francis

CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES PROMOTE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE

“Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, therefore is invaluable and worthy of resepct as a member of the human family.”; “Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity.” (National Council of Catholic Bishops: Sharing Catholic Social Teaching.)

SOME OF THESE HUMAN BEINGS ARE:
Immigrants and Refugees: looking for a better life; fleeing persecution.
African Americans: Often live in fear reminding us “Black Lives Matter, too.”
Native Americans: On whose land we live and walk, yet claim as our own.
Muslims: the target today, even though the majority are not part of terrorism.
The Poor: Who struggle day after day, and even more if they have an emergency
The Unborn: Those never given a chance of life
Those Condemned to Death: Why do we kill people to prove that killing is wrong.
LGBT: Who are following what they know and feel is their life.
Women: Many are abused; do not receive equal pay.

I was inspired to write this as I read about Clare and the Mirror in Fr. Murray Bodo’s book: Clare a Light in the Garden:
“Bring the mirror, Sister Philippa”, Clare called as the Emperor soldiers approached. That is how the mercenary soldiers were driven away. Not only from San Damiano where rape and pillage were all but a certainty had the soldiers entered, but from Assisi as well. And Clare’s only weapon had been the mirror. The soldiers looked at what they held aloft…they recognized the image of everything holy they suddenly remembered from their childhood: their mother’s face, her words, their father’s face, their church or mosque or temple, the holy books, their own face–the face they recognized was really their own calling them to become who they were in God’s eyes. They were afraid and ashamed, as if they’d rushed upon their own mother or father and only recognized them at the final moment when they saw a likeness of themselves in the one they were about to attack. The miracle and wisdom of the mirror!

What did I see when I looked into the mirror? My mother and father who were immigrants and the prejudice they experienced during and after WWII even though they despised Hitler. They came here for jobs after Germany was torn up by WWI.

Looking in the mirror, do you see humans that were mentioned above that you identify with or are prejudiced against? Pray to find and love that Christ in others. If we all believe that we are made to the image and likeness of God, this is possible to do.

MY NEIGHBOR IS MUSLIM
“My Neighbor is Muslim” is a new resource developed by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Linda Hartke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service says: “I think we can all agree that we are living in a precarious moment in which people are increasingly fearful of “the other” and political rhetoric is used to fan the flames.”