Weekly Justice Highlights

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:  Urge President Obama to protect the lives of those living in poverty by vetoing any cut to food stamps.     

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, received about $40 billion in cuts as the House voted recently.  Express your feelings to U.S. Representatives and urge them to stand strong on the side of those who experience hunger.  

Urge members of Congress to pass a budget bill that keeps government running, raises the debt ceiling and doesn't damage the fragile recovery.  

Challenging Unjust Structures:  Urge federal legislators to oppose the Monsanto Protection Act and stop any efforts to undermine state's rights to label genetically modified organisms.    

Urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to support disclosure of corporate pay disparities.   

Bluegrass Pipeline:  The Sisters of Loretto have begun a petition to Governor Steve Beshear raising concerns about the safety and environmental impact of the Bluegrass Pipeline and hydraulic fracturing.  Individuals are invited to oppose this pipeline and protect Kentucky's homes, land and drinking water by signing on.  

Urge the McDonald's corporation to pay a living wage to their workers.   
Urge Ruby Ridge Dairy, where workers are still being threatened, wages being stolen and employees forced to eat while working, to adjust their practices for the good of the employee.   

Science, Democracy and Fracking: A Guide for Community Residents and Policy Makers Facing Decisions over Hydraulic Fracturing is available here.   (search page for downloadable toolkit)

Human Trafficking Resource:  An educational resource for secondary teachers on human trafficking is located here.  

The October 2013 edition of the LCWR newsletter is now available here.  

Weekly Justice Highlights

Human Trafficking:  The September issue of Stop Trafficking co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here.      

Immigration:  September 9 began 40 days of prayer, fasting and advocacy for immigration reform nationally.  The website fast action contains weekly petitions and prayers for the forty days.  Additionally, U.S. citizens may phone U.S. Representatives (1.866.940.2439; NO charges apply) to support comprehensive immigration reform that unites families and creates a path to citizenship and oppose the SAFE Act (H.R. 2278) that would encourage racial profiling and harm community safety, expand mandatory and indefinite detention and criminalize all immigration violations. 

Care of Earth:  As the Feast of St. Francis draws near, individuals and groups are invited to view a presentation on climate change sponsored by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change.  Resources for parishes, colleges and high schools are located here.     

Water:  The magazine, Worldviews, has a special issue on "Living Water" that includes articles from around the world located here.         

Urge President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt safety standards that prevent chemical disasters such as the one in TX this past April where 15 people lost their lives after a fertilizer plant exploded.  

Urge U.S. and Honduran officials to respect indigenous and peasant rights as they struggle to protect their land and territories from being grabbed by big companies. (Scroll down)    

Scarboro Missions is pleased to announce the publication of this revised version of comprehensive guidelines for multi faith prayer located here.   

Louisville: Assumption High School (2170 Tyler Lane) is presenting a Social Justice Series designed by students to educate adults on social justice issues.  Events are free and open to the public.  The first is scheduled for Sept. 15 from 6:30 - 8 pm on The Environment: What is hurting the environment and what can we do about it? by Tim Darst.

Louisville: On September 24 at 4:45 p.m., women and their male allies will march to shatter the silence (symbolized by night) that tends to surround sexual and domestic violence, raise awareness about the various forms of violence, and provide support to survivors, partners, family members and friends.  Individuals will gather at MCSquare at Spalding University (large green space on Breckenridge between 3rd and 4th Street next to the ELC building).  For more information, contact Mens Work at 502.494.9044 or www.mensworkinc.com 

Louisville:  On October 5, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (508 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY 40207) is hosting a recycling program where individuals may come from 9 to 1 p.m. and drop off recyclables.   Recycle old household electronics and raise money for the Catholic Charities while also helping protect the environment.   Items unacceptable and requiring a charge will include batteries, light bulbs, ballasts and appliances.  Visit this site for a complete list of acceptable items.  

Weekly Justice Highlights

Charity Day:  The first International Charity Day will be celebrated on September 5.  Individuals are invited to participate in the day in a variety of ways.  For more information and activities, see the September 2013 Action Alert located here.       

Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria on September 7:  On August 29, Pope Francis received their Majesties the King of Jordan, Abdullah II and Queen Rania.  Special attention was reserved during the conversation for the tragic situation in Syria.  Pope Francis reaffirmed that the path of dialogue and negotiation between all components of Syrian society, with the support of the international community, is the only option to put an end to the conflict and to the violence that every day causes the loss of so many lives, especially amongst the helpless civilian population.   Additionally, Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world to be held on September 7.  U.S. citizens are invited to urge federal legislators to vote against a resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria and instead ask them to support inclusive negotiations for peace.        

Immigration: Phone U.S. Representatives (1.866.940.2439; NO charges apply) to support comprehensive immigration reform that unites families and creates a path to citizenship and oppose the SAFE Act (H.R. 2278) that would encourage racial profiling and harm community safety, expand mandatory and indefinite detention and criminalize all immigration violations.  LCWR invites individuals to compose opinion pieces for local newspapers, write letters to the editor, pray for legislators and express that in a note along with views around comprehensive immigration reform and join in 40 days of prayer, fasting, and advocacy for immigration reform from September 9 to October 18. 

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:   The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reaches millions each year with approximately 25% of all U.S. children.  A bill in the House is set to be introduced that would cut SNAP by about $40 billion over ten years that is double the cut originally proposed in the House Farm Bill.  Individuals are invited to urge U.S. Representatives to oppose these cuts on low-income children.      

Challenge Unjust Structures:  Urge U.S. Trade Representative to keep shark fins off the chopping block while the rest of the shark is placed back into the sea to die of suffocation.       

Women and Spirit Documentary:  The documentary has been made available to all NBC stations, however, there is need to encourage local NBC stations to air the documentary.  Individuals may click here to locate their local station and call or write in to urge the showing of the documentary.  Please encourage others to phone in as the more requests the more likely the documentary is to be shown at the local station.