Weekly Justice Highlights

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and New Gringrich not to attack Iran by signing a petition that states, "The U.S. can't afford a war of choice in Iran -- especially not one based on the same kind of sketchy intelligence and irresponsible saber rattling that led to the disastrous invasion of Iraq. We should pursue diplomatic initiatives and take a military attack off the table."

The February issue of Stop Trafficking Newsletter co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is available here.

Challenging Unjust Structures: Urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to put an end to the closed door deals that enable oil companies to remove parts of legislation that keep them from revealing what they pay to developing countries.

U.S. citizens are invited to urge legislators to extend the unemployment benefits and reduced payroll tax.

Urge U.S. Senators to bring to the floor and pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 1925) that would expand services and protections to women in Indian tribal nations, to abused men and through grants to campuses. 

Urge U.S. Representatives to ELIMINATE the minimum rent for HUD-assisted housing and the Expansion of the Moving to Work aspects in the present Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act (H.R. 11) (This will keep many of the neediest low-income families from homelessness).

Urge Hershey’s to stop exploiting children to grow cocoa beans. 

February is national Black History Month, and individuals are invited to join in Prayer for the African-American and African Family.

The book, Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life by Henri Nouwen with Donald McNeill and Douglas Morrison contains six sessions on the study of compassion and is suited for Lent. Each session includes a facilitators guide, a brief worship resource and sometimes a hand-out.

The Environmental Outreach Committee of the Archdiocese of Washington offers a Lenten care for creation calendar

“Renewing the Face of the Earth: Lenten Reflections on Air” incorporates scientific and theological knowledge about creation, God's presence therein, and our call to care for it. A five-session resource, this free resource is available here.

Louisville: On February 23, Brudus (story of Palestinian nonviolent resistance, preview here) will be shown at 7 p.m. at 1741 Frankfort Avenue (one block east of Mellwood Ave. at the new co-op building). For more info contact Sonja at: sonrevolution@aol.com

Louisville: Join Catholics for Fairness in a peaceful pilgrimage will take place this Sunday at 4:45 p.m. Gather at George Garvin Brown Park (415 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd between 4 and 5 Streets) for prayer and a candlelight walk to the Cathedral of the Assumption (1/2 block walk) in support of a Statewide Anti-Discrimination Fairness Law. The group will stand silently in front of the Cathedral holding Catholics for Fairness signs and then collect the signs before the 5:30 liturgy celebrating with those at the Cathedral.