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.