Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Women: On 19 April 2013, a five-year old girl was abducted and brutally raped in Delhi, by her neighbor and another man for 48 hours. She had gone out to play with her friends when one of the men who lived in the same building kidnapped her and eventually left her unconscious and bleeding after trying to strangle her.  Advocate in solidarity with others for justice and safety.  (International action is available)  

Promoting Peace:  U.S. citizens are asked to thank or express their disappointment at the action of U.S. Senators (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) last week with regard to legislation that would have required background checks on those purchasing guns.  To see how U.S. Senators voted, click here.  

Care of Earth:  Urge President Obama, Congress and the Foodand Drug Administration to put a halt on any approval of AquaBounty GMO salmon.  (Act by April 26)   

Bottled Water: Urge Coke CEO Kent to end interference in National Park policy and to allow parks to make decisions with regard to bottled-water sales doing what is right for the environment, taxpayers and the tap.   

Immigration: Many groups continue to analyze the “gang of 8” Senate immigration bill released last week.  There are also reports of a group of bipartisan legislators working in the House of Representatives on a second plan of immigration reform.  Urge Senators that as they debate they make sure that there are enough visas to keep families together and that there is a reasonable path to citizenship for immigrants.   

Hunger in America:  To help legislators understand hunger in America, individuals are asked to urge members of Congress to schedule a visit to a food bank in 2013.  

U.S. citizens are invited to contact their member of Congress to close the School of the America’s for good.  

Louisville:  On May 9 at 6:30 p.m., Michael Dowd on “Beyond Sustainability: A Realistically Inspiring Vision” will be guest speaker at the annual KY Interfaith Power and Light Awards Dinner to be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville.  Reservations can be made by clicking here. 

Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Women: Currently, the Afghan Government is holding peace talks with the Taliban and the US Government - but women are not at the negotiating table.  Individuals are invited to urge the Afghan, U.S.,and Australian governments not to forget Afghan women in the current peace negotiations.   (International actions is available)   

Empowering Women:  Tell Victoria Secret and Limited Brands’ communications team and board of directors to stop sexualized marketing to younger girls (this objectifies woman, denies her value and disrespects the woman).  

Care of Earth:   Offer President Obama and Secretary ofState John Kerry a reason to reject the Keystone XL pipeline in an effort to protect resources for future generations and protect Earth from climate change.    

Challenging unjust government systems:  U.S. citizens are invited to call members of Congress and President Obama urging them to take social security cuts in the form of smaller cost-of-living adjustments off the table in the FY 2014 budget.  Social security has nothing to do with the deficit and thus I oppose all efforts to cut social security and to increase taxes on wealthy individuals and profitable corporations. Action can also be taken by clicking here.   

Challenging Unjust Corporations: Urge Nike to stop doing business with Daewoo International, a company that knowingly profits from forced labor in Uzbekistan.  

Farm Bill Reauthorization:  Individuals are invited to call (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) Senate Agriculture Committee members ( Senators Michael Bennet, CO ; Saxby Chambliss, GA; Tom Harkin, IA; Charles Grassely, IA; Joe Donnelly, IN; Mitch McConnell, KY; Pat Roberts, KS; William Cowan, MA; Debbie Stabenow, MI; Amy Klobuchar, MN; Thad Cochran, MS; Max Baucus, MT; John Hoeven, ND; Heidi Heitkamp, ND; Mike Johanns, NE; Kirsten Gillibrand, NY; John Thune, SD; and Patrick Leahy, VT) urging them to write a new farm bill that provides struggling families in need of food with additional funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and oppose any cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Nuclear Weapons:  U.S. citizens are invited to call U.S. Representatives (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to co-sponsor H.R. 1506 (the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act) to save money by cutting wasteful nuclear weapons spending. 

Care of Earth:  Urge President Obama to take action for climate change as stated boldly in his inaugural and State of the Union addresses. 

An Earth day prayer service prepared by the Sisters of the Holy Cross Justice office.

Immigration:  The newly released Senate bill is located here.

KY:  On April 22, Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light is offering a program entitled, Cool Harvest: Food, Faith and Climate at the Church of Epiphany (914 Old Harrod Creeks Road, Anchorage, KY) at 7 pm.  The program explores the realities, the possibililities and our responsibilities around food, faith and our environment.  More information is located here.  (Scroll down)

Weekly Justice Highlights

Challenging Unjust Corporations:  Urge ExxonMobil to release all the information about the pipeline and spill that spewed tens of thousands of barrels of oil with tar sands crude in Arkansas.

Challenging Unjust Corporations: Individuals are invited to sign a petition urging the governments of Germany, France and the Netherlands to protect our everyday vegetables and fruits from Monsanto and Co. who desire growers to pay them and risk being sued if they don’t.  (International Action available)

Promoting Peace: It is not too late to contact U.S.Senators (202.224.3121; Charges apply) on the topic of gun violence.  Urge them to enact universal background checks and pass other needed gun violence prevention measures such as bans on semi-automatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, gun trafficking laws, and improved access to mental health services. 

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama to stop the flaunting of U.S. military might and seek diplomatic avenues to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  

Death Penalty: Abdullah al-Qahtani could soon be executed in Iraq for a false confession as four of the six co-defendants were executed this week.  Abdullah is a Saudi Arabian man convicted of robbery and murder under Iraq's Anti-Terrorism Law. Amnesty is monitoring his case closely due to the very serious concerns that have been raised by his lawyers about his treatment in detention and the fairness of his trial.  Take action in support for life and basic human rights of Abdullah and others who face the death penalty in Iraq. 

President Obama has endorsed cutting Social Security and veterans’ benefits by using the “chained CPI” to lower the cost-of-living adjustment in his proposed FY 2014 budget.   The Congressional Budget Office says the amount saved would be $163 billion over ten years.  Urge President Obama and Congress to cut the Pentagon budget (end war in Afghanistan, cut the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and cut Pentagon contracting) instead of cutting Social Security and veterans’ benefits.   

Urge U.S. Representatives to protect the SNAP (Food Stamps) program by encouraging more members of Congress to co-sponsor H. Res 90, that proposes NO more cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

With the release of the President’s proposed FY 2014 Budget, individuals are invited to thank President Obama for the early childhood education initiative (expanding voluntary home visiting programs, investing in partnerships between Early Head Start and child care programs and provide all low-income families access to high-quality prekindergarten programs). 

KY: Cathy Jarboe, Director of Catholic State Networks and Organizations for the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty, will speak in Bardstown and Elizabethtown on April 16 (St. Joseph Basilica at 110 N. 5th St. in Bardstown in Flaget Hall, NOON - 1pm (light lunch served, please register); and St. James Catholic Church at 307 W. Dixie Ave in Elizabethtown, 7 - 9 pm.) AND in Louisville on April 17 (The Maloney Center, 1200 S. Shelby in Louisville from 2 - 4 pm; and 7 - 9 pm.). Staff from the Catholic Conference will also present, as will a representative of the Ky. Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.  Archbishop Kurtz is planning to attend the April 17 2 p.m. session.  Anyone wishing to attend the above sessions is asked to send NAME, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL to Sharon Schuhmann at sschuhmann@archlou.org  Cathy will also be on Nazareth campus at 3 pm on April 16 in the 2^nd floor community room of the Motherhouse.

Louisville:  On April 30, from 1 to 4 pm at the Holiday Inn (Hurtsbourne/I-64East) will host a Free Fair Housing Training.  It will focus on basic fair housing law and will also include a brief diversity session. The event is being sponsored by the Lexington Fair Housing Council, the Kentucky Housing Corporation and the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission.  To register for the training go to: http://lexingtonfairhousing.com/services, call (859) 971-8067, toll free: 1-866-438-8617, or send an e-mail to: crosbylfhc@hotmail.com

Weekly Justice Highlights

Good News: The Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by 154 nations at the United Nations on April 2.  This treaty will help monitor and control the flow of arms and ammunition across borders. Send a thank you to the U.S. delegation for their work.  

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama to stop the flaunting of U.S. military might and seek diplomatic avenues to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. 

Immigration:  Justice for Immigrants has informed us that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s office is being flooded with anti-immigrant messages.  We can change that by urging Senator Rubio to use his leadership on this issue and continue support for immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented.  Call Senator Rubio’s office at 202.224.3041 (Charges apply) OR email him.  Thank him for his outstanding work with the Gang of Eight and encourage him to continue his immigration reform efforts.

Immigration: The LCWR has become aware that the Senate bipartisan proposal is likely to eliminate certain family-based visa categories-siblings and adult children in particular. Please tell both your senators (1.866.940.2439; no charges) that you oppose eliminating or weakening any of the current family categories and immigration reform must prioritize family unity.  For information on how to get more involved in the push for immigration reform, as well as talking points on family unity and the IIC's recommendations to Congress, click here. 

Promoting Peace:  April 9^th is an interfaith call-in day to prevent gun violence in the U.S.  Individuals are invited to call Senators (888.897.1074; NO charges).  Tell Senators and Representatives you are a member of a faith community and to require universal background checks for all gun purchases (including online and gun shows); ban semi-automatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; make gun trafficking a federal crime and improve access to mental health services.  The US Catholic Bishops also have a message for editing here. 

Care of Earth: The State Department recently released a new Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, leaving us less than a month to weigh in on the pipeline before the project proposal goes to President Obama for approval or rejection.  Submit a public comment and urge President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry to reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

Care of Earth:  Urge the CEOs of Anglo American and RioTinto to break with their predecessors and abandon their disastrous plans for the Pebble Mine. 

Nuclear Weapons: Urge President Obama to commence good faith negotiations for a treaty banning nuclear weapons in accordance with our obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  

Recently the Associated Press stopped using the term “illegal,” urge the New York Times to stop calling people “illegal” by clicking here. 

Sign a petition supporting the Congressional Halt in Pay Increases and Cut Congressional Pay Act (HR 398) that would cut Congressional pay by 10% and repeal the current automatic pay increases. 

Call Senator Mitch McConnell (202.224.3121; charges apply) and urge him to fund the Value Added Producer Grant Program at $30 million for FY 2014.  These dollars will directly help farmers in our community improve their operations, create new jobs, and meet local demand for their products.”

KY: Cathy Jarboe, Director of Catholic State Networks and Organizations for the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty, will speak in Bardstown and Elizabethtown on April 16 (St. Joseph Basilica at 110 N. 5th St. in Bardstown in Flaget Hall, NOON - 1pm (light lunch served, please register); and St. James Catholic Church at 307 W. Dixie Ave in Elizabethtown, 7 - 9 pm.) AND in Louisville on April 17 (The Maloney Center, 1200 S. Shelby in Louisville from 2 - 4 pm; and 7 - 9 pm.). Staff from the Catholic Conference will also present, as will a representative of the Ky. Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.  Archbishop Kurtz is planning to attend the April 17 2 p.m. session.  Anyone wishing to attend the above sessions is asked to send NAME, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL to Sharon Schuhmann at sschuhmann@archlou.org  Cathy will also be on Nazareth campus at 3 pm on April 16 in the 2^nd floor community room of the Motherhouse.

Louisville:  On April 30, from 1 to 4 pm at the Holiday Inn (Hurtsbourne/I-64East) will host a Free Fair Housing Training.  It will focus on basic fair housing law and will also include a brief diversity session. The event is being sponsored by the Lexington Fair Housing Council, the Kentucky Housing Corporation and the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission.  To register for the training click here, call (859) 971-8067, toll free: 1-866-438-8617, or send an e-mail to: crosbylfhc@hotmail.com

Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Women: Urge Maldives President Waheed to save a 15-year-old rape survivor who is now being whipped in public for “sex outside of marriage." (International action is available)

In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Urge U.S. legislators to come to a just plan for funding the government in FY 2014 that increases revenue, cuts Pentagon spending even more, and protects people at the margins of society by ensuring basic needs are met.   

Care of Earth: Urge U.S. Senators to co-sponsor and support S. 332, the Climate Protection Act that sets a rising and predictable fee on carbon emissions that must be paid by producers and urge U.S. representatives to support legislation that promotes energy efficiency and places a cap on carbon pollution.  

Challenging Unjust Corporations: Earlier this month, student guestworkers brought in on visas to work at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania went on strike to blow the whistle on retaliation and labor abuse. The students alleged they had to work up to 25-hour shifts while earning less than the minimum wage, and faced threats of deportation if they spoke up.  Call (1.800.323.4903 OR 1.800.244.6227; NO charges apply) or stop in at McDonald’s and urge them to take responsibility for retaliation and labor abuse at all its restaurants. 

Challenging Unjust Structures: The Monsanto Protection Act (H.R. 933), recently signed by the President, strips federal courts of their power to restrict the use of genetically modified crops that they find have not undergone a complete environmental impact assessment from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.  Urge President Obama to issue an executive order to call for the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Immigration: During Spring recess, let federal legislators know that you care deeply about compassionate comprehensive immigration reform that includes a commonsense path to citizenship; prioritizes family unity and addresses the particular needs of immigrant women; addresses the root causes of illegal immigration, including the brokenness of the current system; and includes funding for integration of new Americans. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition Neighbor to Neighbortoolkit has lots of helpful resources including: talking points, sample scripts, etc.  A message is available for editing is here. 

Promoting Peace:  Urge President Obama to agree on a global treaty to ban selling of weapons to those that commit genocide.   

Urge President Obama and Congress to close Guantanamo as soon as possible.   

Urge President Obama to refuse to sign any budget deal that cuts retirement benefits, and drop your proposal to cut Social Security benefits by using the “chained CPI” to reduce cost-of-living adjustments.   

Urge President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to move quickly to appoint a Senior Envoy to the Great Lakes Region thus making Congo a higher priority.

Louisville:  The procession of the Stations of the Cross will begin at the Mazzoli Federal Building (7^th and Chestnut) on March 29 at 9:30 a.m. and end around 11:30 a.m. at Founders Square (5^th and Liberty St.)  

Louisville: An all you can eat pizza buffet to benefit the AIDS Interfaith Ministries of Kentuckiana will be held at Clifton’s Pizza Company (2230 Frankfort Ave.) on Monday, April 15 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased in advance for $12 (adults) and $15 at the door and includes free soft drinks.  Purchase tickets at our web site: www.AimKyOnline.org or email our store: AimKyStore@gmail.com

Louisville:  On April 18, Julie Driscoll, SCN and David Horvath will present, “Bridging the Divide/Creating Community with the People of Nicaragua,” at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Interfaiths Path to Peace third Thursday luncheons.  The luncheon is hosted at The Rudyard Kipling (422 West Oak Street, Louisville) with a buffet lunch at 11:30 a.m.  Tickets are $7 with reservations from Cathy Ford (458.1223) or Polk Culpepper (948.2077) by the Tuesday before the lunch. 

Weekly Justice Highlights

Water:  Urge national parks to go bottled-water-free and say no to the bottled water industry attempts to “set up shop."

Earth Hour:  Join with others on March 23 at 8:30 local time in turning off the lights and observing Earth Hour.  How aware am I of the amount of electricity I use on a daily basis in addition to this one hour?

The March 2013 issue of Stop Trafficking co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is available on this website.   

Challenging Unjust Structures: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement continues to be created in secret with corporations benefiting and Americans losing as in prior trade agreements.  Action urging transparency is located here.      

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama to support a strong Arms Trade Treaty that keeps arms out of the hands of human rights abusers. (International action is available) 

Immigration: Immigration reform is struggling as large numbers of people are opposing reform.  Federal legislators need to hear for each of us.  Urge Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for the aspiring Americans already in the U.S. and protect family unity.   

Urge Members of Congress to increase funding for the United Nations’ Voluntary Fund that includes aiding victims of torture.  

The Senate budget resolution, Foundation for Growth: Restoring the Promise of American Opportunity (S Con.Res.8) introduced by Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, will face many amendments. Individuals are invited to email and call U.S. Senators  to only support amendments that promote fair methods of paying for our deficit that won't place the burden onto the backs of those at the margins of society. 

Care of Earth:  Urge the Obama Administration to oppose Keystone XL tar sands pipeline that would generate far more greenhouse emissions than conventional petroleum.   

Promoting Peace: With the recent 10^th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, individuals are invited to urge President Obama to put Iraq back on the agenda by clearly articulating and supporting a long-term strategy of US diplomacy and assistance, including efforts to increase government accountability, strengthen civil society, and improve educational opportunities for the 20 million children of Iraq.

Urge CNN to suspend Candy Crowley and discipline staff responsible for dangerously flawed and apologist coverage of the Steubenville, OH rape. 

Tell your Congressional Representative that it is time to redirect aid for Colombia from a futile War on Drugs to peace and sustainable economies. 

Death Penalty: Sister Ilaria Buonriposi, a Comboni Sister currently working with the Catholic Mobilizing Network, would like to invite you to join a virtual group of folks committed to ending the death penalty in the United States.  If you are interested in, or working to abolish the death penalty in your state and every state, this Google Group would be a wonderful place to share information, exchange organizing ideas, ask questions, and support one another, simply send your name and email address to Sr. Ilaria Buonoriposi at sr.ilaria@catholicsmobilizing.org and include LCWR Death Penalty Google Group in the subject line.

Louisville: The Women’s Leadership Conference on Religious Freedom and Bellarmine University Department of Theology invite you to a panel on Immigration expressing the Catholic Church's position on  immigration reform, the current status of federal legislation and the impact on families and individuals in our community. The event will take place on April 8 beginning at 5 p.m. at Hilary's, first floor Horrigan Hall, Bellarmine University (2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205.

Louisville:  On April 18, Julie Driscoll, SCN and David Horvath will present, “Bridging the Divide/Creating Community with the People of Nicaragua,” at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Interfaiths Path to Peace third Thursday luncheons.  The luncheon is hosted at The Rudyard Kipling (422 West Oak Street, Louisville) with a buffet lunch at 11:30 a.m.  Tickets are $7 with reservations from Cathy Ford (458.1223) or Polk Culpepper (948.2077) by the Tuesday before the lunch. 

Louisville:  April is National Fair Housing Month and commemorates the 45th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968, provides equal opportunity to all who buy, sell, rent, finance, or insure housing. It broadens the real estate market by making all housing and property available to all Kentuckians and protects the individual’s basic right to choose where to live. On April 23, 2013, there will be a “Get on the Bus: the Path Toward Equal Housing Opportunity” event from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville, Kentucky.   Event is open to the public and space is limited.  Register online at www.LexingtonFairHousing.com or contact Arthur Crosby at (859) 971-8067, toll-free at (866) 438-8617, or e-mail crosbylfhc@hotmail.com 

Weekly Justice Highlights

Good News:  Late in the evening on March 7, the KY Senate passed KY HB 3, The Human Trafficking Victims Rights Act.  The House had passed the legislation unanimously earlier.  The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature.  Thanks to all the prayers, phone calls and visits each of you made to legislators in protecting children and victims of human trafficking.

Immigration:  Individuals are invited to call U.S. Senators and their U.S. Representative (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) urging them to support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship that prioritizes family unity.  Action is also available here.    

Promoting Peace: The second negotiating conference on the ATT will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 18–28 March 2013.  Please find a link to the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) petition  MAKE IT BINDING, which advocates for a legally-binding provision on preventing armed gender-based violence in the Arms Trade Treaty.  Individuals may also urge President Obama to support a comprehensive Arms Trade Treaty. (International action is available)

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 (S. 460, H.R. 1010) would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 in three increments of ninety-five cents in addition to raising the minimum wage for tipped workers from $2.13 by 95cents/year until it is 70% of the regular minimum wage.  Messages for editing are located here for Senate members and here for House members.   

Gun Violence Prevention Weekend is March 15, 16, and 17:  Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence is urging as many congregations and communities as possible to get involved in an event to prevent gun violence. Faiths Against Gun Violence has events and places to add your event.  A toolkit for faith groups is available here.     

The Adrian Dominican Sisters have prepared an update to help individuals understand the different frameworks and principles being proposed with regard to Comprehensive ImmigrationReform.

Louisville:  A Presentation by Glen H. Stassen, Lewis B. Smedes, Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary entitled, “Just Peacemaking and the Middle East,” will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 7p.m. in Frazier Hall at Bellarmine University.  The presentation is free and open to the public.

Louisville: The Women’s Leadership Conference on Religious Freedom and Bellarmine University Department of Theology invite you to a panel on Immigration expressing the Catholic Church's position on  immigration reform, the current status of federal legislation and the impact on families and individuals in our community. The event will take place on April 8 beginning at 5 p.m. at Hilary's, first floor Horrigan Hall, Bellarmine University (2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205)