Create A Ripple this Lenten Season

We are fast approaching the season of Lent, a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter.  This year the Joliet Diocese Social Justice Coalition invites your parish to incorporate social justice into your Lenten practices.  We have created a weekly social justice awareness/education/action program called Create a Ripple.  We have designed Create a Ripple such that it can stand alone or be included as a social justice extension of your traditional Lenten activities. Please download the materials below and you can begin to Create a Ripple!

Create a Ripple (pdf - color)

Create a Ripple (pdf - greyscale)

Social Justice Stations of the Cross     

Vatican Issues Statement on International Economy Reform

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Bishops Issue New Introductory Note to Document

Highlight Areas of Concern Including Religious Liberty

Urge Catholics to Bring Moral Principles to Political Choices

BISHOPS REAFFIRM FORMING CONSCIENCES FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP AS GUIDING TEACHING IN POLITICAL LIFE

WASHINGTON-In advance of the 2012 elections, the U.S. bishops reaffirmed their 2007 document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in this coming election cycle and beyond, as the "continuing teaching of our Bishops' Conference and our guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), joined the chairs of nine USCCB committees in offering an Introductory Note to the document. The bishops discussed this action at their June meeting and authorized it at the September meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship was approved overwhelmingly by the U.S. bishops in 2007.

"We urge our Catholic pastors and people to continue to use this important statement to help them form their consciences, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape their choices in the coming election in the light of Catholic teaching," the bishops wrote. "It does not offer a voter's guide, scorecard of issues or direction on how to vote. It applies Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues and warns against misguided appeals to 'conscience' to ignore fundamental moral claims, to reduce Catholic moral concerns to one or two matters, or to justify choices simply to advance partisan, ideological or personal interests."

The Introductory Note does not modify or interpret the document itself and emphasizes the importance of religious freedom. It raises six "current and fundamental problems, some involving opposition to intrinsic evils and others raising serious moral questions." These are: abortion and threats to the lives and dignity of the vulnerable, sick or unwanted; threats to Catholic ministries, including health care, education and social services, to violate their consciences or stop serving those in need; intensifying efforts to redefine marriage; unemployment, poverty and debt; immigration; and wars, terror and violence, particularly in the Middle East.

The USCCB is launching a new website for Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/. It will offer a wide range of web-based and written materials and tools to assist pastors, parishes, Catholic organizations and individuals. The document with the new Introductory Note will be available in print by the end of October and is already available online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/Forming-Consciences-for-Faithful-Citizenship-2011.pdf

The USCCB committee chairmen who signed the Introductory Note with Archbishop Dolan were: Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Domestic Justice and Human Development; Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, International Justice and Peace; Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Doctrine; Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Thomas J. Curry, Catholic Education; Bishop Gabino Zavala, Communications; Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Bishop Jaime Soto, Cultural Diversity in the Church; and Archbishop José H. Gomez, Migration.

Archbishop Dolan Asks Nation’s Clergy To Preach On Poverty, Educate And Advocate For Poor And Jobless

September 19, 2011

One in four children living in poverty
African-Americans, Hispanics have higher rates of poverty, unemployment
Catholicism calls for giving priority concern to poor, vulnerable in society

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged bishops and other Catholic clergy nationwide to bring the issue of poverty into their homilies. He also underscored the need for educational and advocacy efforts on behalf of the poor and jobless.

Archbishop Dolan made the appeal in a September 15 letter to the nation’s bishops at the urging of the USCCB Administrative Committee. The Committee oversees USCCB work between plenary sessions and met in Washington, September 13-14.

“Widespread unemployment, underemployment and pervasive poverty are diminishing human lives, undermining human dignity, and hurting children and families,” he wrote. “I hope we can use our opportunities as pastors, teachers, and leaders to focus public attention and priority on the scandal of so much poverty and so many without work in our society.”

The entire letter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/economic-justice-economy/letter-to-bishops-on-economic-situation.cfm

from the USCCB website

CRS Responds to East Africa Drought

Background

One of the worst droughts in the region since 1950 – 1951 has put 10 million people across the Horn of Africa in need of humanitarian assistance. Most live in Kenya and Ethiopia, countries where CRS has a large presence; however, Kenya is further burdened by an influx of refugees from Somalia, many leaving in search of food due to drought there.

Rains that usually fall from October to December failed to appear in late 2010 in parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

In 2011, spring rains were erratic and deficient. As a result, many areas missed two growing seasons. “This drought comes as prices for staple foods are increasing, in some cases more than doubling in the past year,” says CRS Africa Team Leader Brian Gleeson. “Those price increases put further strain on the people of this region.”  read more