Volume 5, Issue 1 JPIC REPORT January 2003 A publcation of the OMI Justice and Peace/Integrity of Creation Office From the Director “Let us remember there is a creative force in this e closed out 2002 are known to us, that a tals and nursing homes as universe working to pull with a remarkable preemptive, unilateral well as efforts to respond down the gigantic W settlement between the ten use of force is difficult to the needs of people mountains of evil...a power to justify at this time.” that is able to make a way largest financial institutions who are homeless, poor, out of no way and transform in the country and govern- By applying the criteria of immigrants or imprisoned. dark yesterdays into bright ment regulators, a nation a just war and the strong tomorrows. Let us realize preparing for war and presumption against the More recently, in an effort that the arc of the moral unprecedented year of use of military force in to respond to the growing universe is long, but it crisis within the Church. Catholic teaching, this influence of private corpo- bends toward justice.” specific application of the rations on all aspects of In times like these, we can teaching was made as a public and community life, be grateful that the tradi- contribution to the public Martin Luther King, Jr. the Catholic Social Teach- tion of Catholic Social policy debate. On other ing tradition encourages Teaching is available for occasions, the bishops Catholics to ensure that prayer, reflection and have offered the insights their funds invested in Inside this issue: guidance for action on the of Catholic teaching on these corporations are many perplexing events issues of abortion, death used responsibly. “As and decisions that lie penalty, human cloning part owners, they must News & Happenings 2 before us. Two central and welfare reform. cooperate in shaping the themes in Catholic Social policies of those compa- JPIC Opportunity 2 Teaching are the relation- In the church and society nies through dialogue ship between church and arena, Catholic Social with management, Justice and Peace resources for 3 state and the relationship Teaching has continuously through votes at corpo- parishes and communities between the church and sought to apply the rate meetings, through Corporate Responsibility Article 4 society. Gospel to the numerous the introduction of challenges and events, resolutions and through Reflections on 6 As an example of the first which are part of the daily participation in invest- the School of the Americas theme, last September, fabric of society. One ment decisions.” (U.S. Bulletin from Bangladesh 8 Bishop Wilton Gregory, way is shaping the regula- Catholic Bishops, Eco- President of the United tion of social services nomic Justice for All). Opposing the Juvenile Death Penalty 10 States Conference of provided by both the Catholic Bishops, in a government and the Our Catholic Social Update on theletter to presidentGeneral11 Bush, private sector. Another Teaching tradition is Administration JPIC Service recognized that there are hallmark of this tradition is rich indeed. May this Genetically Modified Organisms 12 no easy answers, but the church efforts through richness continue to be in Zambia, an Oblate Perspective offered the following the years to provide direct a source of light and Legislative and Advocacy Update 14 advice, “We conclude, services through Catholic grace during the com- based on the facts that charities, schools, hospi- ing year. Page 2 JPIC REPORT News and Happenings Annual Conference, Conference of Catholic The OMI Justice and Peace/ which will take place at Bishops has issued State- Integrity of Creation Office Join in Celebrating Howard University in ment on Iraq on Novem- coordinates the advocacy efforts of the Missionary Oblates of Haiti Solidarity Week Washington, DC, during the ber 13, 2002 urging that all Mary Immaculate on behalf of the Solidarity Week. This of us work for peace. interests of the poor and Haiti Solidarity Week Solidarity Week is spon- Contact the JPIC office for abandoned in the U.S. and in the more than 65 countries where the will take place from March sored by Haiti Reborn, a copy or see http:// Oblates are in mission. These 2-9, 2003 to educate and more information on www.usccb.org/bishops/ efforts include serving as a people in the US about the the Conference, as well as iraq.htm. Resources are resource for province member- ship, supporting the community current situation in Haiti. lists of needed items and available for those who organizing efforts of the Oblates You are invited to plan an shipping location are oppose a possible war with in the United States, and co- event educating people, or available on their website Iraq by contacting Pax ordinating the Corporate Respon- sibility Program to insist on just collect humanitarian (www.haitireborn.org) or Christi at 814-453-4955 practices and policies by supplies for Haiti in a by contacting Eugenia at or going to their web site: corporations in their worldwide symbolic act intended to (301)699-0042. www.paxchristiusa.org. operations. Our work also includes advocacy with the United bring attention to the Bush You can also: States government and other Administration’s withhold- Voices for Peace Sign the Iraq international institutions on a ing of over $500 million in Pledge of Resistance at: variety of justice and peace issues. humanitarian aid from Haiti. Now is a time when our www.peacepledge.org Another way to mark this leaders are deciding Sign a petition U.S. JPIC Committee week is to attend the Haiti whether or not our nation against a war in Iraq at: Rev. John Cox, OMI Rev. Sal DeGeorge, OMI Solidarity Week First will go to war. The US www.moveon.org. Rev. Séamus Finn, OMI Rev. Maurice Lange, OMI Rev. Darrell Rupiper, OMI Rev. Thomas Rush, OMI Rev. David Ullrich, OMI JPIC SPECIAL Rev. Bob Wright, OMI JPIC Staff The world is hurting. Not only can we make a difference, Rev. Séamus Finn, OMI we do make a difference, healing or hurting, by our Director actions or inaction. Rebecca Phares Associate Director Mary O’Herron Bring the JPIC dimension of the Oblate Charism to the grassroots in our Oblate Associate for GA JPIC Service ministry sites! Help is available! and Corporate Responsibility Laurette Moore “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a Office Assistant mosquito.” Betty Reese Interested in finding out more? Contact JPIC Report is a publication of Darrell Rupiper OMI at [email protected] the OMI Justice and Peace/ Integrity of Creation Office or the JPIC office. 391 Michigan Avenue NE Washington, DC 20017 Tel: 202.281.1608 Fax: 202.636.9444 www.omiusa.org/jus-peace.htm Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 3 Some Resources for Integrating JPIC issues into Parish and Community life: The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which works to end poverty and injustice in the United States, offers a Novena for Justice and Peace from its “Faith and Human Develop- ment Series” that encourages those who pray the novena to discern what God may be calling them to in working for justice in our world. Available from the US Catholic Conference. Call 800-235- 8722 or visit the Bishops’ internet site at www.nccbuscc.org. Bearing Witness to the Gospel of Life: In the Face of the Death Penalty in the United States is a small booklet about the biblical roots of opposition to the death penalty. It is published by the Franciscan Friars, Holy Name Province. Copies can be obtained by calling 212-967-6300. The Office of Social Justice of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has assembled an excellent website on Catholic Social Teaching. Included are teaching resources, useful quotes, and very effective graphic presentations of major themes of the Catholic Social Teachings. We en- courage you to check it out! www.osjspm.org/cst. The Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection, which is a project of the Zambia-Malawi Province of the Society of Jesus, offers a web site through which you can connect directly to their projects. You can also learn about civil society in those countries, Jubilee-Zambia, and the daily reality of life in Zambia. This is a unique resource you can find at: http://www.jctr.org.zm/. Bread for the World offers many tools which can be resources as you seek to respond to millions of people who are hungry every day. Your parish can become a Covenant Church which means making a commitment to integrating hunger concerns into the life of your congregation. For more information contact [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-82-BREAD. The Education for Justice Web Site is an exciting new resource to promote Catholic social teach- ing from the Center of Concern. It offers social justice curricula, lectionary reflections, prayers and prayer services, and much more including both domestic and international issues. You can take an introductory tour at www.educationforjustice.org. The Inheritance Project is an initiative of the Florida Catholic Conference which brings attention to the need for environmental stewardship as the seventh principle of Catholic Social Teaching. A statewide gathering will be held from February 21-22, 2003 in the Central Florida area. For more information, call Julie Greene, Project Coordinator, at 407-277-7266 or [email protected]. Computer and Cell Phone Recycling: To find a list of groups that recycle electronics or are looking for donations, check the E.P.A.’s Web site: www.epa.gov, or the site of the National Recy- cling Coalition at www.nrc-recycle.org.