The following resources are listed in the November-December 2018 issue of NewsNotes.
World AIDS Day Prayer Vigil: Join us online on December 1 to pray for those living with HIV and AIDS and for those whose lives were cut short due to HIV or AIDS. Add your name and the time when you wish to pray on December 1 to the list.
Continental Catholic bishops’ statement on climate change: Catholic bishops from five continents issued an urgent appeal to world leaders calling on them to work together to achieve the goals of the Paris climate agreement at COP 24.
Faith letter on environmental safeguards: A total of total of 132 faith-based organizations signed onto a letter to the leaders of the U.S. EPA and Department of Interior representing 33 states and a diversity of faith traditions.
IPCC Special Report on Climate Change is available at http://ipcc.ch/report/sr15/. This includes the Summary for Policymakers and chapters of the full report.
USCCB/MRS and LIRS report: Serving Separated and Reunited Families: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward to Promote Family Unity, which documents the work of USCCB and Catholic and LIRS and Lutheran partners in assisting the separated families that were reunited and released in July 2018. The report provides unique data regarding the separated and reunited families, as well as recommendations to the Administration and Congress.
Central America Monitor database: New database by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) tracks U.S. assistance to the region by country, year, program to help address the root causes of migration. https://www.wola.org/monitoring-assistance-central-america/
“Imprisoning a Generation”: a 50-minute documentary film which follows the stories of four young Palestinians who have been detained and imprisoned under the Israeli military system. Their perspectives, along with the voices of their families, combine to form a lens into the entangled structures of oppression that expand well beyond the prison walls. A trailer of the film can be found at: www.anemoia.net This film is available for organizations and congregations to screen for advocacy purposes and larger educational initiatives. Screenings can be coordinated through the director and producer, Zelda Edmunds at anemoiaprojects@gmail.com
Pax Christi USA Vow of Nonviolence: To be pronounced privately, with a local peace community, as part of a parish liturgy, or any other way that suits you. Many profess the Vow each year as part of their New Year observance. Printable version available at http://bit.ly/VowNonvio
Back from the Brink: Call to prevent nuclear war: Many local and national organizations have endorsed the “Back from the Brink” resolution. Are you associated with a group that might support this? Introduce this resolution at your church, synagogue, civic group, medical association, university, or municipality. https://www.preventnuclearwar.org/
2018 Midterm Election Voters Guide: The U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) hope that you will use this guide as a tool to see how candidates in this next election have responded or plan to respond to the grave sin of human trafficking. http://bit.ly/USCSAHTGuide
2018 Midterm Election Voter Guide: A Call to Holiness. A coalition of Catholic organizations created this guide to offer voters reflection on racial justice, the economy, immigration and refugees, healthcare, gun violence prevention, global peacemaking, and the environment. http://bit.ly/2qoeA8j
Justice for Immigrants National Conference will be held December 5-7 in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The last national conference was in 2015 and with the challenges and threats that immigrants and refugees and their families are facing, it is an important moment to convene again. http://bit.ly/JFI2019
Churches for Middle East Peace Advent Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on December 9-10. http://bit.ly/2QhqtIx