May-June 2016 NewsNotes

Vol. 41, No. 3
Read the PDF version here

Laudato Si’ and evolutionary consciousness: Maryknoll Sister Ann Braudis writes about the aspects of the encyclical of Pope Francis that are in harmony with evolutionary consciousness.

Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference: For many months Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns worked with other Catholic organizations and religious communities in planning a landmark conference on nonviolence and just peace in the Catholic tradition, hosted in Rome by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International April 11-13, 2016.

Nonviolence and Just Peace Statement: The participants of the Nonviolence and Just Peace conference held in Rome, April 11-13, affirmed the statement entitled “An Appeal to the Catholic Church to Re-Commit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence.”

Nonviolence and Just Peace: The way of Jesus: Maryknoll Sister Teresa Hougnon reflects on her experience of the Nonviolence and Just Peace conference. She was there to represent the Maryknoll Sisters’ peace-building team in Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Global Migration Crisis: Faith in action: As the global migration crisis continues, Pope Francis traveled to the Greek island of Lesbos on April 16 to meet with some of the many thousands of refugees there and returned to Rome with twelve refugees – a remarkable demonstration of social justice for world leaders grappling with welcoming refugees.

Africa: Climate change and agriculture: The following article examines the evidence supporting Pope Francis’ startling warning in Laudato Si’: “the warming caused by huge consumption on the part of some rich countries has repercussions on the poorest areas of the world, especially Africa, where a rise in temperature, together with drought, has proved devastating for farming.”

Philippines: Catholic clergy “break free from coal”: In this April 12 article from UCAN, Philippine church leaders launch the global call to "break free from coal" in Quezon province, dubbed as the "coal capital" of the Philippines' island of Luzon.

Honduras: Indigenous peoples’ rights: The assassination of environmental and indigenous rights activist Berta Cáceres in Honduras on March 3 brought about international condemnation and action. 

Brazil: Impeachment scandal or coup?: Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns staff member, and returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner, Dave Kane, reports from João Pessoa, Brazil, on the political turmoil currently upsetting the country. 

Bolivia: Catholic bishops speak out on drug trade: On April 7, the Bolivian bishops issued a pastoral letter on drug trafficking and drug addiction in Bolivia.

Haiti: U.S. plans peanut dumping: A coalition of faith and development organizations, including the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, is speaking out against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s planned shipment of 500 metric tons of U.S. peanuts to Haiti.

Climate justice: New, creative actions: Civil society is taking new and creative action to move governments to follow through on their commitments made in the Paris climate agreement and to do more to address the urgent need to address climate change.

HIV/AIDS: UN commits to “leave no one behind”: The commitment to ‘leave no one behind’ has been a key feature of all the discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations. This commitment includes ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. One key factor in meeting this goal is funding.

UN review of peacekeeping operations: Decades of conflict have taken their toll on the efforts by the United Nations to foster peace. The following article shares the findings of three recent reviews of UN peace and security operations that are at the center of a debate in the UN General Assembly about the necessary changes needed to meet a changing world.

UN Commission on Status of Women: Maryknoll Sister Veronica Schweyen, who was on mission for more than forty years in Tanzania and is a volunteer with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, reports on the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in March. 

Resources: Find links to the latest statements, books, films, and events about peace, justice, and integrity of creation.