Joint Letter to Presidential Candidates
On December 9, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined 31 other faith-based organizations and 70 faith leaders in issuing the following open letter to all the 2020 presidential candidates urging them to call for significant cuts to the nation's military budget and for a renewed investment in domestic programs, diplomacy, and peacebuilding.
Africa: Increasing Illegal Drug Trade
Fr. Frank Breen, MM, attended a panel at the United Nations on the increasing trade and use of illicit drugs on the continent of Africa. The following is his summary of the new research presented at the event.
Threats to Shareholder Advocacy
New rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) threaten to stifle shareholder advocacy and decrease corporate accountability.
Philippines: Overcoming the Cycle of Poverty
The following commentary by Irish missionary priest Shay Cullen, SSC, was published by the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) on February 14, 2020. A member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, Father Cullen has worked to promote human rights and the rights of children, especially victims of sex abuse, in the Philippines for nearly 50 years.
Economy of Francesco
Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner Dave Kane interviewed two young people planning to attend Pope Francis’s “Economy of Francesco,” an international gathering in March in Assisi, Italy.
Deportees Face Death and Abuse
A new report highlights the consequences of restrictive U.S. asylum policies for people deported to El Salvador.
Papal Exhortation: "Querida Amazonia"
In his Exhortation in response to the Amazon Synod, Pope Francis calls for a “missionary Church.”
Connection Between Climate Disasters
An unusually extreme weather phenomenon originating in the Indian Ocean has contributed to several climate-related natural disasters around the world in the past year.
Statement on Israel-Palestine "Peace Plan"
Churches for Middle East Peace, a network of organizations working for peace in Israel-Palestine of which MOGC is a member, released the following statement on February 25 on the Trump administration’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan for Israel-Palestine.
South Sudan: Progress Toward Peace
Steve Veryser, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Tanzania and the Lay Missioners’ Area Director for Tanzania and Kenya/South Sudan, wrote the following article after visiting South Sudan.
Nuclear Threat: Closer to "Doomsday"
Scientists warn of the “twin existential threats” facing our planet – climate change and nuclear weapons.
"Economy of Francesco" Resources
The "Economy of Francesco" is a gathering of "young economists and entreprenuers" in Assisi, Italy in March, 2020 to envision a more just and sustainable economy. The gathering was initiated by Pope Francis. The following is a list of resources for those interested in getting involved and learning more about this gathering.
Resources
Read Pope Francis's invitation letter for the gathering.