The following resources were published in the May-June 2022 edition of NewsNotes.
1. Raise your voice for civil and human rights in El Salvador. Contact your members of Congress to ask them to withhold support for military and police forces in El Salvador until the Salvadoran government addresses mounting human rights violations: https://bit.ly/3KxTJWy
2. On Wednesday, May 4, join the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) for a virtual vigil to pray for just and lasting peace in the Filipino elections and beyond. As people of faith we believe in protecting the human dignity of each person, which includes fair and just election: https://tinyurl.com/justpeacevigil
3. Take action to prevent arms sales to human rights abusers. Ask your members of Congress to support a bill that would prevent U.S. arms transfers to those who are known to violate human rights: https://bit.ly/3KqpGA0
4. Join the Catholic Peacebuilding Network June 20-23 for a virtual international conference, “Catholic Peacebuilding in Times of Crisis: Hope for a Wounded World.” Dan Moriarty, Sustainable Pathways to Peace Project Coordinator at MOGC, will present as part of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative: https://cpn.nd.edu/2022-conference/
5. Explore this list of Catholic responses to the war in Ukraine, compiled by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network: https://cpn.nd.edu/topics/ukraine/
6. Read Maryknoll Lay Missioner Gabe Hurrish’s account of a trauma healing workshop conducted in Kuron Peace Village in South Sudan: https://bit.ly/3LwqGnI
7. Read a letter signed by MOGC and a coalition of organizations calling for the U.S. to end its military participation in the Saudi-led war in Yemen: https://bit.ly/3vzCMH1
8. In honor of the late Fr. Drew Christiansen, SJ, a foreign policy expert and tireless advocate for peace in Israel-Palestine, Churches for Middle East Peace is starting a Father Drew Christiansen Holy Land Lecture Series to bring Christian leaders and scholars from the Holy land to share insights and updates on the Christian situation in the land of Jesus’ birth. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3LILzfm
9. Join a study circle about Archbishop John Wester’s pastoral letter on nuclear disarmament organized by Pax Christi USA. May 17, 24, 31 on Zoom. Register at https://bit.ly/3Lx84Ut. Read the pastoral letter at https://bit.ly/3KtknzX.
10. Watch the recording of a lecture by Dr. Maria J. Stephan, a leading expert on nonviolent civil resistance, on civil resistance in Ukraine, hosted by Pax Christi International: https://bit.ly/37ZL69V
11. Pope Francis has invited all members of the Church to participate in the Synod on Synodality. One way you can participate is by filling out this 5-10 minute anonymous survey, the answers of which will be shared with the Vatican and Church leaders in the United States: https://bit.ly/3Kv1dJX
12. Read this new report from Refugees International: “Pushed into the Shadows: Mexico’s Reception of Haitian Migrants.” https://bit.ly/3y2SyM4
13. Join the Interfaith Immigration Coalition on May 12 at 7pm ET for an event, “Holy Voices from the Border: Restore Asylum Now.” The event will feature faith leaders and directly impacted immigrants from the U.S.-Mexico border. https://bit.ly/3vC2Wcp
14. Read Pope Francis’ Easter message (for Orthodox Easter) to Russian Patriarch Kirill calling for peace in Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3snujVB
15. Read this essay from the Center for Migration Studies, “The Crisis in Refugee Protection and Everyday Catholics.” In this article, CMS Executive Director Donald Kerwin reflects on how everyday Catholics can answer the Church’s call “to see migrants not as ‘others,’ but as human beings, our brothers and sisters, created in God’s image.” https://bit.ly/3LpZsyW
16. Join Catholic Relief Services for a virtual event, Migration in the Americas: Promoting Rootedness, May 12, 2022, at 2pm Eastern. https://bit.ly/3y1Z45L
17. Read an article by Dr. Eli McCarthy, “5 Ways to Support Courageous Nonviolent Resistance in Ukraine:” https://bit.ly/3KsTtrU
18. Join a worldwide photo competition organized by CIDSE, a coalition of Catholic social justice organizations of which MOGC is a member. The competition, “We sow the future,” focused on climate change, runs until June 22. https://bit.ly/3vSY41g
Photo available on Unsplash.