Office of Justice and Peace
The mission of the Office is to educate the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on the principles of Catholic social teaching and its application to contemporary local, national, and international issues; to advocate for public policy which affirms human life and human dignity and reflects a consistent life ethic; and to develop a constituency on social concerns. The Office--in conjunction with the Justice and Peace Commission--seeks to accomplish its mission through its various projects and programs including legislative advocacy, education, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and Catholic Relief Services.
We look forward to hearing from you about how we can best assist you in your efforts to work for peace and justice!
Justice and Peace Commission
The Justice and Peace Commission is an advisory body to the Office of Justice and Peace and supports the Office in its work to advance its mission. Members of the Commission are volunteers who represent various constituencies of the Archdiocese and who assist the Office to plan, organize, and implement projects and programs.
Each year, the Commission sponsors the Public Policy Breakfast with Cardinal Roger Mahony. The purpose of the Public Policy Breakfast is to convene legislators, parish leaders, and representatives from community organizations and to focus attention on specific social policy issues. Topics at previous events have been health care reform, welfare reform, the anti-affirmative action initiative known as Proposition 209, Third World Debt and the Millennium, and The Los Angeles Region in the New Millennium.
| 2010-2011 Tony Fadale , Chair Allis Druffel Bernadette Robert Br. Andres Rivera, S.T. Deacon Guy Wauthy Fr. Francisco Valdovinos, S.T. Joe Esseff Kurt Orzeck Lucy Boutte |
Ramon Posada Rocky T. Domingo Sr. Pat Krommer C.S.J.
Sr. Gail Young, S.S.S. Program Coordinator Joan Harper Program Consultant |
UPCOMING EVENTS...
For more information about the Office of Justice and Peace, please visit our website at: www.archdiocese.la/ojp
*** Please don't forget to share your upcoming events. To do this just reply to this email and submit your event. * * *
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Please note: All new items on the Newsblast will be in this red.
A. Upcoming Events
B. Action Alerts
C. Ongoing Programs/Resources/General Information
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A. Upcoming Events:
- The Anti- Slavery Symposium After El Monte, Where do we Go?~July 23, 2010
- Social Action Summer Institute~~ August 1-4, 2010
- Right to Life~~ August 16, 2010
- Annual Labor Day Mass~~ September 6, 2010
- Archdiocesan Public Policy Luncheon~~ September 24, 2010
- Pax Christi So. California Regional Assembly and Conference ~~ October 2, 2010
- Immigration and Elections~~October 25, 2010
- Save the Date: Symposium on Immigration ~~ October 30, 2010
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1. The Anti-Slavery Symposium After El Monte, Where do we Go?~~ July 23, 2010
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Uniting Labor Against Global Capital
From Survivor to Change Agent
Directly Shaping Proposed Policies to Affect Change
RSVP to: Thai Community Development Center
6376 Yucca Street, Suite B
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-468-2555
WHERE: The California Endowment (1000 N. Alameda St. L.A. CA 90012)
WHEN: July 23, 2010
TIME: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
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2. Social Action Summer Institute~~ August 1-4, 2010
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The Summer Social Action Institute will be hosted by the Diocese of San Jose at Santa Clara University on August 1-5, 2010. It will feature speakers from across the US on topics of interest to parish and diocesan leaders.
Topics will include Engaging Hispanic Ministry with Social Justice, Parish Community Organizing, Forming Communities of Salt and Light, Restorative Justice, Christian Spirituality and Gospel Justice, as well as keynotes on Foundations of Catholic Social Teaching.
WHEN: August 1-4, 2010
WHERE: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
For more information, please contact Jenn at 202/635-2757 x133 or coordinator@catholicroundtable.org
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3. Right to Life~~August 16, 2010
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Be The Light of the World…A Social Justice Speaker Series
WHAT: Right to Life - Pre-Birth to End of Life Issues
Featuring Guest Speaker: Anne Hennessy, ED, Right to Life League of Southern California
WHERE: Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church ( 2060 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027; 323-664-2111; www.omogc.org)
WHEN: Monday, August 16, 2010
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
Admission Free
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4. Annual Labor Day Mass~~ September 6, 2010
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Join workers who struggle for a living wage, better working conditions, justice and dignity for all.
WHEN: September 6, 2010
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: The Cathedral o f Our Lady of the Angels
(555 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA)
Principal Celebrant: Archbishop José Gomez
For more information, please call Sr. Gail Young, S.S.S. at 213-637-7690 or email at SrGYoung@la-archdiocese.org
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5. Archdiocesan Public Policy Luncheon~~ Sept. 24, 2010
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Each year the Archdiocese of Los Angeles hosts a forum on current policy issues. The Public Policy Luncheon is an opportunity to engage elected officials, businesses, community leaders, and key religious representatives throughout the region to discuss issues of concern with our respective constituencies. This year’s issue will be on immigration.
Tickets are $30.00
Where: St. Peter’s Church in Los Angeles
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
THEME: “Out of the Shadow: The Human Face of a Broken Immigration System
and How We Can be Agents for Change”
Please call Sr. Gail at 213-637-7690 for more information!
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6. Pax Christi So. California Regional Assembly and Conference ~~ October 2, 2010
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You are invited to Pax Christi's assembly and conference with keynote speaker Sr. Diane Ortiz, OSU (Guatemala Survivor of Torture and Pax Christi Washing DC Office Director); breakfast groups, lunch and Mass with Bishop Gabino Zavala, Pax Christi USA Board Episcopal President.
For more information, registration and volunteering, visit www.stcamiluscenter.org; call 323-225-4461 x221 for Fr. Chris Ponnet, SC Regional Coordinator/Pax Christi USA Board.
When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 9:30am to 5pm
Where: PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION: St Matthias High School, 7851 Gardendale St., Downey
Registration is to be done thru Religious Education Office, with a notation for the Pax Christi Assembly Track -- Cost is $25 -- contact Fr. Chris Ponnet at cponnet@stcamillus.ftml.net or 323-225-4461 ext 221
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7. Immigration and Elections ~~ October 25, 2010
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Be the Light of the World: Issues for a Diverse Christian Community
WHAT: Immigration and Elections
WHERE: Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church ( 2060 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles,
CA 90027; 323-664-2111; www.omogc.org)
WHEN: Monday, August 16, 2010
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
Admission Free
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8. Save the Date: Symposium on Immigration ~~ October 30, 2010
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The San Gabriel Region Pastoral Council's Committee on Social Justice will be sponsoring a symposium on immigration. Please watch future Newsblasts for more information. All are welcome.
When: Saturday, October 30, 2010
Where: St. John Vianney, 1345 Turnbull Canyon Rd., Hacienda Heights, 91745
- Action Alerts
1. Urge Senators to Ratify New START Treaty to Verifiably Reduce Nuclear Weapons!
2. Urge President Obama to do everything he can to support a peaceful and stable Sudan
3. Urge President Obama and Senate to Join the Mine Ban Treaty!
4. Help get Hershey's to go Fair Trade in honor of World Day Against Child Labor
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1. Urge Senators to Ratify New START Treaty to Verifiably Reduce Nuclear Weapons!
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Summary: President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) on April 8, 2010. The New START Treaty: reduces deployed strategic warheads to 1550, 30 percent below the existing ceiling; limits both nations to no more than 700 delivery vehicles; and includes new verification requirements. The Treaty was submitted to the U.S. Senate for ratification on May 13. The Treaty will be under Senate consideration for some weeks or months.
Background: First proposed by President Ronald Reagan, the United States and Soviet Union signed the original START Treaty in 1991. This treaty limited the number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles (missiles and bombers) that each country could deploy. Today the United States and Russia still hold about 90% of all nuclear weapons, large arsenals left over from the Cold War. Many of these weapons are on immediate alert status. Ratification of the New START Treaty is critical because verification ensures transparency and these reductions in the number of weapons can set the stage for future reductions. The New START Treaty is also important to international efforts to address nonproliferation. With fewer nuclear weapons in the world the likelihood of one falling into terrorist hands is reduced and countries are more likely to cooperate in enforcing nonproliferation demands and controlling the supply of nuclear materials. Nuclear weapons are a grave threat to human life and dignity. Consistent with Catholic teaching, the bishops have long supported securing nuclear materials from terrorists and reducing the number of nuclear armaments. For decades they have promoted the policy goals of preventing proliferation of these horrific weapons and ultimately eliminating them.
Nuclear war is rejected in Church teaching because the use of nuclear weapons cannot insure noncombatant immunity and their destructive potential and lingering radiation cannot be meaningfully proportionate. Pope Benedict XVI said in a January 2006 statement, “In a nuclear war there would be no victors, only victims.”
Take Action:
You are receiving this alert because you have a Senator who is on the Committee on Foreign Relations, which may vote on the Treaty soon. (See list on the next page.) Contact your Senators today and urge them to support the New START Treaty because it makes our nation and world safer by reducing nuclear weapons in a verifiable way. To contact your Senators, visit http://capwiz.com/catholicbishops/ or www.senate.gov or call using the office numbers on the next page.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Stephen Colecchi, Director, International Justice and Peace, 202-541-3196, scolecchi@usccb.org or visit: www.usccb.org/sdwp/international.
Sign up to be informed about future issues and alerts!
Visit: http://capwiz.com/catholicbishops/mlm/signup/
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2. Urge President Obama to do everything he can to support a peaceful and stable Sudan
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Take Action Now! Contact President Obama now: https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=677&JServSessionIdr004=swmfq72mj4.app244b and urge him to do everything he can to support full implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement and efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.
Why is action important now? The situation in Sudan – not just in the Darfur region, but also the tenuous peace between the North and South brought about by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – hangs in the balance. The country is bracing for a referendum on whether the South should secede from the North in January 2011. The potential for increased violence, death, and displacement at the hands of a renewed North-South war is real. Therefore, significant steps must be taken to avert such a disaster.
A delegation of Sudanese bishops are visiting the United States June 12-28 to meet with Church leaders, policymakers, and others to raise their concerns and call for increased efforts to build a peaceful future for Sudan.
For more information, contact:
Stephen Hilbert, Policy Adviser for Africa/Foreign Aid, International Justice and Peace, USCCB; 202-541-3149, shilbert@usccb.org
Tina Rodousakis, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, CRS; 410-951-7462, trodousa@crs.org
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3. Urge President Obama and Senate to Join the Mine Ban Treaty!
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Landmines laid years ago continue to kill and maim thousands of innocent civilians today in 70 countries. In May, a letter signed by 68 Senators went to President Obama encouraging him to do a comprehensive review of U.S. policy on landmines, with the aim of removing any obstacles to the U.S. signing and ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty. You can help victims of landmines and prevent future casualties by letting President Obama and your Senators know that you support the U.S. joining the Mine Ban Treaty.
Take Action Now!
· Contact President Obama and your Senators today and urge them to support a comprehensive review of U.S. landmine policy, in order that the U.S. join the Mine Ban Treaty. (For contact information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/contact and www.senate.gov). The White House number to leave a comment is 202-456-1111. The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121 to locate your Senator.
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4. Help get Hershey's to go Fair Trade in honor of World Day Against Child Labor
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Join Global Exchange and organizations around the country today to help get Hershey's to go Fair Trade in honor of World Day Against Child Labor!
With your help we can put pressure on Hershey's to stop abusive child labor and environmental degradation, and help lift thousands of cocoa producers out of poverty. Call and be heard today! To see how to respond, visit:
www.greenamericatoday.org/programs/fairtrade/whatyoucando/hershey.cfm.
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C. Ongoing Programs/Resources/General Information
1. Summer Reading: Catch Up on CRS Fair Trade News!
2. Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Mission Promoter Opening
3. Common Ground for Immigration Reform? By Cardinal Mahony
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1. Summer Reading: Catch Up on CRS Fair Trade News!
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Subscribe to the Catholic Relief Services’ Fair Trader email at: http://fairtrade.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FT_homepage and you will have access to information like:
CRS Fans Take Fair Trade My Home Pledge and Win!
To celebrate World Fair Trade Day, CRS Fair Trade fan Elizabeth Clayton pledged to Fair Trade Her Home. Read why she and 300 others did so (http://www.crsfairtrade.org/fair-trade-your-home/), the importance of commitment and about the great Fair Trade prizes won.
The Debate About Child Labor and Cocoa
Even with clear child labor standards, is it possible to police all the cocoa farms that supply the cocoa in your chocolate? Learn more about the sticky situation cocoa cooperatives face in dealing with child labor http://www.crsfairtrade.org/2010/04/30/is-child-labor-free-cocoa-possible/)
"Fair Trade: A Parish Story," was released by CRS in honor of World Fair Trade Day. Watch the video to learn why and how Fair Trade is such an inspiration in places of worship, such as St. Camillus parish in Silver Spring, MD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaVY1Zz0jzs
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2. Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Mission Promoter Opening
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Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is seeking a fulltime Mission Promoter for Southern California to work out of their L.A. office in Little Tokyo near downtown. Fluency in Spanish is required.
For more information about this position, contact Deacon Matt Dulka, West Regional Director at mdulka@maryknoll.org or at (510) 276-5021.
For more information about Maryknoll, visit their regional website at www.maryknoll.us or their national website at www.maryknollsociety.org.
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3. Common Ground for Immigration Reform? By Cardinal Mahony
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Please visit Cardinal Mahony’s blog at http://cardinalrogermahonyblogsla.blogspot.com/ to read the Cardinal’s reflections on July 12th on the need for immigration reform now. A final paragraph in this blog states:
“The overall common good of our nation and its citizens demand early action on all-inclusive measures to repair our current unworkable immigration system. Each day that goes by without Congressional action, new and deeper levels of fear and desperation take a terrible toll on so many people living in the shadows of our society. There is general agreement among the American public as to the solution to our nation’s broken immigration system. Now our elected officials need to show the courage to enact it.”
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE NETWORK- Sign up here!
Spanish Fact sheet-Justice for Immigrants
Fact sheet-Justice for Immigrants
Education Component
Justice for Immigrants website
Parish Social Ministry Presentation
Downloadable Materials and Links
Coming soon!
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Contact Us
- Most Reverend Alexander Salazar, Executive Director
- Sr. Gail Young, S.S.S. , Program Coordinator (213) 637-7690
- Joan Harper, Program Consultant (213) 637-7560
- Office of Justice and Peace
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202
tel: 213-637-7690
