CATHOLICS: Activists for Peace and Social Justice (links)

[diamond14]

This post is to give more insight into CATHOLICS, and how we live and work for Peace and Social Justice.... With these web links, you can find much more information about CATHOLICS, and put aside some of the hate and Catholic-bashing that shows up on DU, recently...the last link is for OPUS DEI, so DUers will put aside their bashing on that Catholic organization....you are standing with Catholics at EVERY anti-war protest....

Knowledge is Power....learn, and together at DU, we can help stop the hate..... PEACE


here's the Pope's web site
http://www.vatican.va/index.htm

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the Catholic Church has a PERMANENT seat at the United Nations
(afterall, the Vatican is a COUNTRY)...and the purpose is to work for Peace and Social Justice in all UN decisions...
http://www.holyseemission.org/images/+Migliore%20UN%20Gen%20Assmbly.jpg

http://www.holyseemission.org/index2.html

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NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, is a progressive voice within the Catholic community calling for peace and economic justice in our nation and the world. Check out their current boycotts and activism.
http://networklobby.org/



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Catholic Relief Services...the official International Relief and Development Agency of the U.S. Catholic community....CATHOLICS were on-site to save tsunami victims' lives BEFORE bush* came out to speak of the disaster....
http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=41794

http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/{35F87059-0B10-4B34-8D39-6DAD234D81EA}/fair_trade.jpg

http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/{35F87059-0B10-4B34-8D39-6DAD234D81EA}/clb_banner120x60.jpg

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Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories. Caritas works without regard to creed, race, gender, or ethnicity, and is one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks.

Caritas provides a beacon of hope for tens of millions of women, men and children in times of hardship and contributes to the development of social justice in times of peace. Caritas’ mandate includes integral development, emergency relief, advocacy, peace building, respect for human rights and support for proper stewardship of the planet’s environment and resources.

The Caritas approach is based on the social teaching of the Church, which focuses on the dignity of the human person. Caritas’ work on behalf of the poor manifests God’s love for all of creation.

http://www.caritas.org/



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Social Development and World Peace....from the U.S. Catholic Bishops
http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/


A Snapshot of the Catholic Church in America

The Catholic Church in 2003

63.4 million Catholics (23% of the U.S. population)

19,081 parishes (44 new parishes in 2002)

43,634 priests / 5,499 brothers / 73,316 sisters

585 Catholic hospitals treated 83.9 million patients in 2002

7,142 elementary schools and 1,374 high schools, with over 2.6 million students enrolled

230 Catholic colleges and universities with a total of 720,000 students

Meeting REAL NEEDS in YOUR Neighborhood....
http://www.usccb.org/comm/cip.htm


Find out where YOUR local Catholic Church is located...Catholic Churches welcome EVERYONE to their services and social events...
http://www.usccb.org/dioceses.htm


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The Catholic Worker Movement. These are the brave patriotic Catholic people arrested outside the White House last week. Sometimes called 'Dorothy Day Catholics'.


arrests...and shoving the oldest to the ground...




http://www.catholicworker.org/

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An inspirational essay of a Catholic Priest who STANDS UP to the United States Military at his front door...
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1129-07.htm


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a few of the Catholic news services

http://www.catholicnews.com/

http://www.catholic.org/

http://www.cathstan.org/

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Opus Dei began its apostolic activities in the United States in Chicago in 1949, when Sal Ferigle, a young physics graduate student, and Fr. Joseph Muzquiz, one of the first priests to be ordained for Opus Dei in 1944, arrived in Chicago. The first center was established near the University of Chicago.

Today there are 3,000 faithful of the Prelature in the United States. There are 60 centers in or near 19 cities: Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Delray Beach, Florida; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; Milwaukee; New York; Pittsburgh; Princeton, New Jersey; Providence; St. Louis; San Antonio; San Francisco; South Bend, Indiana; South Orange, New Jersey; Urbana, Illinois; and Washington, D.C.

The Prelature of Opus Dei uses seven conference centers for retreats and seminars. They are located near Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

The faithful of the Prelature have been involved in educational activities, many that assist the underprivileged. Supplementary educational programs at Midtown and Metro Centers have helped thousands of African-American and Hispanic youth in inner-city Chicago. Around 95 percent of the students at Midtown and Metro graduate from high school, and 60 percent go on to college (as compared to 12 percent of their peers not in the program). Similar programs exist in the South Bronx section of New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.



http://www.opusdei.org/

[JanMichael]

1. Didn't Opus Dei work hand in hand with Franco?

I'm not saying they're all religious fascists, that time is passed, but isn't Scalia a fellow traveller? He's a whacko, no?

It's a pretty conservative organisation by most accounts although the official OD says they aren't political, and are in fact Conserative and Progressive, whatever.

I don't think Scalia would say that he's a progressive by any stretch of the imagination.

[CatholicEdHead]

3. Catholic Church splintered

after 2004. There are far right-wing quasi-born again lay groups who have a few Bishops' ears.

I end up waking a fine line always trying to keep the bridges up in that overall (with a few exceptions), the US Catholic Church is reasonable. The key is to stay away from using "liberal" and "Conservative", you can usually get to the issues.

[SharonAnn]

5. Yes, Franco was a huge supporter of Opus Dei, so was Pinochet and

Fujimori (Peru).

Then, of course, there are Robert Hanssen (FBI spy), Louis Freeh, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Sam Brownback, and maybe Rick Santorum.

Oh, don't forget Peggy Noonan, Robert Novack, et al.

[diamond14]

7. 63.4 million Catholics in American, but find 8 to justify posting hate and

bigotry toward Catholics.....sooooooo logical that limbaugh will be spouting this soon....

read about membership in Opus Dei, and you'll find out that NOT ONE of those people are MEMBERS of Opus Dei.....


Many DUers (or interlopers) spew hate about Opus Dei because they are brainwashed by the Da Vinci Code....read about this FICTION and learn the FACTS...stop hate and bigotry here on DU....




The Da Vinci Code, the Catholic Church and Opus Dei
A response to The Da Vinci Code from the Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States.

Many readers are intrigued by the claims about Christian history and theology presented in The Da Vinci Code. We would like to remind them that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, and it is not a reliable source of information on these matters.

We also want to point out that The Da Vinci Code’s bizarre depiction of Opus Dei is inaccurate, both in the overall impression and in many details, and it would be irresponsible to form any opinion of Opus Dei based on reading The Da Vinci Code. For those interested in further information about the various false impressions the book gives of Opus Dei, please continue reading.

http://www.opusdei.org/art.php?w=32&p=7017

[JanMichael]

10. I certainly didn't do that.

"to justify posting hate and bigotry toward Catholics"

I like most Catholics, especially the Progressive ones.

Opus Dei is not "progressive".

[diamond14]

13. PROGRESS: Opus Dei helped THOUSANDS finish high school & go to college

That is called "Progessive"...

Those young inner-city youths, finishing high school and going on to COLLEGE, are changing the structure of America....reforming America socially, economically, and politically....AND that's what 'Progressive' means....


-snips-

The faithful of the Prelature have been involved in educational activities, many that assist the underprivileged. Supplementary educational programs at Midtown and Metro Centers have helped thousands of African-American and Hispanic youth in inner-city Chicago. Around 95 percent of the students at Midtown and Metro graduate from high school, and 60 percent go on to college (as compared to 12 percent of their peers not in the program). Similar programs exist in the South Bronx section of New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

http://www.opusdei.org /

[SuffragetteSal]

2. thanks for the links

I read Sr. Joan Chittister's Web column, From Where I Stand, every week. You all can check it out here:

http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/

[diamond14]

4. "potent nonviolent weapons against weapons of governments, hate groups"

yes, beautiful Web column....and here on DU, posting information on the Internet is indeed OUR "weapon against HATE groups and self-righteous bigots".....


"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us."

[Nadienne]

6. When I was in grade school - a Catholic grade school

About once a year, sisters from missionaries from South America (I think El Salvador, maybe Chile and Argentina) would talk about how the poor people in those countries were oppressed, and how they, the missionaries, were frequently attacked...

In high school - again, a Catholic high school - we had a priest for a guidance councilor. He introduced us to Oxfam. He was sincere and devout and a heck of a nice guy.

Immediately after he left, the high school was taken over by people who were only interested in appearing devout and sincere.

[diamond14]

8. Catholic Church responsible for 32% of ALL refugees resettled in America

Over the past 25 years, the Catholic Church in the United States – through the USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) – has resettled 883,740 refugees, or 32% of the total number of refugees admitted to the United States.

According to the Catholic Charities USA Annual Survey-At-A-Glance for 2000, the most recent available, the network provided:

Emergency Services to 5,352,376 People


Food Services to 3,929,387 People
Agencies provided both prepared food and food distribution services.


Food banks & pantries 1,720,448

Soup kitchens 734,678

Congregate dining 646,213

Home delivered meals 144,112

Other food services 683,936


Other Basic Needs Assistance to 1,106,708 People
This category includes those basic services outside of food, shelter, or housing, such as:


Clothing assistance 592,784

Financial assistance 260,593

Utilities assistance 183,850

Medication assistance 63,731

Other basic needs assistance 5,750


Temporary Shelter Services to 109,289 People
Services in this category include short-term (up to six months) emergency shelters and safe houses for the homeless, runaway youth, victims of domestic violence, etc.


http://www.usccb.org/comm/cip.htm#toc14


Did you know that...

105 dioceses have refugee resettlement offices.


In 2002, the Catholic Church resettled 6,533 – or 22% – of the total number of refugees admitted to the United States (30,332).


In 2002, the Catholic Church – with the assistance of government grants – spent $27.5 million on direct programs and assistance for the resettling of refugees.


Through the program Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees, volunteers nationwide contributed more than 300,000 documented hours of service, the equivalent of 150 full-time employees.

[phusion]

9. I have great respect for Catholics...

The true Catholics I have met have been very loving, respectful, stand-up people.

Thank you for the links.

If I ever decide to become a theist, I'll be looking to the Catholic church :)

[FarLeftRage]

11. Great post!

I want to add the Maryknollers to this:

Maryknoll, the U.S.-based Catholic mission movement, includes: the Maryknoll Society (priests and brothers), Maryknoll Congregation (Sisters), the Maryknoll Lay Missioners (laity, priests and religious), and the Maryknoll Affiliates.

Since 1911, Catholics in the United States have responded to the worldwide cry of the poor by becoming Maryknoll Missioners. Today, Maryknollers help people overseas build communities of faith. Some work in war zones with refugees, others minister to the sick, the elderly, orphans or people with AIDS. Through lives of service, Maryknollers translate the gospel of love into different languages and in different cultures.


http://home.maryknoll.org/index.php

[AngryOldDem]

12. Pax Christi

Both worldwide and in the United States.

http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=707

Great post, by the way, and very much needed on these forums.

[Princess Turandot]

14. From the website of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart..

of Jesus, the religious order founded by Frances Cabrini, who later became the first American Catholic saint, and is the Patron Saint of Immigrants. Frances Cabrini was sent off to the slums of NYC's Lower East Side in 1889, as a non-english speaking woman who headed a small religious order. (As soon as she arrived, the local Bishop, 'commiserating' on the poor conditions she was sent to, suggested that she go back to Italy. She declined, which started not only her missionary career but also left her with no assistance from the local Bishop and from few others in the years to come.) By the time she died in 1917, she had founded 67 'missions': schools, hospitals, medical clinics etc all over the world, crossing the oceans 25 times by trawler. She also traveled throughout Central America by pack-horse, not to convert people, but to serve the poor.

November 18, 2004

The Hidden Face of Globalization: NLC’s Bangladeshi Worker Tour

On October 27th we attended one of the last speaking engagements of the National Labor Committee (NLC) sponsored Bangladeshi Worker tour. With five weeks, 35 universities, dozens of high schools, labor, community and religious events, and many miles under their belts, the three Bangladeshi workers were determined to tell their story. They spoke candidly about the abuse, poor working conditions, terrible pay and infringement of rights, they suffer daily, seven days a week, while producing goods for Wal-Mart. They laid out their modest demands: one day a week off, an end to the physical abuse, receipt of legal maternity leave of three months full pay, and to be paid the proper double-time rate for overtime. Wal-Mart, whose profits were $9.1 billion last year, and whose CEO Lee Scott pays himself $240,000 a week, routinely cheats workers out of their legal rights and promised overtime pay. One woman talked about earning $.13 an hour, $1.04 a day and less than $6.50 a week.

This tour was designed to build a broad-base of support to promote anti-sweatshop legislation that will guarantee respect of human and worker rights in the global economy. The legislative campaign will be launched in January. Stay tuned.

Take Action

“A Holiday Season Of Conscience ”

-Let’s start by staying out of Wal-Mart this holiday season. The few dollars you might save buying a Wal-Mart product is costing another human being much more.

...Shop Union for the Holidays/Give the Gift of Good Jobs

This holiday season, support good jobs by giving union-made gifts. Your shopping dollars can keep good-paying jobs with good wages and benefits- in your community.


Sound familiar?????

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CORPORATE STANCE OF THE MSSH

JUST POLICIES FOR IMMIGRANTS

Work in our parishes and our neighborhoods
with immigrants and for their concerns.

Join in public statements regarding justice issues with other groups.

Participate in demonstrations, prayer services etc., which promote the cause of immigrants.

Initiate or join any individual action on behalf of justice for the immigrant.


WELCOME as brothers and sisters all immigrants to the lands in which we are missioned.

SUPPORT the rights of all persons to flee political, religious, or economic persecution; and support the basic human rights and dignity of all persons regarding: food, shelter, health care, employment at just wages, religious freedom and also honoring their customs and traditions.

EDUCATE others and ourselves about the needs of immigrants.

RE-EXAMINE political laws and regulations in the light of these justice issues and to work change those that do not meet human needs.

WORK in solidarity with immigrants and with others who share our values and beliefs to promote justice and compassion for all immigrants.

“For I was...a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Mt.25: 34-35)
As people of the Covenant, we are mindful of our Biblical instructions: “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for them as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:34)"

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[diamond14]

15. can you post a "link" to that website?

:nuke:

[diamond14]

16. found the web site for "Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart" (link)

http://www.mothercabrini.org/msc_index.html

[demosincebirth]

17. Also, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and its dinning room in every city

Feeds more homeles and hungry than all other free kitchens combined.
St. Anthony"s dinning roon in SF prepares over 3000 meals a day for hungry and homeless.

[diamond14]

18. link to the "Society of St. Vincent de Paul"...feeding the hungry (PHOTOS)

picking up the pieces of the bush* economic disaster and perpetural WARS......


Here's some REAL CATHOLICS for Americans, living and working God's word, everyday, in YOUR community....


The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
http://www.svdpusa.org/



Food for the hungry...everyday...ALL ACROSS AMERICA




Helping with Pharmaceutical Needs...




Care for the Elderly




Mentoring for Children



The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential precept of the Society's work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiallity and dignity of those who are served. The Society recognizes that it must assume, also, a role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or voiceless. Some 12 million persons are helped annually by Vincentians in the United States.

[struggle4progress]

19. kick for catholic workers