Church of the Nativity - Fargo - Social Justice Ministry

King Calls for Equality Before God

2007-11-24T16:27:00.000-06:00

"The Feast of Christ the King holds Jesus up as a forgiving, nonviolent leader. As king, Jesus stand for forgiveness, not armed might or a free market economy. The world needs alternatives to war. In the 20th century nations fought more wars than in any other century. Water may motivate wars in the 21st century as oil has in the past century. Everyone needs water, so its increasing scarcity challenges the earth community to learn to negotiate." (Sundy by Sunday of Good Ground Press). Jesus, our King, says his mission is to proclaim a year of favor from God (Luke 4:21). This means "forgiving debts, righting relationships and restoring the community to equality before God." Jubliee USA has lobbied Congress to introduce a bill calling on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to forgive the illegitimate debts the worlds' poorest nations owe the wealthies nations. (See www.jublieeusa.org for more information.) This will do more to reduce poverty than charitable aid to countries. This is justice.

Rubble of Stones

2007-11-24T16:22:00.000-06:00

In the Gospel of the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Times Luke in 21:5-19 speaks to people who saw the rubble of stones the temple had become. We too see the rubble of stones around us in the world: war in Iraq, floods in Mexico, homeless people in Fargo, families without healthcare, etc. Luke tells us that Jesus and His message are the cornerstone of life amidst this rubble. When we accept Jesus' message that we must live more simply so others can sustain themselves we become living stones in the Body of Christ.

Charity and Justice

2007-11-12T12:21:00.000-06:00

Charity is like giving a man a fish. Justice is having policies that allow a man to catch his own fish. Charity deals with immediate needs. Justice addresses long-term conditions, promoting social change in institutions, policies and systems. Giving someone a food basket is charity. Giving someone a living wage so she can buy her own food is justice. Sending money to missions is charity. Buying fair trade products of poor farmers in Third World nations so they can take care of their own livelihood is justice. Housing the homeless is charity. Treating a homeless veteran for mental illness and chemical dependency so he can hold a job and pay rent is justice. Giving free healthcare is charity. Making insurance affordable so people can pay the premium is justice. Allowing destitute immigrants into our country is charity. Have Fair Trade Agreements with Third World Countries is justice.
Charity is satisfying and generally non-controversial. Justice can step on our toes and can be quite controversial.

Maryknoll Missionary Dumbfounded

2007-10-24T20:18:00.000-05:00

A Maryknoll Missionary from South Africa came back home to the U.S. on a working leave. She who works with children in South Africa was dumbfounded that there are 9 million + uninsured children in the U.S., 710,000 of whom lost their insurance in 2006. Jesus tells Zacheus, “I must stay at your house today.” Jesus respected Zacheus’ dignity as a human being even though he didn’t “do the right thing.” When Zacheus welcomed Jesus into his house he had a conversion whereby he gave half of his possessions to the poor. Will we be a Zacheus and advocate for these 9 million children in the U.S. to be insured? If we can’t buy into the Catholic Social Justice principles as to why these children should have insurance coverage then we may find some reason in the article “Uninsurance: Why Should the Covered Care?” by Arthur Kellerman, a professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Emory’s School of Medicine. You should be able to find it by googling. If you are not a computer person you can find copies in the pamphlet box in the social justice bulletin board in the east entry.

How Will Chimbote be Affected?

2007-10-24T15:56:00.000-05:00

Congress is expected to vote soon on the Peru-United States Free Trade Agreement. This agreement affects the poor the most. About 73 percent of Peruvians live below the poverty line. It is estimated that 700,000 producers of cotton, barley, corn, wheat, oilseeds and dairy producers will be unable to compete with U.S. prices and so will become even more impoverished. They will migrate to the cities. Some of these will end up in Chimbote. As in Mexico and Central America, when hundreds of farmers suffered the loss of their farms, the alternative became migration to countries like the United States. The connection between trade, investment and immigration is often lost in the immigration debate.
Further, mining, oil and natural gas exploration would cause damage to the Peruvian environment, especially the Andes mountain region and the Amazon basin, the largest virgin forest on the planet. In the Free Trade Agreement, multinational corporations have the right to sue governments if any attempt to protect the environment would cause the companies a reduction in profits.
The right to life with dignity is what is at stake here. The Peru Trade Agreement should be rejected until its provisions are so revised as to strengthen, not worsen the economic, social and political equality of Peru.(NETWORK) Social justice demands such a rejection. Jesus' advocacy was always for the poor. If we are going to live out our baptismal commitment we must advocate for these people with our legislators.

If Properous Nations Continue to be Jealous

2007-10-24T15:47:00.000-05:00

We must repeat that the superflous goods of wealthier nations ought to be placed at the disposal of poorer nations. The rule, by virtue of which in times past those nearest us were to be helped in time of need, applies today to all the needy throughout the world. And the prospering peoples will be the first to benefit from this. Continuing avarice on their part will arouse the judgment of God and the wrath of the poor, with consequences no one can forsee. If prosperous nations continue to be jealous of their own advantage alone, they wil jeoprdize their highest values, sacrificing the pursuit of excellence to the acquistion of possessions. We might well apply to them the parable of the rich man. His fields yielded an abundant harvest and he did not know where to store it. "But God said to him, 'Fool, this very night your soul will be demanded from you....' " Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 49
This is an admonition to be heeded in the rewriting of the Farm Bill, of the Immigration Bill, of the Free Trade Agreements and countless other policies coming up for reconsideration by our government.

Iraq: Negotiating a Lasting Peace

2007-10-24T15:32:00.000-05:00

Catholic Social Teaching calls for participation as a basic human right. It demands people be allowed to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and decisions should be made by those who will be affected by the outcome. Bringing all involved factions of Iraq society to the table together is the only way to guarantee this right to the Iraqi people.
Over the past months, numerous proposal have been presented to Congress suggesting ideas on how to handle the deteriorating situation in Iraq. These proposals range from troop deployment, withdrawal, and otherc hanges in strategy. Rend Al-Rahim, a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, suggests forming an Iraqi compact would bring internal parties involved in the conflict to the negotiating table, providing leaders with the opportunity to mutually improve the laws of the developing nation. Al-Rahim argues that "Laws and constitutional revision must be outcomes of a national agreement,not conditions for one."
NETWORK, a Catholic Social Jutice lobby, along with Al-Rahim, advocates a peace conference strategy. An Iraqi Peace Conference would bring together all factions of Iraqi society in the hopes of creating a lasting peace. For such a genuine peace to become reality, internal reconciliation is critical. NETWORK believes a forum allowing Iraqis to formulate the necessary peace agreement is the only avenue that will result in an end to the Civil War. Without an internal Iraqi approach, troop and civilian death tolls will continue to escalate and Iraqis will continue being driven from their homes by violence.
Congressman Blumenauer has outlined a comprehensive plan for Iraq (H.R. 663) that includes a provision regarding an Iraqi Peace Conference. There are other bills pending that can also be used as the vehicles for accomplishing this goal, but H.R. 663 is among the most comprehensive. See www.networklobby.org

SCHIP - Letter to Honorable President Bush

2007-08-31T15:01:00.000-05:00

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Honorable President Bush:

There are many families with children who don’t have health insurance because they can’t afford it or have an insurance that even if used could bankrupt a family. For example, a family of 5 has health insurance from the father’s place of work, but there is a $1000 deductible for each member of the family. This family has a daughter with a serious muscular disease. The mother recently suffered from viral meningitis. The cost of these two illnesses have created further illnesses within the family because members put off getting health care when they need it. If this family were able to participate in the SCHIP program everyone’s health would improve because of better health care. This is just one of thousands of examples of people not getting the health care they need.

We, the undersigned, consistent with the teaching of our church, urge you in the name of everyone’s inalienable right to health care to sign into law the bill coming out of Conference Committee reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The majority of Americans (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation poll) support the reauthorization of SCHIP. Honorable President Bush, we ask you to stand with the majority of Americans in this matter. We further beg you to rescind the standards you recently set which seek “to establish a minimum of a one-year period of uninsurance for individuals.” We understand that you’re trying to prevent ‘crowding’ but this standard simply magnifies the problems of people who are already falling through the cracks. We ask you to exercise your compassion and obligation to the common good by reauthorizing SCHIP.

Sincerely,

Which Child Would We Ask To Go Without Health Coverage?

2007-08-28T18:45:00.000-05:00

SCHIP is a federal/state specific program for healthcare coverage of children who fall between the cracks. It is for families who do not qualify for Medicaid and don’t have insurance coverage because of circumstances beyond their control. Many users of this program are unexpected users as this story demonstrates: Beatrice lost her husband to death. The family now had to deal with the fact that they no longer had health insurance. With five children, just the cost of preventive care would have bankrupted the newly single mother. Fortunately, they were able to enroll in CHIP (the Utah program). This provided a safety net in case of an emergency. When she remarried the children came off the program and they were covered by her second husband’s health insurance plan. This story could be the case of any of our families here at Nativity, including families whose major provider loses her or his job.

For more information on the status of the SCHIP bill in Congress pick up a brochure at the Social Justice bulletin board in the northeast entryway or check the social justice blog on our parish website www.nativitycatholicchurch.net

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) tell us “Catholic teaching insists that access to adequate health care is a basic human right, necessary for the development and maintenance of life and for the ability of human beings to realize the fullness of their dignity. The USCCB has consistently worked for access to affordable health care for all, in a way that reflects a priority concern for the poor.” (See USCCB statements Health and Health Care and A Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform)

2008 Farm Bill & Justice

2007-08-28T17:04:00.000-05:00

WHY WE SHOULD GET INVOLVED: As Catholics, our Church’s social teaching is rooted in the fundamental dignity of every human life. The U.S. Catholic Bishops have stated that the right to food is a basic right because it is required to sustain life and to live a truly human existence. Therefore, we are called to ensure that we do everything we can to meet the basic needs of our brothers and sisters around the world, including the need for food.

HOUSE COMMITTEES TO DECIDE WHETHER NEW FARM BILL WILL EFFECTIVELY FIGHT GLOBAL HUNGER
As Congress prepares to reauthorize the U.S. Farm Bill, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have actively been monitoring hearings on the Farm Bill in Congress. Along with a number of faith-based and humanitarian groups, CRS also recently endorsed a statement calling for changes in the bill that would benefit farmers, rural communities, and meet the nutritional needs of poor people in the United States and overseas.

The Farm Bill defines international and domestic U.S. food and agricultural policy over several years. Much of the policy focuses on farming in the United States. However, important provisions in the Farm Bill address how the United States provides food to assist people in need worldwide not only during emergencies such as war and drought but also as a tool for long-term development such as using food to promote education, health or agriculture.

The current Farm Bill will be reauthorized because it expires at the end of September 2007. The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider the new Farm Bill shortly.

As part of the Catholic Church's overall advocacy regarding the 2007 Farm Bill, Catholic Relief Services is focusing its efforts on fighting hunger overseas. Visit its website (www.catholicreliefservice.org)for specific provisions CRS is advocating for, to view the full action alert, and to send members of the House Agriculture Committee a message today!

How to influence our legislators in Congress

2007-06-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

There are many websites that deal with Catholic social justice issues. Many of these websites allow us to sign up to receive Action Alert emails. These alerts are set up so that we can contact our congressional legislators online through these websites. Here are some websites that allow for these signups:
NETWORK a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby started by nuns some 30 or so years ago - http://www.networklobby.org/ (On the right of the screen there is a signup format)
CENTER OF CONCERN Promoting Global Justice and Peace since 1971 started by the United States Bishop Conference and the Jesuits - http://www.coc.org/index.fpl/1809.html?cms_category=7 (the signup format is on the right side of the screen)
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES an arm of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ac_signup

Can Peru become even poorer?

2007-06-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Yes, it can if Congress passes PUFTA. PUFTA is the free trade agreement between Peru and the U.S. Congress is expected to vote on this before its August recess. This will be an up or down vote; a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote. To see what PUFTA would do read the letter written by Peruvian women to members of Congress. This letter can be found at http://www.coc.org/index.fpl/1090/article/10552.html or as hard copies in the holder near the bulletin board in the northeast entry of the church. Many items in PUFTA go against the Catholic principles of respect for the dignity of the person and of preferential option for the poor. There are many policies and laws being established in Congress that can affect people's well being all over the world. Our baptismal call to carry on the work of Jesus compels us to influence those who make the policies and laws. Laws on health care, immigration, trade agreements, farming, war, peace, life, etc. We are called to reflect and pray about what we may be called to do to influence the policies and laws of our nation.

Catholic Relief Services Action Alerts

2007-06-10T15:01:00.000-05:00

If you want to support Catholic Relief Services' Action Alerts on Legislative Issues send an email to advocacy@crs.org and ask to be put on its "Action Alert Notices." They will send you email alerts when issues arise.

Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes

2007-06-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

On the Scripture Readings for June 10: Genesis 14:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Luke 9:11-17

In these Readings St. Paul gives us the event of the institution of the Eucharist. Luke gives us the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. There is a connection between these two readings. When Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and pronounced a blessing over the loaves and fish it was an acknowledgment that this food is a gift from God. In the institution of the Eucharist he also gives thanks. In the loaves and fish event Jesus takes, he blesses, he breaks and he gives. He had the same ritual at the first Eucharist.

In the loaves and fish story we learn that there are 12 baskets of leftovers. What the author of the Gospel tells us is that when we “give” or share with the heart of Jesus there will be more than enough for all of us; that there will be more than humans are capable of receiving. During this time of debate over whether or not we should allow immigrants to become citizens we hear a lot of “they will take away from us.” This is an attitude that does not come from the heart of Jesus. When Jesus said at the institution of the Eucharist, “Do this in remembrance of me,” he is not talking only of the Eucharistic Liturgy, he is also speaking about our lives. He asks us to accept the gifts we have received from him; to give thanks for them, to break these gifts and share them with others. If we accept the Body and Blood of Christ we will always have enough. Sharing in the Eucharist calls for sharing our gifts with others. So by our call to Communion we are called to share with the immigrants. And our sharing needs to be such that they retain their dignity and respect. By our invitation to Communion we are called to evaluate the proposed immigration law from the measure of Jesus’ action of sharing. Do this in remembrance of me.

Mental Health Parity Bill

2007-06-03T17:02:00.000-05:00

The Senate has passed a bil and the House is hoping to pass one for Mental Health Parity. The House bill (H.R. 1424)basically calls for the same coverage that federal legislators and employees have. This bill requires group health plans that offer benefits for mental health and addiction to do so on the same terms as care for other diseases. This bill would not allow higher copayments, coninsurance, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits, fewer days of care and doctor visits than are set for care for other diseases

Both the Senate and House bills would only apply to group health plans of 50 or more people.

Looking at this issue from Jesus' perspective which is reflected in the social justice principles of 1)dignity of the Human Person, 2) Common good and Community, 3) Rights and responsibilities, what should we be urging our legislators in Washington D.C. to do? The legislators hope to work out a compromise bill and have a bill to President Bush by the end of this term of Congress. For further information google "Mental Health Parity Bill 2007."

Immigration

2007-06-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

Congress is working on a new immigration plan. What should it look like? Before we give suggestions to our senators and representatives here may be some thoughts to reflect on.

"You will not oppress the alien; you know how an alien feels, for you yourselves were once aliens in Egypt" (Exodus 23:9). For eons people have tended to shun and oppress the alien. It takes an intense Christian faith to be welcoming to the stranger, epecially one who comes from another country. We tend to believe that strangers will take something away from us. We tend to believe that if immigrants want to work they will take away our jobs. That if they are sick they will take away health care resources from us. That if they eat they are using our tax dollars to do so. That they will be criminals and be a danger to us. We tend to believe that they will achieve power over us. Because of these fears we unconsciously aim to make them powerless.

When we let our faith guide our beliefs we will see immigrants as children of God worthy of our respect. We will imagine Jesus ministering to these people. People who are homless. people who are hungry. People who are strangers in someone else's ountry. People who are sick. People who are lonely. And yes, people who are sinners. We could not imagine Jesus putting up walls to keep them away even though his disciples tried. We can only imagine Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes to feed them. We can only imagine Jesus giving them work in his carpentry shop so they could feed their own families. We can only imagine Jesus forgiving them for coming across the border illegally while the rest of us tend to want to throw stones. We can only imagine Jesus saying, "Come to me all you who are burdened and I will give you rest."

There is a battle within us to cede to our baser instincts fed by fear or to be hospitable as Jesus would have us be. We have a soul-saving choice to make. What should we tell our senators and representatives?

Fair Trade Products

2007-06-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

Many people who work in industries that produce the goods that we buy are not paid fair wages and are not working in conditions that are conducive to safety and the honoring of a person's dignity as a child of God. This is especially true of people in Third World countries. Often the industries are owned by megacorporations whose labor practices make it possible to sell the products cheaply in the U.S. The result is that we get cheap goods but the laborers can barely make a living and have no rights or benefits in their work place.

More and more there are organizations that are set up to help small producers offer living wages and rights and privileges. These organizations help these producers market their goods. These products are known as Fair Trade products. But these goods are more expensive because of the living wages and benefits the workers receive. If we buy these products at a higher price we are helping the small producers and their workers make a living. This allows them to live with dignity and respect. We are faced with the choice of buying cheaper goods which keeps poor people in desperate poverty or of buying more expensive products which will raise the level of well being of the producers and their workers.

Should our parish support Fair Trade products? We can buy fair trade coffee which the youth have been selling in the parish. We know of fair trade bananas producers which we will introduce in the fall of 2007. If you know of other fair trade products share those on this blog.

Care of the earth

2007-06-03T15:21:00.000-05:00

What are your thoughts? Should Nativity start a recycling program? In your response tell why you think yes or no; share what you think should be done with the waste materials; share thoughts on what could be recycled; give suggestions on how we might do it; tell us if you'd be willing to be a part of the team that gets this program off the ground. Let us know if you'd like to be part of the responsibility of running the recycling program.

HEALTH CARE

2007-03-28T09:48:00.000-05:00

True or False:
1) The Catholic Church believes that health care is a right.
2) The government’s role is to protect our rights.
3) One of the Catholic principles is that we are called to sacrifice for the common good.
4) Everyone, such as, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, physicians, attorneys, governments, etc. and users of health care all need to make some sacrifices so that everyone can afford to have health care.

Answer: All True.

FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

2006-12-27T14:00:00.000-06:00

This holiday season we read the account of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt to save the life of Jesus. A similar flight is happening today. People are fleeing Darfur. As the innocent children under King Herod's rule were then killed so today are many of the
people from Darfur being killed. An alliance of over 175 faith-based organizations, called The Save Darfur Coalition has set up an action website, www.SaveDarfur.org, whereby we can ask our President to take 4 actions toward stopping the killings, rape, and torture of the Darfur people. Justice calls for us to do what we can to end the atrocities of Darfur.

The Pope on Democracy

2006-08-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

"Democracy serves what is true and right when it safeguards the dignity of every human person, when it respects inviolable and inalienable human rights, when it makes the common good the end and criterion regulating all public and social life."
– Pope John Paul II

Jesus Conserved Energy?

2006-05-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

Purpose Driven Life. We all know the book. Jesus is the one who gave us the purpose for our lives - when we all live as He did, the kingdom will have arrived. When we are as community-minded as He was then our choices will be based on what is good for the community. A challenge for us to consider this week is: How can we conserve the energy resources of the world so that people everywhere will have access to energy? Using less gas? Supporting proposals for alternative energy resources?