Issues

Nonviolence . . . Human trafficking . . . Women . . . . The elderly . . . Immigrants' rights . . . Housing. . . Children . . . Prisoners' rights . . . Health care . . . World Hunger . . . Globalization, as it affects Latin America . . . Care of the earth . . . Seamless ethic of life

Note: The ideas and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author's and should not be ascribed to the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes or its members.





Thursday, September 27, 2018

JusticeAlert: September 27, 2018

There are three items in this notice: 
1) GOOD NEWS! Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill after removing a cruel amendment that would have kept children and families in jail-like detention centers for months or even years. Now it’s on its way to the president’s desk and ready for his signature. 
2) Immigration Statement from LCWR (click on blue “statement in the second paragraph);
3) a prayer service for the Feast of St. Francis, “Who is My Neighbor in a Climate Threatened World?” 
LCWR Banner
Last weekend the Trump administration issued a new proposed rule that would penalize immigrant families, forcing parents to choose between accessing medicine, housing, and food for their children and risking their eligibility for possible legal permanent residency. The much-anticipated proposed rule change was released by DHS on Saturday, but it has not yet been published in the Federal Register or opened for public comment. 

LCWR issued a statement opposing this latest attempt by President Trump to restrict immigration and punish immigrant families. 

In brief, the proposed rule would: 
• change the way US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will weigh various factors to determine immigrant inadmissibility for public charge 
• expand the number and type of public benefits received that could lead USCIS to find an immigrant inadmissible when applying for lawful permanent residence 
• apply a similar public charge evaluation to change of status and extension of status applications 
• set the standards for the collection of public charge bonds 
• would not be retroactive 

There is some good news in this latest proposal. The proposed rule does not consider receipt of public benefits by family members, including U.S. citizen children, as was included in earlier drafts of the rule. This may well indicate that opposition to earlier drafts succeeded. 

More information about the proposed changes to the public charge rule is available from CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.) at https://cliniclegal.org/public-charge

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

JusticeAlert - A Comment on the EPA



Last October, the Trump administration announced the repeal of the CPP and last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled their replacement plan. Dubbed the "Affordable Clean Energy" (ACE) rule, the replacement plan allows states to decide not only how but if they will reduce their carbon pollution. Based on the EPA’s own estimates, the replacement could cause up to 1,400 premature deaths annually by 2030 due to increased air particulates. The ACE rule stalls the shift to clean energy, thereby threatening public health and exacerbating the effects of climate change already affecting vulnerable communities. 

You can send a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency today! Tell them that, as people of faith, we believe in caring for our common home and the administration’s replacement plan does not live up to this sacred obligation. The Columban Center has made it easy to comment. Simply click here to receive help with composing and submitting your comment in defense of creation.

As you well know, the United States is the world’s largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, the primary driver of climate change. In an effort to reduce the United States’ contribution to climate change, the Obama administration devised the Clean Power Plan (CPP).  To learn more and for a quick refresher on the Clean Power Plan visit the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach website here! 

See LCWR’s statement opposing ACE. Read more about the Catholic community’s response to the new rule here! 

The EPA has scheduled only one public hearing on this plan, but the public can comment online until October 30! 

Monday, September 24, 2018

We want a fair Farm Bill!

User-added imagePassing this opportunity to let Congress know we want a fair Farm Bill.

We have less than one week to stop the anti-environmental provisions of the House Farm Bill in final negotiations with the Senate, which will shape the next five years of food, farming, agricultural and environmental policy.

Tell your Members of Congress to urge House and Senate Conferees to pass a Farm Bill free of anti-environmental riders. With increasing assaults on federal environmental protections from the Trump administration, time is of the essence and we cannot afford to lose bedrock environmental safeguards that regulate toxics and ensure clean, safe food, and drinking water!

A clean bill would promote sustainable agriculture, and support local communities, without making egregious cuts to funding for local food systems, weakening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) designed to curb hunger, and trampling state and county rights -- including the right to regulate pesticides!

The House Farm Bill is full of anti-environmental provisions that would continue support for big corporate Caged Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and even gut the Clean Water Act, log away our national forests, harm conservation policies and launch a total attack on the Endangered Species Act.


Tell Congress to keep toxic, anti-environmental riders out of the Farm Bill now! We need legislation that puts local farms, communities, and environment first.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Urgent Action: Tell Congress and the Administration a Refugee Admissions Goal of 30,000 Is Morally Inexcusable

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5b322893ff2e4d67c3be90abe/images/9bb09b83-ac56-4adc-beec-1dbbb05f5cde.png The Trump administration has just set the refugee admissions goal for next fiscal year at 30,000 - the lowest level in U.S. history. This drastically low number will leave tens of thousands of vulnerable refugees without a chance at safety.

Communities around the country are prepared to welcome at least 75,000 refugees. Refugees are more than just a global figure; they are families torn apart, children who have witnessed profound violence, and people seeking a chance to rebuild their lives and raise a family in safety. Protecting vulnerable populations is not a zero-sum game; we can and should protect refugees and others fleeing violence or persecution. As people who care about refugees, tell both the White House and Congress that 30,000 is inexcusable and that we must set a refugee admissions goal of at least 75,000. The White House is required under U.S. law to consult with Congress prior to setting the annual refugee admissions number. This has not happened yet, which means Congress can and must weigh in today.
 

CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVE TODAY: Call directly or call 202-225-3121 and remain on the line to connect with each senator and your representative.

Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and a Catholic sister/person of faith. I urge you to protect the refugee resettlement program. I am outraged that President Trump has set a new historic low for FY 2019’s refugee admissions goal at 30,000. Protecting vulnerable populations is not a zero-sum game; we can and should protect refugees and others fleeing violence or persecution. Refugee resettlement facilitates U.S. diplomatic, national security, and foreign policy interests. 

The White House is required to consult with Congress prior to setting the refugee admissions number, but they have not done so. Congress must act. I urge you to do everything in your power to see that the administration resettles at least 75,000 refugees in 2019 and to stop the administration from further dismantling the resettlement program.
I urge you to reflect the best of our nation by supporting refugee resettlement."

Friday, September 14, 2018

Protect Immigrant Children and Reject Expansion of Family Incarceration

I pass this along from Church World Service.

Right now, ICE is asking Congress for additional funding for family incarceration and immigration detention. It is critical for the faith community to make their voices heard and urge Congress to reject any proposal that fuels family separation and family incarceration. Instead, Congress should pressure the administration to reunify separated families and end "zero tolerance" policies, keep Flores protections for immigrant children intact, and invest in community-based alternatives to detention like the Family Case Management Program.

Faith Leaders: Click here to sign on to an important letter urging Congress to protect immigrant children and reject an expansion of family incarceration.

Thank you for your work, and please share this letter with your networks

Friday, September 7, 2018

Justice Alert/Rise for Climate

Tomorrow, all over the world people will be holding events to coincide with the Global Climate Action Summit 2018 being held in San Francisco. 
For  more information go to riseforclimate.org  
See graphics in this folder. And download the beautiful Rise art here!
Videos to Share:
·  CA Street Mural Video (raw file)
·  CA Singing video (raw file
·  #WhyWeRise Video (ask Martin Witcher for crossposting)
·  Labor Day Video (ask Sam Read for crossposting)
For those of you who tweet:
·  Center on Race, Poverty & The Environment: https://twitter.com/CRPE_EJ/status/1037734805931085824
·  Southern Alliance for Clean Energy: https://twitter.com/cleanenergyorg/status/1037368582060093440

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

A Call to Live Peacefully in Turbulent Times

A Call to Live Peacefully in Turbulent Times

September 25, 6:30 pm
Dorcas Chapel, Marian University
45 S. National Avenue, Fond du Lac 
 
Gentle Your Heart
Fashion a Peaceful World 

All are welcome 

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Agnes