Peace and Justice News
Peace and Justice News
Join the Holy Spirit Peace and Justice Committee and others from around the area to demonstrate for peace on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, at the Corner of Nolana and Jackson in McAllen. These demonstrations will be occurring frequently at various locations. We will keep you posted.
Also, please join the Peace and Justice Committee and the Valley Coalition Against the Death Penalty on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 5:30 to 6:00 pm, at the South East corner of the courthouse in Edinburg, for a demonstration against the death penalty. At 6:00 there will be a short prayer vigil for Richard Hinojosa, who will be executed at that hour by the State of Texas. These demonstrations and vigils are held each time there is an execution by the State of Texas. We will keep you informed.
Click on the following link to view a comprehensive statement by the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops calling for an end to the Death Penalty in the United States: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/deathpenalty/dpstatements.shtml
What You Can Do
As part of the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty you can:
Pray for victims of crime and their families, those who have been wrongly convicted, and those awaiting execution.
Learn about Catholic social teaching, U.S. criminal justice policies, and the policies in your state. Go to the web site listed above for more information about the death penalty.
Educate people in your parish or community about Catholic social teaching and the criminal justice system. Visit the web sites listed above for the Vatican and U.S. bishops’ statements on the death penalty, as well as statements from individual bishops and states Catholic Conferences.
Advocate by contacting your elected officials. Discuss Catholic teaching on the death penalty and what steps could be taken at the state and national level to curtail or end its use. To receive information on efforts regarding the death penalty at the national level or to link with a particular state’s efforts, visit the web site listed above.
2 comments:
With great hope for the end of all wars and the injustices that feed them, I'd like to offer the following prayer by Pope John Paul II,c. 1993
PRAYER FOR PEACE
O GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS, GREAT AND MERCIFUL, GOD OF PEACE AND LIFE, CREATOR OF ALL, YOU WHOSE DESIGNS ARE FOR PEACE AND NOT AFFLICTION, CONDEMN WARS AND DEVASTATE THE PRIDE OF THE VIOLENT.
YOU SENT YOUR SON JESUS TO PROCLAIM PEACE TO THOSE NEAR AND FAR, TO REUNITE PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND DESCENT IN A SINGLE FAMILY.
HEAR THE UNANIMOUS CRY OF YOUR CHILDREN, THE SORROWFUL ENTREATY OF ALL HUMANITY. NEVER AGAIN WAR, ADVENTURE WITHOUT RETURN; NEVER AGAIN WAR, SPIRAL OF STRUGGLE AND VIOLENCE; THREAT TO YOUR CREATURES IN THE SKY, ON EARTH AND IN THE SEA.
IN COMMUNION WITH MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WE CONTINUE TO IMPLORE YOU: SPEAK TO THE HEARTS OF THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE DESTINY OF PEOPLES; STOP THE LOGIC OF RETALIATION AND REVENGE; SUGGEST WITH YOUR SPIRIT NEW SOLUTIONS, GENEROUS AND HONORABLE GESTURES, SPACES FOR DIALOGUE AND PATIENT WAITING, WHICH ARE MORE FRUITFUL THAN RUSHED DEADLINES OF WAR.
GRANT TO OUR TIMES DAYS OF PEACE. NO WAR EVER AGAIN. AMEN
I'm happy to read that Holy Spirit Peace and Justice Committee continues its prophetic work around the Valley. I wonder how much more good could they accomplish if supported by their own parish and pastor. I miss their various letter writing campaigns, their weekly contributions to the bulletin - sometimes making us uncomfortable, but always educational, their hopes to build a Catholic shelter for the homeless, a soup kitchen for the hungry, etc., etc. Surprisingly I hear they are doing fine and growing. I don't doubt God continues giving them the strength they need to keep on going even under the rejection of their own pastor and community (as Jesus was rejected by his own family and friends). But God has his own ways as we heard in one of last Sunday's readings when Elijah tired and defeated went into the desert to die. God gave him food and ordered him to eat it and to continue his journey.
"Blessed are the Peacemakers"
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