Friday, October 31, 2008

HOLY SEE: Real Crisis About More than Money

Holy See: Real Crisis About More Than Money
Points to Lack of Ethics and Moral Codes

NEW YORK, OCT. 31, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The current global financial crisis goes beyond bad economic practices to the realm of ethics and moral codes, says the Holy See representative at the United Nations.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said Thursday before the U.N. General Assembly that the Holy See agrees that the crisis "can be attributed to a lack of a complete and effective regulatory system."

But the archbishop said the situation was also created by "widespread disregard for regulatory and supervisory structures, to say nothing of the rules of accountability and transparency."

"The real crisis does not appear to be merely financial, economic and technical," he continued. "Rather, it extends to the broader realm of ethical codes and moral conduct.

"Unbridled profiteering and the unscrupulous pursuit of gain at any cost have made people forget basic rules of business ethics."

To that end, Archbishop Migliore said the proper response to the crisis should "not be limited to deploring the crisis and offering formal expressions of sympathy," but rather to "come up with the ways and means to avoid similar crises in the future."

Subsidiarity

"Governments and institutions which rigorously implemented rules at the lower customer level were lax in maintaining that same rigor at the higher level," the Holy See representative lamented. "The same could also be said with regard to the economic systems of poorer countries.

"International financial institutions which strictly implemented conditionalities and oversight in developing countries neglected to do so when overseeing developed economies. Now that the latter have collapsed, the former also have to bear the consequences."

"Government is the exercise of the virtue of prudence in the enactment of legislative and executive measures capable of directing social activity toward the common good," explained Archbishop Migliore.

"The principle of subsidiarity," he added, "requires that governments and large international agencies ensure solidarity on the national and global levels and between generations."

Responsibility

The Holy See representative offered a second observation regarding the responsibilities of lending institutions.

"Lending is a necessary social activity," the archbishop began. "Nonetheless, financial institutions and agents are responsible for ensuring that lending fulfils its proper function in society, connecting savings to production.

"If lending is seen merely in terms of trading off financial resources without regard for their reasonable use, it fails to be a service to society. When attempts are made to conceal the real risk that loans will not be repaid, savers are cheated and lenders become actual accomplices in theft."

Archbishop Migliore continued: "It must not be forgotten that at the edges of the financial system there are retired persons, small family businesses, cottage industries and countless employees for whom savings are an essential means of support.

"Financial activity needs to be sufficiently transparent so that individual savers, especially the poor and those least protected, understand what will become of their savings.

"This calls not only for effective measures of oversight by governments, but also for a high standard of ethical conduct on the part of financial leaders themselves."

Lifestyle

The archbishop also encouraged the general public to make more responsible economic choices: "A lifestyle, and even more an economic model, solely based on increased and uncontrolled consumption and not on savings and the creation of productive capital, is economically unsustainable.

"It also becomes unsustainable from the standpoint of concern for the environment and, above all, of human dignity itself, since the irresponsible consumer renounces his own dignity as a rational creature and also offends the dignity of others."

In his closing comments, Arcbishop Migliore called for credible and authentic lending, and urged governments to "invest in people."

"Once the inevitable financial salvage operations are over, governments and the international community should invest their money in aid to the poorest populations," he said.
The archbishop added: "The history of developed countries also demonstrates that grants for health, education, housing and other basic services benefiting the weakest socio-economic levels of society, families and small communities, ultimately prove to be the most profitable investments, since they alone ensure the harmonious functioning of society as a whole."

Holy See on Economic Crisis
"The Real Crisis Does Not Appear to Be Merely Financial"

NEW YORK, OCT. 31, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- Here is the message Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered Thursday before the interactive panel of the 63rd session of the U.N. General Assembly on the global financial crisis.

* * *

Mr President,

Many economists and analysts are agreed that the crisis can be attributed to a lack of a complete and effective regulatory system, but even more to a widespread disregard for regulatory and supervisory structures, to say nothing of the rules of accountability and transparency.

My delegation endorses this view and would go one step further: the real crisis does not appear to be merely financial, economic and technical. Rather, it extends to the broader realm of ethical codes and moral conduct. Unbridled profiteering and the unscrupulous pursuit of gain at any cost have made people forget basic rules of business ethics.

Our reaction should not be limited to deploring the crisis and offering formal expressions of sympathy to the poorer countries and social strata which have been affected. We need to come up with the ways and means to avoid similar crises in the future.

In some cases, governments and institutions which rigorously implemented rules at the lower customer level were lax in maintaining that same rigor at the higher level. The same could also be said with regard to the economic systems of poorer countries. International financial institutions which strictly implemented conditionalities and oversight in developing countries neglected to do so when overseeing developed economies. Now that the latter have collapsed, the former also have to bear the consequences.

Government is the exercise of the virtue of prudence in the enactment of legislative and executive measures capable of directing social activity towards the common good. The principle of subsidiarity requires that governments and large international agencies ensure solidarity on the national and global levels and between generations.

A second observation pertains to the responsibility of those who work in the financial sector. Lending is a necessary social activity. Nonetheless, financial institutions and agents are responsible for ensuring that lending fulfils its proper function in society, connecting savings to production. If lending is seen merely in terms of trading off financial resources without regard for their reasonable use, it fails to be a service to society. When attempts are made to conceal the real risk that loans will not be repaid, savers are cheated and lenders become actual accomplices in theft.

It must not be forgotten that at the edges of the financial system there are retired persons, small family businesses, cottage industries and countless employees for whom savings are an essential means of support. Financial activity needs to be sufficiently transparent so that individual savers, especially the poor and those least protected, understand what will become of their savings. This calls not only for effective measures of oversight by governments, but also for a high standard of ethical conduct on the part of financial leaders themselves.

A third, and perhaps even more basic, observation has to do with the general public and its choice of values and lifestyles. A lifestyle, and even more an economic model, solely based on increased and uncontrolled consumption and not on savings and the creation of productive capital, is economically unsustainable. It also becomes unsustainable from the standpoint of concern for the environment and, above all, of human dignity itself, since the irresponsible consumer renounces his own dignity as a rational creature and also offends the dignity of others.

Looking towards the future, there is a need to restore credibility and authenticity to lending, which always needs to be a part of the product chain of goods and services, and not an independent activity.

Above all, however, there is a need to invest in people. Once the inevitable financial salvage operations are over, governments and the international community should invest their money in aid to the poorest populations.

The relatively recent and positive experience of microcredit shows that, paradoxically, those who, from the standpoint of cold hard financial calculation, seem least suitable to receive credit, are by and large the most serious and reliable borrowers.

The history of developed countries also demonstrates that grants for health, education, housing and other basic services benefiting the weakest socio-economic levels of society, families and small communities, ultimately prove to be the most profitable investments, since they alone ensure the harmonious functioning of society as a whole.

Thank you Mr President.

Cor Unum President to Visit US

Cor Unum President to Visit US

Lectures on Charity Set for Denver, Newark, New York

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The president of the Vatican council that oversees the Church's charitable activities will visit the United States to talk of the theology of charity with the nations' bishops and social leaders.

Cardinal Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will be in the United States from Nov. 3 to 10, at the invitation of the U.S. episcopal conference. The prelates will have their plenary assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 10-13.

The cardinal and directors of Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services will be studying some of the theological elements in Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est." He is also scheduled to give conferences on the theme in the Archdioceses of New York; Denver, Colorado; and Newark, New Jersey.

Cardinal Cordes will also receive an honorary doctorate from Seton Hall University, the nation's oldest diocesan university.

"The aim of the visit is to share experiences in the field of Catholic charity," the cardinal said in a press release today. "From the nation's very beginnings, the Church has been at the forefront of providing for those in need both within and outside the United States. Today, there are new challenges and opportunities given the rapidly changing demographic and social fabric.

"The mission of 'diakonia' [service] remains indispensable both for the poor and the very essence of the Church. Since 'diakonia' is one of the three missions of the Church, the ministry of the bishop or local ordinary is primordial: Indeed, the ultimate responsibility for charitable action is his."

Thursday, October 30, 2008

On Being Faithful Citizens/Bishop Murry of Youngstown

On Being Faithful Citizens
A Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Youngstown
By
The Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ, Ph.D.


Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, provides us an opportunity to participate in determining the direction our country will take for the next four years. Consequently, it is important that Catholics vote and essential that we cast informed votes, that is, votes that are the result of well-formed consciences.

A well-formed conscience is one which integrates into each decision that is made the Ten Commandments, the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Scriptures and the teachings of His Church. I encourage everyone, in order to make decisions from the basis of a well-formed conscience, to read, reflect and pray over the United States Catholic Bishops document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: The U.S. Bishops’ Reflection on Catholic Teaching and Political Life," which can be found at www.faithfulcitizenship.org .

Knowing that many of you may not have an opportunity to read this document in its entirety, I would like to emphasize five critical points in this Pastoral Letter to help you understand better its essential message.

First, we must carefully review and strive to understand the Catholic Tradition concerning conscience. In Faithful Citizenship we Bishops write:

"Conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere 'feeling' about what we should or should not do. Rather, conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil” (paragraph 17).

Second, we must understand the reality of intrinsically evil actions and our obligation to avoid supporting them in our personal choices and public policies. In Faithful Citizenship we describe the challenge this way:

"There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called 'intrinsically evil' actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia. In our nation, 'abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others' (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 5). It is a mistake with grave moral consequences to treat the destruction of innocent human life merely as a matter of individual choice. A legal system that violates the basic right to life on the grounds of choice is fundamentally flawed" (paragraph 22).

We Bishops continue to list a number of other very serious evils in the world:

"Similarly, direct threats to the sanctity and dignity of human life, such as human cloning and destructive research on human embryos, are also intrinsically evil. These must always be opposed. Other direct assaults on innocent human life and violations of human dignity, such as genocide, torture, racism, and the targeting of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can never be justified" (paragraph 23).

Third, we must be consistent and advance human life in all of its dimensions, since we have a positive obligation to respond to the needs of others. Faithful Citizenship clearly states:

"The right to life implies and is linked to other human rights—to the basic goods that every human person needs to live and thrive. All the life issues are connected, for erosion of respect for the life of any individual or group in society necessarily diminishes respect for all life. The moral imperative to respond to the needs of our neighbors—basic needs such as food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work—is universally binding on our consciences and may be legitimately fulfilled by a variety of means. Catholics must seek the best ways to respond to these needs" (paragraph 25).

Fourth, making good moral decisions is complex. Therefore as Catholics, we must rely on a well-formed conscience and the virtue of prudence. In our document we reflect that:

“The Church fosters well-formed consciences not only by teaching moral truth but also by encouraging its members to develop the virtue of prudence. Prudence enables us “to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it "(Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1806) (paragraph 19).

Fifth, we must seriously consider how we are going to vote. The following two paragraphs, (34-36), read together, explicitly explain the Church's tradition:

"Catholics often face difficult choices about how to vote. This is why it is so important to vote according to a well-formed conscience that perceives the proper relationship among moral goods. A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil. At the same time, a voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity” (paragraph 34).

“There may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate’s unacceptable position may decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible only for truly grave moral reasons, not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore a fundamental moral evil” (paragraph 35).

To be faithful citizens, all of us must critically review each candidate's positions. We must ask ourselves if the candidate, or the party the candidate represents, promotes threats to the sanctity of human life. As stated above, such positions can never be justified. For example, does the candidate promote abortion or policies or positions that would extend the so-called “right to an abortion”? Does the candidate support embryonic stem cell research, which directly destroys human life? Does this candidate support policies that promote genocide or torture or racism or the death penalty? Does he or she oppose legislation that would provide basics such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and meaningful employment for the poor?

These are all difficult questions and sometimes the candidates and/or their parties are not clear on where they stand on these matters. Many times, campaign promises are not fulfilled after an election. To make the best choice, we must examine the candidates’ positions in the light of the teachings of the Church. We can accomplish that task by reflecting on Faithful Citizenship and then visiting the candidates’ websites; reading their campaign materials; calling and asking for their position papers. We should never be idle spectators to the political process. Rather, we are called as Catholics to be active citizens in the world.

On the State level, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio have reviewed the five pending ballot issues and have published a Ballot Issue Reflection Guide. This Guide offers summaries of the issues, assets and liabilities, reflection questions and position statements. I also want to encourage you to study, pray and reflect upon these statewide subjects. On these topics the Catholic Bishops of Ohio have chosen to take the following public positions: Neutrality on Issues 1 (Ballot Deadlines), 2 (“Clean Ohio” Bonds), and 3 (Water Rights), YES on 5 (Payday Lending Reform), and NO on 6 (Private Casinos). Further materials on State ballot issues may be found at the Catholic Conference of Ohio’s website: www.ohiocathconf.org .

It is my hope that all Catholics, and all people of goodwill, will become better informed about the major moral and social issues of our day. Each of us will be held accountable by God for how we have lived the Gospel. Together, let us pray for wisdom and courage in the decisions that we will make.

Caritas Responds to Pakistani Quakes

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, OCT. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Caritas teams are responding to a series of earthquakes that hit southwestern Pakistan today; the death toll is at 170 and climbing.

Caritas teams are on the ground in the Balochistan region. The strongest of the earthquakes measured 6.2 on the Richter scale.

Emergency Response Team Coordinator Dolores Halpin-Bachmann said: "The priorities are getting accurate assessments of destruction and responding to the needs of the people. We will be coordinating with Caritas staff over the next hours to put together a response.
"We have an excellent record in Pakistan. Caritas staff there have substantial training in responding to natural disasters, especially earthquakes. We've worked on disaster preparedness, which we hope will improve our ability to save lives."

Pakistan has a population of nearly 173 million, about 95% of which is Muslim.

Holy See Calls for Shift in Understanding Rights

Says They Should Be at Core of Society

NEW YORK, OCT. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The recognition of human rights needs to be at the core of society, not a consequence of policy decisions, says the Holy See.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, affirmed this Tuesday before the 3rd Committee of the 63rd session of the U.N. General Assembly on the promotion and protection of human rights.

One of the areas in which a focus on human dignity and rights is needed is development, he said.

"The current global economic collapse highlights and will surely exacerbate the plight of the so-called 'bottom billion,' a figure which due to the present aggravating conjuncture is on a constant rise," Archbishop Migliore noted. "These persons will have their right to food impinged by the global food crisis. With the governmental spending focused upon fixing the financial meltdown, social sectors such as education and healthcare will be further downsized and underfinanced.

"While the economic crisis is presenting a number of challenges for the entire global community, as we begin to create measures to fix the economic collapse, we must not lose sight of those who live with little hope for a decent future."

Disabilities

Regarding another issue, Archbishop Migliore welcomed the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, "inasmuch as it will enhance the dignity and rights of disabled people."

"It is my delegation's hope that as states accede to this instrument, the fundamental right to life which stands at the heart of this convention be respected and promoted for all people with disabilities at every stage of life," he said. "It is only then that this convention can serve not only to promote greater respect for persons with disabilities but more importantly, to foster greater respect for all people regardless of their physical or mental ability."

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in December 2006. It enters into force with ratification from 20 countries.

Countries that ratified the convention need to report regularly on their progress to a committee that oversees implementation of the convention.

According to the U.N. convention description, it "marks a shift in thinking about disability from a social welfare concern, to a human rights issue, which acknowledges that societal barriers and prejudices are themselves disabling."

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On the Net:

Full text: www.zenit.org/article-24100?l=english

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Holy See on Protecting Global Climate

"Educate in Ecological Responsibility"

NEW YORK, OCT. 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the message Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered today before the Second Committee of the 63rd session of the U.N. General Assembly on the protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind.

* * *

Mr Chairman,

My delegation is pleased to join this debate on the protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind, and wishes to express at the very outset its appreciation for the effective approach to this particular item of the General Assembly.

It is often said that we have to defend the environment. The term “defense” could mislead us to see a conflict between the environment and the human being. In this forum, we speak of “protection” or “safeguarding”. Indeed, in this case, protection encompasses more than defense. It implies a positive vision of the human being, meaning that the person is considered not a nuisance or a threat to the environment, but as its steward. In this sense, not only is there no opposition between the human being and the environment, but there is an established and inseparable alliance, in which the environment essentially conditions the human being’s existence and development, while the latter perfects and ennobles the environment by his creative activity.

The use of appropriate language is important when we speak of protecting the environment and climate change, so vital for the whole of humanity today.

Ever since international law began to embrace global commons and shared ecosystems, new concepts have taken shape with a view to rethinking the legal basis of the appropriation, use, safeguard, protection and equitable sharing of natural resources as well as ecosystems. Notwithstanding some divergence of opinion regarding their meaning and normative status, the principles of “common heritage of mankind”, “state responsibility”, “common but differentiated responsibilities”, “inter-generational and intra-generational equity”, have provided valuable perspectives and guidance for addressing the interrelations of environment, economic development and ultimately human rights.

In the same vein, the principle of “responsibility to protect”, though it may not have been able to generate precise juridical norms in itself, has been invoked by some as an essential aspect of the exercise of sovereignty at the national and international levels.

Applying this principle to environmental issues and associating it with the protection of the global climate, actually gives the international community an opportunity to reflect on different aspects that can help promote an authentic human development.

The responsibility to protect the climate requires us to further deepen the interactions between food security and climate change, focusing on the centrality of the human person, in particular on the most vulnerable populations, often located in rural areas of developing countries. The strategies to confront the challenges of food security and climate change, through synergic actions of adaptation and mitigation, must take into account the centrality of these populations, respecting their culture and traditional customs.

Secondly, the responsibility to protect the climate should be based on the alliance between the principles of subsidiarity and global solidarity. In a world so interconnected as today, we are witnessing the rapid expansion of a series of challenges in many areas of human life, from food crisis to financial turmoil. Such crises have revealed the limited national resources and capacities to deal with them adequately, and the increasing need for collective action by the international community. The current negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are a good example of how responsibility to protect, subsidiarity and global solidarity are strongly intertwined with each other, a fact that we ought to take into account as we consider the protection of the global climate for present and future generations.

Thirdly, it should be borne in mind that the environmental question cannot be considered separately from other issues, like energy and economy, peace and justice, national interests and international solidarity. It is not difficult to perceive how issues of environmental protection, models of development, social equity and shared responsibility to care for the environment are inextricably linked.

Today’s society cannot respond adequately to the duty connected with the responsibility to protect the environment if it does not seriously review its lifestyle, its patterns of consumption and production. There is, therefore, an urgent need to educate in ecological responsibility, based on the fact that many ethical values, fundamental for developing a peaceful society, have a direct relationship to the environmental question. Conversely, the interdependence of the many challenges that the world faces today confirms the need for coordinated solutions based on a coherent moral vision of the world.

Such education cannot simply rest on political or ideological reasons, nor its purpose aim at the rejection of the modern world. It entails a genuine conversion and change in patterns of thinking and behavior and should be based on the value and dignity of the human person.

Thank you Mr Chairman.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Vietnam Church Re-establishes National Caritas

October 27, 2008



LONG KHANH, Vietnam (UCAN) -- Church leaders hope their newly re-established national Caritas organization, which the government banned 32 years ago, will stimulate the local Church's charitable activities.



Five local bishops and 80 nuns, priests and laypeople from congregations and dioceses throughout the country attended the inaugural conference of Caritas Vietnam, held Oct. 22-23 at Xuan Loc Diocesan Pastoral Center in Long Khanh, 1,630 kilometers south of Ha Noi.

Indian Bishop Yvon Ambroise of Tuticorin, Caritas Asia president and one of seven vice presidents of Caritas Internationalis, American Monsignor Robert J. Vitillo, special advisor to Caritas Internationalis on HIV and AIDS, attended. Five representatives from Caritas Germany, Secours Catholique (Caritas France) and the U.S. Church's Catholic Relief Services were also present at the conference organized by the Vietnam Bishops' Conference's Episcopal Commission for Charitable and Social Action.

"We thank God for the reestablishment of Caritas Vietnam, which will stimulate the local Church's charitable and social activities more effectively and integrate them within the network of Caritas Internationalis," Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon of Da Lat, head of the Vietnam Bishops' Conference, stated at the conference.

Bishop Nhon expressed his gratitude to the government, who had given its official approval for Caritas Vietnam on July 2. The Church leader also hoped government authorities would create favorable conditions for the national Church organization to conduct its activities and develop society.

The 70-year-old prelate noted urgent needs to educate youths, provide health care for women and children, assist poor and marginalized people as well as victims of natural disasters, and protect the environment. "We hope Caritas Vietnam will make positive contributions that help relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters and improve their living conditions."

Caritas, Bishop Nhon clarified, is not only a charitable organization but also focuses on community development to urge people to care for the disadvantaged. Meanwhile, it is also an association for Catholic action that asks all Christians to show God's charity and preach Christ's Good News by helping the poor, he added.

Father Antoine Nguyen Ngoc Son, secretary general of the bishops' commission for social action, told UCA News that the South Vietnam Bishops' Conference established Caritas Vietnam in 1965. It provided relief for disaster victims, war victims, poor people and disabled people. In June 1976, however, the communist government, which had reunified the country in April 1975, banned Caritas Vietnam and confiscated all its facilities.

Father Son had told UCA News previously that diocesan committees for social and charitable work that tried to fill the void lacked skilled personnel, and some had no staff. A few dioceses still have not established such committees.

Bishop Dominic Nguyen Chu Trinh of Xuan Loc, head of the commission, said in his opening speech that wars and ideological conflicts left Caritas Vietnam a victim of misunderstanding about its charitable activities. "Today, with this inauguration ceremony, we believe those misunderstandings and suspicions exist no longer, so that all people can cooperate with one another in the work of building love. Yes, only love really exists forever," he stated.

Bishop Trinh, 68, promised Caritas will work with the government for the nation's development and prosperity, especially in efforts to alleviate people's poverty and misery, and to prevent illnesses.

During the two-day conference, participants approved the national organization's goals, guidelines, mission statement, operational principles and organizational structure. Accordingly, Caritas aims to serve abandoned people, street children, orphans, prostitutes, ill-treated people and victims of exposure to toxic chemicals, migrant workers, disabled people, mental patients, people with leprosy, drug and alcohol abusers, and people infected with HIV or AIDS.

Participants elected Bishop Trinh and Father Son as Caritas Vietnam's president and secretary general, respectively. They also decided to establish Caritas organizations in the country's 26 dioceses.

Father Son said the national Caritas has officially opened a bank account in a state-run bank, noting that no Church organization had previously been allowed to have a bank account in post-1975 Vietnam.

Foreign Caritas representatives briefed participants on upcoming activities, and promised to help train local Church personnel and provide financial support.

"We are very happy the local Church has re-established its Caritas after we prayed a long time for it," Monsignor Vitillo told UCA News. The president of Catholic HIV and AIDS Network added that Caritas Internationalis now has an opportunity to work closely with the local Church to serve the poor.

Cardinal Urges New "Logic" in Fixing Economy

Recalls That System Is Made to Benefit Man

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 27, 2008 (Zenit.org).-A Vatican official is advocating a new "logic" for an economy and a financial system that have forgotten that the good of man and mankind should be the primary focus.

This was the observation made by Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, in a Friday interview with Vatican Radio. The cardinal had just finished a meeting in Rome with experts from various countries regarding the current worldwide economic crisis.

The meeting was directed by Óscar de Rojas, director of the U.N. Financing for Development Office of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The group aimed to make proposals for the upcoming world meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.

According to Cardinal Martino, even with economic strain, governments should maintain their commitments regarding development. What needs to be changed, he said, is the "logic of the market."

This logic, the cardinal said, "was till now that of maximum gain, and therefore the most investments possible directed toward obtaining maximum benefit. And this, according to the social doctrine of the Church, is immoral," since the market "should be able to benefit not just those who invest capital, but also those who participate in the step of making it grow, that is, those who work."

In this sense, the pontifical council president added that "the financial collapse of recent weeks has led us to recognize ourselves as part of one humanity." He expressed his hope that "these events, which will continue affecting so many lives, make us find ourselves on a common path to increase the well-being of all peoples."

"All of us should collaborate in the good of all," Cardinal Martino added. "This is globalization: The ramification that this crisis has in the whole world, and on the other hand, the need that it imposes for solidarity with the poorest nations."

The cardinal noted that even eight years after the U.N. Millennium Declaration "too many families continue finding themselves obligated to emigrate, continue being oppressed by absolute poverty and continue living in countries where debt makes it impossible to achieve access to basic services, including potable water."
http://zenit.org/article-24077?l=english


ZE08102704 - 2008-10-27
Permalink: http://zenit.org/article-24077?l=english

Sunday, October 26, 2008

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of October 26 2008

VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.




MISSION: To provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.


GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Committed to work to reduce poverty in half by 2020.




KEY VALUE: Hospitality






On Sunday (30th Ordinary Time Sunday Cycle A ) we read in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus' statement of the greatest commandments: "He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." We hear in the Book of Exodus, very concretely, more about who our neighbor is: "You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan."


Permit me to provide some quotes from Father Cantalamessa, OFM, the Preacher of the Papal Household, who provides a very powerful commentary on this week's readings:



"Love your neighbor as yourself." Adding the words "as yourself," Jesus puts us in front of a mirror before which we cannot lie; he has given us an infallible measure for determining whether we love our neighbor. We know well in every circumstance what it means to love ourselves and how we want others to treat us. Note well that Jesus does not say: "What the other person does to you, do to him." This would be the law of talion: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." He says rather: as you would like others to treat you, treat them in same way (cf. Matthew 7:12). . .

Charity must be "without pretense," in other words, it must be sincere (literally, "without hypocrisy") (Romans 12:9); you must love "from a true heart" (1 Peter 1:22). Indeed, you can do "charitable" acts and give alms for motives that do not have anything to do with love: to impress, to look like a do-gooder, to earn heaven, to ease your conscience.... You can lack charity even in "doing charity"!This interior charity, or charity of the heart, is charity that can be exercised by all and always, it is universal. It is not a charity that only a few -- the rich and the healthy -- bestow, and others -- the poor and the sick -- receive. All can give and receive. Furthermore, it is very concrete. It is a matter of beginning to look with a new eye upon the situations and people with which we live. What is this new eye? It’s simple: it is the eye with which we would like God to look upon us! The eye of mercy, of benevolence, of understanding, of mercy. . .


This interior charity, or charity of the heart, is charity that can be exercised by all and always, it is universal. It is not a charity that only a few -- the rich and the healthy -- bestow, and others -- the poor and the sick -- receive. All can give and receive. Furthermore, it is very concrete. It is a matter of beginning to look with a new eye upon the situations and people with which we live. What is this new eye? It’s simple: it is the eye with which we would like God to look upon us! The eye of mercy, of benevolence, of understanding, of mercy. . .


When this happens all our relationships change. As if by a miracle, all the prejudice and hostility that kept us from loving a certain person falls away and we begin to open up to what he is in reality: a poor human being who suffers from his weaknesses and limits, like you, like everyone. It is as if the mask that people and things placed over his face has begun to slip and the person appears to us as he truly is."




We in Catholic Charities are called upon to help others to live out this message, by our witness, our actions and our formation of hearts -- our own and others.




Thanks for a great VOICE OF HOPE Dinner.!!!!!!




Some important date(s) this week:



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31. Vigil of Feast of All Saints (Halloween)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1. Feast of All Saints. The earliest certain observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of "all the martyrs." In the early seventh century, after successive waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up some 28 wagonloads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The pope rededicated the shrine as a Christian church. According to Venerable Bede, the pope intended "that the memory of all the saints might in the future be honored in the place which had formerly been dedicated to the worship not of gods but of demons" (On the Calculation of Time).

But the rededication of the Pantheon, like the earlier commemoration of all the martyrs, occurred in May. Many Eastern Churches still honor all the saints in the spring, either during the Easter season or immediately after Pentecost. How the Western Church came to celebrate this feast in November is a puzzle to historians. The Anglo-Saxon theologian Alcuin observed the feast on November 1 in 800, as did his friend Arno, Bishop of Salzburg. Rome finally adopted that date in the ninth century.



PAPAL INTENTIONS:


OCTOBER 2008
General:
That the Synod of Bishops may help bishops and theologians as well as catechists and pastoral workers engaged in the service of the Word of God transmit with courage the truth of the faith in communion with the entire Church.
Mission:
That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, the Christian may feel the need to participate in the Church’s universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help.

NOVEMBER 2008
General:
That the testimony of love offered by the Saints, may fortify Christians in their service to God and neighbour, imitating Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
Mission:
That Christian communities in Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may find the most suitable way to announce Him in full fidelity to the Gospel to the peoples of that vast continent so rich in culture and ancient forms of spirituality.


Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead





See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.

For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 24, 2008

CARITAS WANTS MIGRATION AS CHOICE, NOT NECESSITY

ZE08102311 - 2008-10-23
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-24040?l=english


Plans Participation at Global Forum

ROME, OCT. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- At a global forum next week on migration, Caritas will be urging nations to support the Millennium Development Goals, so that migration can become an option, not a necessity.

The international charity plans to promote migrant protection and boosting the development of poor countries when it participates in the Global Forum on Migration. The Manila conference will focus on "Empowering Migrants for Development."

This global forum is an annual international conference on migration and development issues. It developed as a regular forum following a meeting called the High Level Dialogue on Migration organized by the United Nations in September 2006.

Caritas Internationalis plans to emphasize at the forum the need to support women so as to reduce the number of mothers forced to migrate.

"Women who are searching for work abroad so they can support their families and educate their children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation if they're not protected," said Martina Liebsch, the Caritas advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender.

The aid group will advocate the protection of women as they are in transit, educating them about their rights, and the adoption by the international community of migration policies sensitive to the sex of the migrant. It further will highlight the need for special concern regarding the trafficking of children and young adults.

"People in developing countries across the world frequently use migration as a livelihood and income diversification strategy, but the costs of the journey and the life abroad may lead to more poverty and insecurity rather than improved living conditions," a Caritas statement said.

"The right to not be compelled to migrate should be an essential element in any discussion on migration," Liebsch affirmed.

A Caritas-organized conference for 2010 will look at the social costs of female migration on relationships, families and societies.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Prelates say both social and political steps needed to protect life

ABORTION-STATEMENT Oct-21-2008

Prelates say both social and political steps needed to protect life

By Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholics are required to oppose abortion on demand and to provide help to mothers facing challenging pregnancies, the chairmen of two committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in an Oct. 21 statement.

Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, also urged Catholics to study church teaching on matters pertaining to abortion rather than rely on statements and materials from outside organizations.

The prelates' statement was released in response to two arguments that have surfaced in the abortion debate during the run-up to the Nov. 4 election.

The first maintains that the Catholic Church should accept the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision on abortion as a "permanent fixture of constitutional law" and the only way to reduce abortions is through broader government support for pregnant women. The second holds that the church should focus solely on restoring recognition for unborn children's human rights and that proposals to provide life-affirming support for pregnant women distract from that effort.

"We want to be clear that neither argument is consistent with Catholic teaching," the prelates wrote. "Our faith requires us to oppose abortion on demand and to provide help to mothers facing challenging pregnancies."

In issuing their statement, the bishops signaled both sides of the abortion debate that efforts to protect life must take place both in the social and political realms.

"Providing support for pregnant women so they choose to have their babies is a necessary but not sufficient response to abortion," they said. "Similarly, reversal of Roe is a necessary but not sufficient condition for restoring an order of justice in our society's treatment of defenseless human life.

"Both approaches to opposing abortion are essential. By protecting the child's life to the maximum degree possible, improving life-affirming support for pregnant women and changing the attitudes and prejudices imposed on many women to make them see abortion as an acceptable or necessary solution, we will truly help build a culture of life," they said.

Overturning the court's decision would not automatically grant legal protection to the unborn, Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy said.

The prelates also cautioned Catholics about the numerous materials that have surfaced recently that attempt to "interpret Catholic teaching" or imply that such resources "represent the teaching of the church." They affirmed that the year-old "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" document is "the teaching that has been approved" by the bishops to help guide Catholic voters.

They also encouraged Catholics to review documents issued by local bishops and state Catholic conferences for guidance prior to the election.

- - -

Editor's Note: The full text of the joint statement can be viewed online at www.usccb.org/prolife/Rigali-Murphy-Joint-Statement.pdf.

Holy See on Malaria

"A Major Threat to Human Security"

NEW YORK, OCT. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address delivered by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, at the 63rd U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 15. The Agenda item addressed was: "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa."

* * *

Mr President,

My delegation is grateful for the extensive report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 62/180 entitled: 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa and notes both the challenges in combating this disease as well as the progress made thus far.

The recent General Assembly decision to give greater attention to developing countries, especially in Africa, is a positive step in the right direction, particularly because it recognizes that malaria can be substantially reduced by public awareness, education and committing resources toward research and treatment. Given that in the last fifteen years there has been an increased prevalence of the disease -- which could well double the death rate in the next twenty years -- it is imperative that the international community work together in order to fight this endemic.

Each year between 300 and 500 million people contract malaria which kills over 1 million people -- at least one death every thirty seconds. According to the World Health Organization, 90 percent of such deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and the majority of victims are children under five years of age -- with almost 3,000 children dying every day in that region. Furthermore, the next largest number of victims are pregnant mothers.

Malaria remains a major threat to human security. Because of the cost of prevention and treatment, those who live in poverty are those most susceptible to this serious disease.

A great number of committed individuals, especially skilled health personnel, are working in primary health centers and through various faith-based organizations in many of the most affected areas in order to care for and properly treat those who have been infected. These providers who often go unnoticed, perform heroic acts of service by caring for those in need.

Our focus in addressing this disease must remain on research, prevention and treatment. We know that the reduction of malaria transmission is achieved by prevention of mosquito bites and control of the mosquito population. In this prospective it seems opportune to recall the Abuja Declaration that calls, among other things, for the development of mechanisms to facilitate the provision of reliable information to decision-makers at different epidemiological levels to enable health authorities to devise appropriate control and surveillance strategies.

Individuals must be able to receive affordable, safe and, where necessary, free diagnostic testing and drugs. Proper diagnosis is available and infected individuals can make full recovery if provided with the adequate means. Efforts should be made so that appropriate treatment is accessible to those who are suffering.

Resources must continue to be allocated to ongoing research into developing new, safe and cost-efficient vaccines as well as medicines to treat those infected. Success in such endeavors will not fail to translate into gradual reduction in the number of overall infections.

In a particular way my Delegation calls the attention to positive efforts in assisting those in need. One is reminded of the importance of educating and helping families care for their loved ones who have contracted malaria. Many Catholic organizations are deeply involved in this field, with wide and directed campaigns. Furthermore, they train community groups to educate parents and caregivers of young children infected with malaria.

Notwithstanding other serious infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis that demand equal attention, our efforts on malaria cannot be sidelined. Clearly, the global community must remain committed to fight all diseases which threaten human lives and security.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Pope Defends Those Most Affected by Money Crisis

Notes Already Grave Situations Made Worse

By Anita S. Bourdin

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As the world faces an economic crisis, Benedict XVI is encouraging that particular attention be paid to society's weakest families and individuals.

The Pope stressed this need in a message sent on his behalf by his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, for the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, celebrated each Oct. 17. The papal message was sent to Jean Tonglet, delegate for Italy of the ATD Fourth World movement.

The Holy Father expressed his hope that "in the difficult international economic context of today, particular attention is given to the people and families who are most underprivileged and the weakest of society."

He also spoke out on behalf of those for whom life is more difficult due to the crisis: "The present situation aggravates the already worrying and sometimes tragic conditions of life for numerous people, whose human dignity is in this way gravely compromised."

The Pontiff concluded asking God to "support all those people who are victims of extreme poverty" and bless "the efforts of those who, with their generous commitment, contribute to the building up of a more just and fraternal world, which rejects the misfortune of extreme poverty."

The world day was begun on Oct. 17, 1987, by Father Joseph Wresinski (1917-1988), founder of the ATD Fourth World movement. On this day he placed a commemorative stone in the Trocadero Plaza (renamed the Plaza of Human Rights and Liberties) in Paris "for the victims of poverty."

The initiative was taken up by the United Nations in 1992.

One of the objectives of the world day is to "give a voice to the poor, listen to what they have to say, not just regarding poverty and how to fight it, but also about peace, justice, the future of the world and societies," Tonglet told ZENIT. "This attitude of listening is something that is promoted on Oct. 17 so that it is lived afterward day after day."

Bishop Wenski on Immigration Policy/Washington Post

By Bishop Thomas Wenski
The Washington Post
October 20, 2008

As the presidential election heads into its final days, the issue of immigration remains largely unaddressed. It was not examined during the debates and is not high on either candidate's list of talking points. Congress has left the issue on the table. Sadly, this congressional reluctance has created a policy vacuum that has widened America's political divisions and left us with an inconsistent, ineffective and, in many cases, inhumane national policy.

The failure of comprehensive immigration reform last year, when Congress bowed to a vocal minority, unleashed a torrent of initiatives designed to demonstrate that the U.S. government can enforce our laws and secure our borders. In truth, intermittent work site raids, increased local law enforcement involvement and the creation of a wall along parts of our southern border, among other efforts, have done little to address the challenges presented by illegal immigration.

The most visible of these initiatives has been the work site raids in cities and towns across the nation. While these enforcement actions meet the political need to show government's law enforcement capabilities, they have had minimal effect on the number of undocumented workers in the United States.

Instead, they have caused dislocation and disruption in immigrant communities and victimized permanent U.S. residents and citizens, including children.. The sweeping nature of these raids -- sometimes involving hundreds of law enforcement personnel with weapons -- has made it difficult for those arrested to secure basic due-process legal rights, including access to counsel. Some families have been split up indefinitely.

The involvement of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement, most prominently in Arizona and parts of the South, has greatly harmed the trust between immigrant neighborhoods and law enforcement and has diverted police from the work of apprehending criminals. The border wall and an unprecedented immigration enforcement buildup along our southern border have failed to deter new entrants to the United States and have discouraged immigrants from leaving.

Perhaps most damaging are the adverse, long-term effects these policies have had on immigrant communities. The overriding emotion many immigrants feel is fear. Not only do legal immigrants worry that a loved one may be swept away in a work site raid or after a knock at the door at home, they are fearful for their own futures -- and the futures of their children -- in the United States. This is not the way to encourage integration and responsible citizenship.

While some organizations that oppose immigration are delighted by this and hope such an atmosphere will lead to a mass exodus of illegal and legal immigrants, they are likely to be disappointed. What they do not acknowledge is that 70 percent of the undocumented have lived in this country for five years or longer and have no home to return to. These people identify themselves more as Americans than anything else and would rather live here in the shadows than take their U.S.-citizen children back to a place they do not know.

Opponents like to argue that our economy does not need the work of immigrants, now or in the future. Again, they are wrong. The Labor Department predicts that in the years ahead, despite the current economic slowdown, a shortage of low-skilled labor will exist in several important industries, for some beginning as early as 2010. As baby boomers begin retiring, immigrants will help support them by paying billions into the Social Security system.

To many elected officials, immigration has become the new "third rail" of American politics. Refraining from addressing this pressing domestic issue, however, will elevate tensions in states and localities, further alienate immigrants and their communities, and tacitly affirm the acceptance of a hidden and permanent underclass in our country.

The silver lining of this dark cloud upon our immigrant history is that it demonstrates that an enforcement-only approach to illegal immigration is ineffective and contrary to our national interests. A new administration and new Congress will be forced to act -- this time in a broad and balanced manner. Otherwise, the American people will be left pondering a wall and wondering why it is not working.

The writer is the Catholic bishop of Orlando and a consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION, Week of October 19, 2008


VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: To provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Committed to work to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality



On Sunday (29th Ordinary Time Sunday Cycle A) we read in the Gospel of Matthew about how Jesus turned a trap into a moment of transformation. The leaders of the time wanted Jesus to declare whether he was opposed to the Roman regime by rejecting the tax, or a collaborator with the Romans if he endorsed the tax. Jesus does not fall for it; rather, he states that what is owed to each is due to each. But the transformative insight is that we may owe things to political leaders or others, but more importantly we owe God everything. The point: we are called to live authentic Christian lives in all we say and do.

At Catholic Charities, we are sometimes called upon to declare whether we are "sectarian" or "secular" agencies, in order to justify someone's political nomenclature. This is a false distinction. Catholic Charities is the arm of the Church, using various forms of resources, in order to reach out in the Church's name to help organize and provide for the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the prisoner..... We provide direct relief and advocate for social change in the Church's name. We may provide social services in a similar fashion as other non religious groups, but we Catholic Charities remains the face of the Church to those who come for aid. By seeing the face of Christ in each person we serve, we "are" faith-based organization. Hopefully, those who use our services see Christ in our face as we serve/work with them. In this way, we are the Church in action.


NOVEMBER 4, 2008: ELECTION DAY.....read US Catholic Bishops' statement on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship


Some important date(s) this week:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20. St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin If anyone knew rejection, ridicule and disappointment, it was today’s saint. But such trials only brought Maria Bertilla Boscardin closer to God and more determined to serve him. Born in Italy in 1888, the young girl lived in fear of her father, a violent man prone to jealousy and drunkenness. Her schooling was limited so that she could spend more time helping at home and working in the fields. She showed few talents and was often the butt of jokes. In 1904 she joined the Sisters of St. Dorothy and was assigned to work in the kitchen, bakery and laundry. After some time Maria received nurses’ training and began working in a hospital with children suffering from diphtheria. There the young nun seemed to find her true vocation: nursing very ill and disturbed children. Later, when the hospital was taken over by the military in World War I, Sister Maria Bertilla fearlessly cared for patients amidst the threat of constant air raids and bombings. She died in 1922 after suffering for many years from a painful tumor. Some of the patients she had nursed many years before were present at her canonization in 1961.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24. Voice of Hope dinner. Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. will host the 11th Annual Voice of Hope Dinner Friday October 24, 2008 at Ciminero's Banquet Center in Niles, Ohio. Throughout the evening we will honor Drs. James and Cynthia Kravec, Blessed Sacrament, Warren, Kent State University Catholic Student Organization and Msgr. John Zuraw for their efforts to further the mission of Catholic Charities. The keynote address will be provided by Fr. Clarence Williams


PAPAL INTENTIONS:

OCTOBER 2008
General:
That the Synod of Bishops may help bishops and theologians as well as catechists and pastoral workers engaged in the service of the Word of God transmit with courage the truth of the faith in communion with the entire Church.
Mission:
That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, the Christian may feel the need to participate in the Church’s universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help.

Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead


See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.

For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 16, 2008

POPE BENEDICT: WORLD FOOD DAY, Oct 16

The Vatican news service released the following statement from Pope Benedict XVI on this year’s World Food Day theme.

VATICAN CITY, 16 OCT 2008 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has written a Message to Jacques Diouf, director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the occasion of World Food Day, an annual event organised by the FAO every 16 October.

Commenting upon the theme chosen for this year’s Day - “World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy” - the Holy Father writes that it “enables reflection upon achievements in the fight against hunger and upon the obstacles facing the FAO in the new challenges threatening the life of the human family”.

Benedict XVI highlights how “above all we must undertake to illuminate the reasons that prevent authentic respect for human dignity. With the means and resources the world has at its disposal, it is possible to supply sufficient nourishment and to satisfy the growing needs of everyone”, he says.

“The incorrect management of food resources caused by corruption in public life and increasing investment in arms and sophisticated military technology, to the detriment of people’s primary needs, has great importance”, he adds.

The Pope also highlights how “an effective campaign against hunger, in order to confront climate change or to allocate agricultural production primarily to food, calls for much more than mere scientific studies. It is necessary, above all, to rediscover the significance of human beings in their individual and community dimensions”.

“This reflects the need to build relations between peoples based on real and constant openness, to ensure that each country is able to satisfy the requirements of those in need, and to transmit the idea of relations founded on the interchange of reciprocal knowledge, values, rapid assistance and respect”.

Benedict XVI underscores the importance of “commitment to promoting effective social justice in relations among peoples”, so that the economy may be oriented towards the distribution of the goods of the earth, “to their sustainable use and to the fair division of their benefits”.

“One essential condition to increase levels of production and guarantee the identity of indigenous communities, as well as peace and security in the world”, he concludes, “is to guarantee access to land, favouring agricultural workers and promoting their rights”.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

TODAY IS BLOG DAY ON POVERTY: WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Poverty in America: What are you going to do?
We call upon all Americans, especially those who are most impacted by poverty, to be active participants in increasing awareness and developing solutions to reducing poverty.

Here are a few things you can do:

Endorse
Make a public statement that you support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America and are committed to taking action.

Advocate
Read and respond to our Action Alerts and take part in shaping policies that help individuals and families transition from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Read Twenty things you can do and learn about Poverty USA


Volunteer


Donate your time and talent as a volunteer at a local Catholic Charities agency.

Pray
Pray for God's assistance in alleviating the pain and needless struggles of our brothers and sisters in need.

Educate
Read our policy papers and become familiar with the issues.

Share
Post a comment on our Blog and spread the word about the Campaign.

Participate
Take part in local field activities -- write a letter, attend a local or Capitol Hill briefing, or host a special event.

Donate
Make a donation to support the work of the Campaign. Your donation helps Catholic Charities in their work of providing help and creating help.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of October 12, 2008

VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: To provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Committed to work to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality



On Sunday (28th Ordinary Time Sunday Cycle A) we read in the Gospel of Matthew about the feast that is prepared but some refuse to attend. After being rejected, the King according to the parable, goes out and welcomes those who might have never been considered to come to the table...the good and bad alike. The story also reminds us that even though we are invited to the banquet, and graciously attend, we still must be ready for the experience. We must truly say "yes" to the invitation. We must be open to the Kingdom here and now. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear about that day when all death and suffering will end, and the Kingdom of God will reign.

In Catholic Charities, we as the Church work on the margins of society. We often encounter those who do not want to help their brothers and sisters by refusing to give to those in need; many times, however, we encounter people who give much or a little though very generously, and truly want to be there in solidarity with those who are poor and vulnerable. We also encounter on a daily basis the face of Christ seeking help in the people we serve, the good and bad alike. In these encounters we are experiencing a foretaste of that great banquet of the Kingdom of God here now and in the future. For many, Catholic Charities is that foretaste of love and acceptance that the Kingdom requires. We must constantly say "yes" to be and experience ourselves that invitation.



Some important date(s) this week:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15. St. Teresa of Avila. (1515-1582) Teresa lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social and religious upheaval. It was the 16th century, a time of turmoil and reform. Her life began with the culmination of the Protestant Reformation, and ended shortly after the Council of Trent. The gift of God to Teresa in and through which she became holy and left her mark on the Church and the world is threefold: She was a woman; she was a contemplative; she was an active reformer. In 1970 the Church gave her the title she had long held in the popular mind: Doctor of the Church. She and St. Catherine of Siena were the first women so honored.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16. St. Marguerite d'Youville (1701-1771) Born in Varennes, Canada, Marie Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais had to interrupt her schooling at the age of 12 to help her widowed mother. Eight years later she married Francois d'Youville; they had six children, four of whom died young. Despite the fact that her husband gambled, sold liquor illegally to Native Americans and treated her indifferently, she cared for him compassionately in the two years before his death in 1730. Even though she was caring for two small children and running a store to help pay off her husband's debts, Marguerite still helped the poor. Once her children were grown, she and several companions rescued a Quebec hospital which was in danger of failing. She called her community the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal; the people called them the "Grey Nuns" because of the color of their habit. Pope John XXIII, who beatified her in 1959, called her the "Mother of Universal Charity." She was canonized in 1990.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18. St. Luke. Luke wrote one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work comprising the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he shows the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, and Paul calls him "our beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). His Gospel was probably written between A.D. 70 and 85.

PAPAL INTENTIONS:

OCTOBER 2008
General:

That the Synod of Bishops may help bishops and theologians as well as catechists and pastoral workers engaged in the service of the Word of God transmit with courage the truth of the faith in communion with the entire Church.
Mission:
That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, the Christian may feel the need to participate in the Church’s universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help.

Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead



See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.

For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 10, 2008

HOLY SEE STATEMENT TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Underlying Causes

Holy See Urges UN to Look to the Causes
Says Symptoms of World's Ills Not Whole Picture

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Instead of listing the many symptoms of the world's problems, a Holy See representative told the United Nations that it would do well to look more carefully at the underlying causes.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said this Monday to a meeting of the 63rd U.N. General Assembly, in which he acknowledged the "intractable conflicts in many regions of the world."

He said these conflicts, "whether under the guise of civil turmoil, terrorist activity or international conflicts, [...] perpetuate the flawed belief that violence and war can replace cooperation and dialogue for the common good."

He also cited other "enduring obstacles," such as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and the "growing strain" on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which he said "severely hinder the promotion of the common good and mutual cooperation."

"However," the Holy See representative stated, "rather than addressing the symptoms of humanity’s failings we would do well to focus on the underlying causes."

Archbishop Migliore noted the words of Paul VI, who said 40 years ago in a visit to the United Nations that “development is the new name for peace.”

"The wisdom of these words should guide us in crafting adequate solutions," the archbishop added.

New direction

He continued: "Sixty years ago this December, this body produced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with which the world leaders agreed that human rights are not bestowed by governments at their whim but rather are inherent in all individuals regardless of race, nationality or religious belief.

"It is humbling to recall the war that preceded the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also empowering to know that if the world could come together to ensure the rights of all after such a devastating conflict, then surely today we can find the political will to guarantee the full enjoyment of all human rights."

Archbishop Migliore affirmed that the rights to life and freedom of thought, conscience and religion "remain the core of the human rights system."

"Too often these rights are neglected in favor of more politically expedient issues, and only when the voices of the disenfranchised and discriminated become too loud to be ignored do we give them their proper attention," he said.

The archbishop reiterated, "Only by respecting the right to life, from the moment of conception until natural death, and the consciences of all believers, will we promote a world cognizant and respectful of a deeper sense of meaning and purpose."

"Time and again we have seen an increase in the use of rhetoric which, instead of bringing nations together, chastises and divides them," Archbishop Migliore lamented. "In all corners of the globe this rhetoric has been used to foment mistrust between states.

"However, it is my delegation’s wish that this session will reverse this crescendo of suspect and mistrust and will give way to confidence in our common leadership and shared values."
Holy See Address to 63rd UN General Assembly
"Promote Renewed Cooperation and Harmony Among All Peoples"

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the statement Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave Monday to the 63rd U.N. General Assembly.

* * *

Mr President,

My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his Report on the Work of the Organization and looks forward to working with him to help ensure that this institution builds upon its successes and bridges its shortcomings.

We are witnessing intractable conflicts in many regions of the world. Whether under the guise of civil turmoil, terrorist activity or international conflicts, they perpetuate the flawed belief that violence and war can replace cooperation and dialogue for the common good. In this context, the impasse in the Conference on Disarmament, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, along with the growing strain upon the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, are enduring obstacles and severely hinder the promotion of the common good and mutual cooperation.

However, rather than addressing the symptoms of humanity’s failings we would do well to focus on the underlying causes. Some forty years ago Pope Paul VI stated in this Hall that “development is the new name for peace” and the wisdom of these words should guide us in crafting adequate solutions.

At this point in time we cannot but admit a number of setbacks in our work to globalize solidarity toward the poor. With the failed trade talks in the Doha Round, the increasing international economic slowdown and the missed development assistance targets, we have seen the need for effective consensus and delivery. The upcoming conference on Financing for Development in Doha presents an opportunity for the international community to consolidate promises and renew cooperation between developed and developing countries. My delegation looks forward to working with the participants in order to put the ingenuity of global economic activity at the service of people rather than put people at its mercy.

Mr President,

The Sixty-third Session of the General Assembly stands at a poignant moment in United Nations history. Sixty years ago this December, this body produced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with which the world leaders agreed that human rights are not bestowed by governments at their whim but rather are inherent in all individuals regardless of race, nationality or religious belief. It is humbling to recall the war that preceded the adoption of the UDHR but also empowering to know that if the world could come together to ensure the rights of all after such a devastating conflict, then surely today we can find the political will to guarantee the full enjoyment of all human rights.

The rights to life and freedom of thought, conscience and religion remain the core of the human rights system. The discourse over these two fundamental rights is on the rise. However, too often these rights are neglected in favor of more politically expedient issues, and only when the voices of the disenfranchised and discriminated become too loud to be ignored do we give them their proper attention. Only by respecting the right to life, from the moment of conception until natural death, and the consciences of all believers, will we promote a world cognizant and respectful of a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

A year ago the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We encourage the membership to build upon this common commitment in order to foster greater understanding between governments and indigenous communities.

Finally, Mr President, it is my delegation’s hope that this Session of the General Assembly can serve to promote renewed cooperation and harmony among all peoples. Time and again we have seen an increase in the use of rhetoric which, instead of bringing nations together, chastises and divides them. In all corners of the globe this rhetoric has been used to foment mistrust between States. However, it is my delegation’s wish that this Session will reverse this crescendo of suspect and mistrust and will give way to confidence in our common leadership and shared values. To this end, the fully operational Mediation Support Unit serves as a valuable tool for restoring lost trust and we look forward to following its further developments.

Mr President,

The Secretary-General’s Report recognizes the need for addressing an ever growing number of issues. Whether it is humanitarian assistance, mediation or the ability to bring parties together, this Organization must continue to be shaped in a way that is more responsive to the needs of the twenty-first century.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

ST. PAUL MIGRANT, APOSTLE OF THE PEOPLES

VATICAN CITY, 8 OCT 2008 (VIS) - "St. Paul Migrant, Apostle of the Peoples" is the theme of the Message of Benedict XVI for the 95th World Day of Migrants and Refugees which is due to be celebrated on 18 January 2009. Excerpts from the text - which has been published in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German - are given below.

"Guided by the Holy Spirit, [St. Paul] spared no effort to see that the Gospel ... was proclaimed to all, making no distinction of nationality or culture. ... His life and his preaching were wholly directed to making Jesus known and loved by all, for all persons are called to become a single people in Him.

"This", the Message adds, "is the mission of the Church and of every baptised person in our time too, even in the era of globalisation; a mission that with attentive pastoral solicitude is also directed to the variegated universe of migrants - students far from home, immigrants, refugees, displaced people, evacuees - including for example, the victims of modern forms of slavery, and of human trafficking. Today too the message of salvation must be presented with the same approach as that of the Apostle to the Gentiles, taking into account the different social and cultural situations and special difficulties of each one as a consequence of his or her condition as a migrant or itinerant person.

"I express the wish that every Christian community may feel the same apostolic zeal as St Paul. ... May his example also be an incentive for us to show solidarity to these brothers and sisters of ours and to promote, in every part of the world and by every means, peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions".

"In reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters that Paul addressed to various recipients, we perceive a model of a Church that was not exclusive but on the contrary open to all, formed by believers without distinction of culture or race: every baptised person is, in fact, a living member of the one Body of Christ. In this perspective, fraternal solidarity expressed in daily gestures of sharing, joint participation and joyful concern for others, acquires a unique prominence".

"How can we fail to take charge of all those, particularly refugees and displaced people, who are in conditions of difficulty or hardship? How can we fail to meet the needs of those who are 'de facto' the weakest and most defenceless, marked by precariousness and insecurity, marginalized and often excluded by society? We should give our priority attention to them".

"The World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on 18 January 2009, must be for all an incentive to live brotherly love to the full without making any kind of distinction and without discrimination, in the conviction that any one who needs us and whom we can help is our neighbour. May the teaching and example of St Paul, a great and humble Apostle and a migrant, an evangeliser of peoples and cultures, spur us to understand that the exercise of charity is the culmination and synthesis of the whole of Christian life".

"Dear brothers and sisters, let us not tire of proclaiming and witnessing to this 'Good News' with enthusiasm, without fear and sparing no energy! The entire Gospel message is condensed in love, and authentic disciples of Christ are recognised by the mutual love their bear one another and by their acceptance of all. May the Apostle Paul and especially Mary, the Mother of acceptance and love, obtain this gift for us".
MESS/ST. PAUL MIGRANT/... VIS 081008 (610)

Vatican: States Must Welcome Migrants

STATES MUST WELCOME MIGRANTS

VATICAN CITY, 8 OCT 2008 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this morning, Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino and Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, presented the Holy Father's Message for the 95th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which has as its theme "St. Paul Migrant, Apostle of the Peoples".

Cardinal Martino affirmed that "the phenomenon of migration in a globalised world is becoming effectively unstoppable. The problem will not be solved by closing frontiers, but by States welcoming - with just, well-balanced and solidary regulation - the migratory flows".

For his part, Archbishop Marchetto pointed out that "hospitality is a fundamental characteristic of the pastoral care of refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons. Hospitality ensures that we welcome others as persons - and in some cases also as brothers or sisters in the faith - and that we do not consider them as a cases, numbers, or mere components of the workforce".

"Closeness to others expressed in the form of hospitality effectively contradicts a large part of the messages, lifestyles and mentalities of the modern world", he said.

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People indicated that "the impression one gets is that for many years refugees have been treated with no consideration for the reasons that forced them to flee. This has also been translated into attempts to prevent their entry into States and into the adoption of measures aimed at making such entry more difficult" such as "the obligation to possess entrance visas, and the publication of lists of so-called 'safe countries'".

"May the dedication (proof of his courage and enthusiasm) with which St. Paul the migrant carried out his mission, inspire the Church and society to find united responses to the challenges present in modern society, so as to promote peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups, cultures and religions".
OP/MESSAGE MIGRANTS/... VIS 081008 (340)

Saturday, October 4, 2008

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of October 5, 2008


VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: To provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Committed to work to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality



On Sunday (27th Ordinary Time Sunday Cycle A) we read in the Gospel of Matthew about Jesus' parable about the vineyard keeper and his hope that the caretakers will maintain and expand his vineyard while he is away. In time, the owner sends messengers to see how the fields are progressing; they are killed or turned away. Finally the owner sends his son -- certainly the tenants would not kill his own son. Alas, they kill the owner's son. St Paul reminds us, in his letter to the Philippians, that we must continue to live like and be conformed to that which is excellent, living the life of Jesus himself.

As leaders/workers in Catholic Charities, we are called upon to care for the "vineyard" of the people that we have been entrusted with: the poor and the needy among us. We will be judged, like in the first reading from Isaiah and in the Gospel, on how well we cultivate the vineyard and build a community of justice and peace. As Catholic Charities we serve people, we advocate for just structures, and convene people to do the same. We must continue to be prophets in our own places, and call people to work for justice so that God will be pleased with our efforts to bring his kingdom here and now.



Some important date(s) this week:

SATURDAY, October 11. Blessed Angela Truszkowska (1825-1899) we honor a woman who submitted to God's will throughout her life—a life filled with pain and suffering. Born in 1825 in central Poland and baptized Sophia, she contracted tuberculosis as a young girl. The forced period of convalescence gave her ample time for reflection. Sophia felt called to serve God by working with the poor, including street children and the elderly homeless in Warsaw's slums. In time, her cousin joined her in the work. Mother Angela served as superior for many years until ill health forced her to resign at the age of 44. She watched the order, the Felician Sisters, grow and expand, including missions to the United States among the sons and daughters of Polish immigrants. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993.

PAPAL INTENTIONS:

OCTOBER 2008
General:
That the Synod of Bishops may help bishops and theologians as well as catechists and pastoral workers engaged in the service of the Word of God transmit with courage the truth of the faith in communion with the entire Church.
Mission:
That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, the Christian may feel the need to participate in the Church’s universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help.

Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead


See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.

For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/

RESUME DISMANTLING OF EXISTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS

VATICAN CITY, 2 OCT 2008 (VIS) - On 29 September, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, addressed the 52nd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is being held in Vienna, Austria, from 29 September to 3 October.



Speaking in English, he recalled how the IAEA works "to protect and promote life in a most crucial area of human endeavour: the peaceful use of nuclear energy". The agency's more than 50-year history "bears testimony to the pressing need we have in today's world to work together for the one human family", he said.



The archbishop expressed the view that " the first obligation we share is the obligation of working together, of sharing our expertise, of building up a common consensus through common effort and commitment. Thus, the overriding characteristic that must pervade the work the IAEA undertakes in the three areas of its mandate, namely, technology, safety and verification, should always be to unite and associate, not to divide and oppose".



"The Holy See desires to see all States work together to ... promote nuclear safety and security, ensure the non-diversion of nuclear materials and the absence of undeclared nuclear activities. These instruments will not only contribute to the fight against nuclear terrorism, but also to the concrete realisation of a culture of life and peace capable of promoting in an effective way the integral development of peoples".



"A second level of the 'working together obligation' is working together for the use of peaceful and safe nuclear technology respecting the environment and ever mindful of the most disadvantaged populations", said Archbishop Mamberti, going on to point out that globalisation imposes upon the IAEA the obligation of "working together to contribute not only to a specific project or to a certain government or agency, but above all to the good of all the people of the world. Thus, the worth of a project will be measured by the impact it will have on cultural and other human values, as well as on the economic and social well-being of a people or nation".



The third obligation identified by the Holy See secretary for Relations with States was that of " working together for nuclear disarmament". The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, "the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, ... must not be allowed to be weakened", he said.



"The Holy See entreats and encourages those in authority to come together in order to resume with greater determination a progressive and mutually agreed dismantling of existing nuclear weapons", said the archbishop in conclusion. "Global security must not rely on nuclear weapons. The Holy See considers the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty an important tool to achieve this aim".

DELSS/NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT/MAMBERTI VIS 081002 (460)