Friday, July 31, 2009

Statement of Catholic Charities USA: Health Care Reform

In response to inaccurate on line media reports, Catholic Charities USA states unequivocally that it does not support any plan to reform health care and/or any proposed legislative provision that allows or promotes the funding of abortions or that compels any health care provider or institution to provide such a service. In fact, Catholic Charities USA will continue to work with the Catholic Health Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ensure that any health care reform legislation will not include such provisions. All media accounts or public comments that misrepresent this position are inaccurate.

“These attacks appear to be politically motivated by opponents of health care reform. They are distortions of the truth and disingenuous. Catholic Charities USA will continue to work to reform health care in a way that is consistent with the teachings of our faith.” Fr. Larry Snyder, President

For additional information, please visit: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1782

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Catholic Bishops of Ohio voice dismay over state budget cuts in human services, Catholic hospitals and Catholic schools

July 29, 2009



The Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of Cincinnati, speaking on behalf of Ohio’s Catholic Bishops, issued a letter voicing dismay with specific cuts in the state budget, and disappointment with a political process that disregarded the concerns of many members of the General Assembly.

In a letter sent to Governor Strickland and each member of the Ohio General Assembly on July 27, the bishops expressed strong concern over cuts impacting the elderly, mentally ill, Catholic hospitals, and students in Catholic schools. In a prior letter (March 24, 2009) sent to elected state officials, the bishops specifically addressed the negative impact of budget cuts on Ohio’s hospitals and nursing homes.

According to Carolyn Jurkowitz, executive director of the Catholic Conference, the bishops gave extra attention in their more recent letter to cuts totaling $59M in services to Catholic school students and administrative cost reimbursement to Catholic schools. “We have the largest number of chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio, and therefore a major responsibility to promote fair and equitable treatment of all students, no matter where they attend school,” Jurkowitz explained.

The bishops wrote: “For over 25 years, state budgets treated students attending public and chartered nonpublic schools equitably. As state funding for public schools increased or decreased, line items benefiting students in chartered nonpublic schools increased or decreased proportionately. In HB1, this did not happen. The final budget reduced line items supporting students in chartered nonpublic schools by 15 percent from the House and Senate-passed versions of the budget bill… while state support for students in public schools [was] reduced by less than one percent and then bolstered with federal stimulus money. The new budget suggests that Catholic taxpayers and the children we serve will be the last to receive any consideration and the first to be cut.”

The bishops point out the high-quality education that Catholic schools provide to hundreds of thousands of citizens, and the tremendous contribution Catholic schools make to Ohio: “Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools save the taxpayers of Ohio $2 billion a year in educational cost that the state would pay if these students were attending public schools. Our schools have a long history of public accountability for the public dollars and services they receive.”

The bishops also lamented the lack of opportunity to defend school funding during the conference committee process. Once the conference committee recommendations were made public, they were voted upon the same day, without the opportunity for amendments. The bishops note: “Many legislators told us that they disagreed with the cuts made in benefits for students in Catholic schools, and with the lack of opportunity to voice their concerns or influence the conference committee process.”

The text of the bishops’ letter follows:

Dear elected official,

On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Ohio, I write to register several concerns regarding the state budget (HB1).

We recognize the unprecedented economic situation facing Ohio, but we are troubled by the selectivity and harshness of certain cuts and the lack of public input into the conference committee’s recommendations.

Some positive changes occurred before the budget finally was approved; however, deep cuts still were made to programs in mental health, elder care and protective services. Catholic hospitals will experience a serious shortfall. We are very disappointed in the cut of $59 million over the next two years to line items 200-511 and 200-532 that provide assistance to students attending Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools.

Furthermore, reduction in the scholarship amounts for EdChoice and elimination of systematic increases in these amounts will be detrimental to parents and students who desire to benefit from an education in our Catholic schools.

For over 25 years, state budgets treated students attending public and chartered nonpublic schools equitably. As state funding for public schools increased or decreased, line items benefiting students in chartered nonpublic schools increased or decreased proportionately. In HB1, this did not happen. The final budget reduced line items supporting students in chartered nonpublic schools by 15 percent from the House and Senate-passed versions of the budget bill. When the new cuts are added to cuts made during 2008/2009, funding for these programs benefiting students in chartered nonpublic schools will be 17.5 percent less than it was on July 1, 2008, while state support for students in public schools will be reduced by less than one percent and then bolstered with federal stimulus money. The new budget suggests that Catholic taxpayers and the children we serve will be the last to receive any consideration and the first to be cut.

The $59 M cut in the Auxiliary Services and Administrative Cost Reimbursement programs undermines the education of thousands of Ohio's young people and threatens to destabilize a system of schools that provides a high-quality education for hundreds of thousands of citizens of this state. As a result of these cuts, an average parish elementary school of 350 students will receive approximately $15,750 less in direct reimbursement and $34,300 less in resources and services, and a Catholic high school of 800 students will receive approximately $36,000 less in direct reimbursement and $78,000 less in resources and services.

We are extremely proud of the educational outcomes that our schools achieve. Catholic schools make a tremendous contribution to our State. In addition, Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools save the taxpayers of Ohio $2 billion a year in educational cost that the state would pay if these students were attending public schools. Our schools have a long history of public accountability for the public dollars and services they
receive.

We are deeply disappointed in the legislative process that occurred during the conference committee on HB 1.

Many legislators have told us that they disagree with the cuts made in benefits for students in Catholic schools, and with the lack of opportunity to voice their concerns or influence the conference committee process.

We strongly encourage you to find a nonpartisan way to remedy the cuts. We sincerely hope that you will address our concerns in the budget corrections bill. Please tell us how we can help you in this effort. Thank you for this
opportunity.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk
Archbishop of Cincinnati,
Chairman of the Board, Catholic Conference of Ohio
July 27, 2009

THEME FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2010

VATICAN CITY, 29 JUL 2009 (VIS) - "If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation" is the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for his Message for the 43rd World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on 1 January 2010.



"The theme", says a communique made public today, "aims to raise awareness about the strong bond that exists in our globalised and interconnected world between protecting the creation and cultivating peace.



"This close and intimate tie", the communique adds, "is further accentuated by the many problems concerning man's natural environment, such as the use of resources, climate change, the application and use of biotechnology, and demographic growth. If the human family is unable to face these new challenges with a renewed sense of social justice and equity, and of international solidarity, we run the risk of sowing seeds of violence among peoples, and between current generations and those to come".



The communique goes on: "Following the precious guidelines contained in paragraphs 48 to 51 of the Encyclical 'Caritas in veritate', the papal Massage will make it clear that the protection of the environment is a challenge for all humankind. It is shared and universal duty to respect a collective asset destined for everyone".



The communique concludes by noting that "ecological questions must be faced, not just because of the dreadful prospects that environmental degradation presages; they must be translated, above all, into a strong motivation to cultivate peace".

.../MESSAGE WORLD PEACE DAY/... VIS 090729 (250)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cardinal Bertone: Encyclical Not Just for Catholics

Based on Natural Law, Appeals to Atheists Too

ROME, JULY 28, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

"Caritas in Veritate" is directed to believers and nonbelievers alike, since it is based on natural law, the Pope's secretary of state affirmed today to the Italian Senate.

In a presentation which he discussed last week with the vacationing Benedict XVI, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone showed how the Holy Father was able to unite the themes found in the title of his third encyclical: "caritas" and "veritas," love and truth.

"The Holy Father enables us to understand that these two fundamental realities are not extrinsic to man or imposed in the name of an ideology, but rather are deeply rooted in the human person," Cardinal Bertone said. "This truth is not only vouched for in Biblical revelation, but can also be understood by every person of good will who uses his reason uprightly in reflecting upon himself."

The secretary of state explained in this regard that the proposals the Pope makes in his encyclical are based on natural law, which, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, "expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie."

In this sense, Cardinal Bertone linked the encyclical with the document recently published (so far only in French and Italian) by the International Theological Commission precisely on natural law. This document, which was begun under the direction of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger when he was president of the commission, was explained by the Pope in his April 2008 discourse at the United Nations.

Human rights, he said on that occasion, "are based on the natural law inscribed on human hearts and present in different cultures and civilizations."

"Removing human rights from this context would mean restricting their range and yielding to a relativistic conception, according to which the meaning and interpretation of rights could vary and their universality would be denied in the name of different cultural, political, social and even religious outlooks," the Pontiff contended.

Cardinal Bertone explained at the Senate that the document from the theological commission "precisely illustrates how truth and love are essential exigencies for every person, deeply rooted in their being."

"In his search for the moral good," he added, "the human person harkens to what he is and becomes aware of the fundamental inclinations of his nature, which move the person toward the goods necessary for his moral fulfillment.

"Man, the cardinal continued, is therefore made to know "the truth in all of its fullness, that is, he is not limited to acquiring technical know-how so as to dominate material reality, but rather open to encounter the Transcendent and to fully live the interpersonal dimension of love, the principle not only of micro-relationships -- relationships of friendship, family and groups -- but also of macro-relationships -- social, economic and political relations."

"Precisely 'veritas' and 'caritas' indicate to us the demands of natural law that Benedict XVI presents as the fundamental criteria for reflection of a moral order on the current social-economic reality," Cardinal Bertone affirmed.

Thus, the "proposal of the encyclical is neither of an ideological character nor reserved for those who share faith in divine Revelation, but rather based on fundamental anthropological realities, as are, precisely, truth and charity.

Monday, July 27, 2009

"Caritas in Veritate": A Defense of Life

Pontifical Academy President Comments on Encyclical

By Carmen Elena Villa

ROME, JULY 23, 2009 (Zenit.org).- "Caritas in Veritate" presents the new face of development, true ethics and human dignity, according to the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, who is also rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, gave his evaluation of Benedict XVI's third encyclical during a presentation Wednesday in Rome.

The prelate noted that with the publication of Paul VI's "Populorum Progressio," the primary exhortation was to rescue populations from illiteracy and misery. Now, Archbishop Fisichella said, without excluding those factors, the concept of development "has a broader connotation."

The academy president lamented the incongruity of those who "defend the environment and yet forget human life and its protection." He instead urged a "balance that does not exalt one and humiliate the other, thus falling into neo-paganism." What is needed, the archbishop affirmed, is "integral humanism."

"Only when people know themselves and maintain a longing for the truth can there be a guarantee that society can have coherent development," Archbishop Fisichella said.

He went on to note how "Caritas in Veritate" illustrates true charity, showing "the path for getting out of the tunnel of generalized emotivity."

More than no's

The Vatican official said the Pope's third encyclical reiterates that the Church's message is anything but a list of "thou shalt nots."

Instead, he maintained, the Holy Father lays out a "courageous project" in which the market, businesses and finance "are called above all to answer to needs that are intrinsic to their nature."

Archbishop Fisichella also reflected on the anthropology presented in the encyclical. He cited Paul VI's idea, taken up by Benedict XVI, that "under-development has a cause that is even greater than the lack of thought: It is the lack of fraternity among people and nations."

In this regard, he affirmed that the current economic crisis is rooted in more than finances: Its true cause is a distorted anthropological base.

The encyclical, the prelate said, "shows the path that the person is called to walk along with perseverance."

An ethical framework that takes into account, among other things, just salaries and security and is committed to "educate people so they don't fall into forms of under-development" is needed, the archbishop continued. Such a system has to regard more than technical aspects; it must include the "social, ethical and human factors."

He went on to emphasize the importance of solidarity always being accompanied by subsidiarity.

"Solidarity," Archbishop Fisichella affirmed," is not sufficient if subsidiarity is lacking," since it runs the risk of falling into a mentality of hand-outs. "This perspective is nothing more than an anthropological demand."

Finally, the academy president noted God's role in development: "The spiritual horizon is not an add-on; it is the essence." He pointed to the encyclical's link with "Gaudium et Spes" from the Second Vatican Council, reflecting that "Jesus worked with human hands, thought with a human mind and loved with a human heart."

The originality of this encyclical, he concluded, is that it shows how the "path taken in the light of reason cannot be fulfilled if it is not made in the light of faith."

Sunday, July 26, 2009

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of July 26, 2009

Providing Help. Creating Hope.


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. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)


On Sunday (Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B) we read from the Gospel of John about Jesus' feeding of the multitudes. We see how a small child who was willing to share his two fish and five loaves of bread allowed Jesus to model disciple-ship: we must act in the face of need and want.

In Catholic Charities we must always find ways to assist persons, families and communities in need. We must learn from Jesus' example to act even with the small amount we think we might have at our disposal. Sometimes it is a listening ear; maybe a welcoming smile and show of hospitality; maybe a phone call to another agency to help access assistance; maybe a word of comfort is all that may be needed to act in Jesus' name. I know that our Catholic Charities agencies do the best they can with the resources at our disposal. Many miracles of caring for others, despite lack of resources, happen each day. But image what we can do to help people break out of poverty if others shared their simple gifts or donated any amount to help care for others as their action for love. I take this opportunity to thank all of our donors for their generosity and call others to learn from Jesus' actions to care for others. One way to act is to provide a donation to the Bishop's Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church and/or to Catholic Charities itself.

Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate: "Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, to be filled in an arbitrary way. In a culture without truth, this is the fatal risk facing love. It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word 'love' is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite. Truth frees charity from the constraints of an emotionalism that deprives it of relational and social content, and of a fideism that deprives it of human and universal breathing-space. In the truth, charity reflects the personal yet public dimension of faith in the God of the Bible, who is both Agápe and Lógos: Charity and Truth, Love and Word." (Caritas in Veritate, par 3).

N.B. Note: Please consider joining our new Twitter account, CCDOY, for current updates and calls to action that we can all use. http://twitter.com/CCDOY

Some important date(s) this week:


Wednesday, July 29. St. Martha. Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were evidently close friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest, rather than as one celebrating the conversion of a sinner like Zacchaeus or one unceremoniously received by a suspicious Pharisee. The sisters feel free to call on Jesus at their brother’s death, even though a return to Judea at that time seems almost certain death.

No doubt Martha was an active sort of person. On one occasion (see Luke 10:38-42) she prepares the meal for Jesus and possibly his fellow guests and forthrightly states the obvious: All hands should pitch in to help with the dinner.

Yet, as biblical scholar Father John McKenzie points out, she need not be rated as an “unrecollected activist.” The evangelist is emphasizing what our Lord said on several occasions about the primacy of the spiritual: “...[D]o not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear….But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:25b, 33a); “One does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4b); “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” (Matthew 5:6a).

Martha’s great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother’s death. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world’” (John 11:25-27).



Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis

July 25-26, 2009 – Did you know that with the troubled economy, domestic violence is on the rise? That’s because stress caused by a lack of work and the inability to find new work can lead spouses to take out their frustrations on partners and children. Catholic Charities Regional Agency offers domestic violence shelter services in Columbiana County through Christina House. For more information, call 330-420-0036.



PAPAL INTENTIONS:


JULY 2008
General:
That there may be an increase in the number of those who volunteer to serve the Christian community with generous and prompt availability
Mission:
That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, may kindle the fire of divine love in numerous young people and render them sowers of hope for a new humanity




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/

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

US Bishops Support Universal Health Care

Appeal for Reforms That Respect Life

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 21, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- The U.S. bishops' conference is urging lawmakers to reform the health care system in order to make it accessible and affordable for all, and respectful of human life.

The conference affirmed this in a July 17 letter to U.S. congressmen, signed by the chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York.

The letter, released to the public today, was written to present the conference's policy priorities to all Senators and House Representatives.

The bishops expressed the hope that Congress "will bring genuine life-affirming reform to the nation's health care system."

"As Congress begins debate on health care reform," the prelates underlined their support for these actions and offered criteria for "fair and just" changes.

They asserted, "We have in the past and we always must insist that health care reform excludes abortion coverage or any other provisions that threaten the sanctity of life."

The letter called for a "truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity."

It also appealed for "access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants."

The health policy should pursue the common good and preserve pluralism, the conference affirmed, "including freedom of conscience and variety of options."

As well, it added, costs of health care should be restrained, and applied "equitably across the spectrum of payers."

Morality and politics

Expanding on these criteria, the letter continued: "No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.

"Any such action would be morally wrong."

A policy that funds abortions, the bishops asserted, would not pass a vote, and thus "would be politically unwise."

The conference added that another requirement of the duty "to protect the life and dignity of every person" is recalling the principle that "decent health care is not a privilege, but a right."

The prelates stated to the lawmakers, "All people need and should have access to comprehensive, quality health care that they can afford, and it should not depend on their stage of life, where or whether they or their parents work, how much they earn, where they live, or where they were born."

The letter emphasized, "The bishops' conference believes health care reform should be truly universal and it should be genuinely affordable."

The conference explained that "health care is not just another issue for the Church or for a healthy society."

It affirmed that this is "a fundamental issue of human life and dignity" and a "critical component of the Catholic Church's ministry."

The bishops concluded, "We bring both strong convictions and everyday experience to the issue of health care."

They expressed the desire of working with the congressmen "on these priorities as you make important choices on how to strengthen and improve health care, a most important national priority."

--- --- ---

On the Net:

Full text: www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-07-17-murphy-letter-congress.pdf

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Caritas Worker Slain in Congo

MUSEZERO, Congo, JULY 21, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

The Caritas aid agency reported that a staff member from their French division was killed in Congo last week, and called for an end to the "growing climate of insecurity" in the African nation.Ricky Agusa Sukaka, 27, was shot dead in Musezero, North Kivu, on July 15. When his colleagues found him, his pockets had been emptied and his Secours Catholique-Caritas France T-shirt removed. He was last seen alive being stopped by two men in army uniforms.

Lesley-Anne Knight, secretary-general of Caritas Internationalis, said, "Ricky Sukaka bravely worked in a war zone to help others rebuild their lives. The brutality and killing in Congo has got to stop. Caritas calls on all the groups involved to sit down at the negotiating table and work for a lasting peace."

The Congolese army and rebel groups continue to inflict violence on North and South Kivu, where one million people are already displaced. Armed groups wander at will, killing, raping and looting the defenseless population.

Caritas member organizations in France and Congo contacted the army, the U.N. force in Congo and the U.N. humanitarian affairs office following Sukaka's death. The group affirmed it will follow investigations into his slaying to "ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice."

Sukaka, a Congolese national, had worked as an agricultural engineer with Caritas France for just over a year

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Pope Urges Selflessness to Economic Crisis

Challenges Youth to Find Right Road to Life

ROMANO CANAVESE, Italy, JULY 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

Benedict XVI is affirming that even in the midst of economic difficulty, strength comes from living Gospel values such as respect for human life and the family. The Pope stated this today while addressing the crowd gathered to pray the midday Angelus in the Ruggia plaza of Romano Canavese, close to Les Combes in the Aosta Valley, northern Italy, where he is spending some vacation days.

He acknowledged the region's Christian roots, a land that "was bathed in the blood of martyrs at an early date."

Among them was St. Solutore, the Pontiff noted, admitting that "until now I did not know his name but I am always grateful to discover new saint intercessors.

"Despite the town's "long history of faith" and hardworking inhabitants, the Holy Father recognized that "many families are experiencing a difficult economic situation because of the scarcity of jobs."

He affirmed that he tried to address this widespread problem in his latest encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," which was released to the public July 7."I hope that it will be able to mobilize forces to renew the world!" Benedict XVI added.

Building the future

He continued: "Dear friends, do not be discouraged!"Providence always helps those who do good and dedicate themselves to justice; it helps those who do not think only of themselves but of those who are worse off."

The Pope reminded his listeners of how their ancestors once had to emigrate to find work, but then the tables turned and economic development brought jobs back to the region.

He explained, "The fundamental values of the family and respect for human life, sensibility for social justice, the capacity to endure toil and sacrifice, the strong link to Christian faith through parish life and especially through participation at Holy Mass, have been your strength over the centuries."

"These same values," the Pontiff said, "will permit today's generations to build their future with hope, giving life to a true solidarity and a fraternal society, in which all the various spheres, institutions and economy are permeated by an evangelical spirit."He challenged the young people in a particular way, to analyze "what sort of culture is emerging around you."

The Holy Father encouraged them to look at the proposed examples and models around them, and "determine whether they are such as to encourage you to follow the ways of the Gospel and authentic freedom."

He continued, "Youth is full of resources, but it must be helped to overcome the temptation of easy and illusory ways, to find the road of true and abundant life."

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION week of July 19, 2009

Providing Help. Creating Hope.


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. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)




On Sunday (Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B) we read from the Gospel of Mark that Jesus is concerned for those who are following him. He challenges his disciples to rest after their long journey; he responds to those who have been seeking him for healing and connection.

In Catholic Charities we can find much encouragement in Pope Benedict's new Encyclical Letter, Caritas In Veritate. He writes about the importance of our work on behalf of the Church: "Love - caritas - is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. . . . Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine. Every responsibility and every commitment spelt out by that doctrine is derived from charity which, according to the teaching of Jesus, is the synthesis of the entire Law. It gives real substance to the personal relationship with God and with neighbour; it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic, and political ones). For the Church, instructed by the Gospel, charity is everything because as Saint John teaches (cf 1 Jn 4:8, 16) and as I recalled in my first Encyclical Letter, "God is Love:" everything has its origin in God's love, everything is shaped by it, everything is directed towards it. Love is God's greatest gift to humanity, it is His promise and our hope." (Caritas in Veritate, par 1 and 2).

N.B. Note: Please consider joining our new Twitter account, CCDOY, for current updates and calls to action that we can all use.

Some important date(s) this week:


Visit our website at ccdoy.org for updated information on the Voice of Hope Award recipients and for links to Summer 2009 Charities Newsletter.



Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis


July 18-19, 2009 – Did you know that people who lose their jobs often go through a grief process similar to that of other traumatic life experiences? If you or someone you know is having a difficult time coping with the emotions surrounding job loss and transition, contact the Catholic Charities agency nearest you.



PAPAL INTENTIONS:



JULY 2008
General:
That there may be an increase in the number of those who volunteer to serve the Christian community with generous and prompt availability
Mission:
That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, may kindle the fire of divine love in numerous young people and render them sowers of hope for a new humanity




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/

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Vatican/UN: GREATER INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

VATICAN CITY, 15 JUL 2009 (VIS) - On 9 July Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva, addressed the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In his English-language address, made public yesterday afternoon, Archbishop Tomasi expressed the view that "the financial and economic crisis that greed and lack of ethical responsibility have brought about" has been further exacerbated by the influenza virus A-H1N1 "already recognised at pandemic proportion with a future impact that cannot be projected with much certainty, and by the global food security crisis that endangers the lives of millions of people, particularly the world's poorest, many of whom already suffer from acute and chronic malnutrition".

"The Holy See delegation notes with deep concern predictions by the World Bank that during 2009 an additional 53 to 65 million people will be trapped in extreme poverty, and that the number of people chronically hungry will exceed one billion, 800 million of whom live in rural areas".

After then highlighting the importance of overcoming "the temptation to reduce public services for a short-term benefit against the long-term human cost", the archbishop indicated that "aid for development should be maintained and even increased as a critical factor in renewing the economy and leading us out of the crisis".

He went on: "Another key obstacle to achieving the internationally articulated goals in public health is to address the inequalities that exist both between countries and within countries, and between racial and ethnic groups. Tragically, women continue in many regions to receive poorer quality healthcare".

"The Catholic Church", noted the permanent observer, "sponsors 5,378 hospitals, 18,088 health clinics, 15,448 homes for the elderly and disabled, and other health care programmes throughout the world, but especially in the most isolated and marginalized areas". Yet "faith-based organisations do not receive an equitable share of the resources designated to support global, national and local health initiatives", he said.

"The mere quantitative tracking of aid flows and the multiplication of global health initiatives alone may not be sufficient to assure 'Health for All'. Access to primary health care and affordable life-saving drugs is vital to improving global health. ... In an increasingly interdependent world, even sickness and viruses have no boundaries, and therefore, greater global co-operation becomes not only a practical necessity, but more importantly, an ethical imperative of solidarity.

"However, we must be guided by the best healthcare tradition that respects and promotes the right to life from conception until natural death for all regardless of race, disability, nationality, religion, sex and socio-economic status".

The Holy See delegation believes "an ethical approach to development is needed which implies a new model of global development centred on the human person rather than profit, and inclusive of the needs and aspirations of the entire human family".
DELSS/ECOSOC/GENEVA:TOMASI VIS 090715 (480)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Catholic Conference of Ohio expresses disappointment with state budget.

Catholic Conference of Ohio

July 13, 2009




The state budget bill compromise (HB 1) will hurt persons who are poor and
vulnerable and cut support for students attending Catholic schools.
Deep budget cuts remain in programs designed to help persons in need of elder
care and child protective services. Children attend Catholic schools will feel the
burden of a $59 M reduction in resources and services.

These cuts in funding for students in chartered nonpublic schools, when
added to cuts made to resources and services for those students in 2008/2009,
undermine the education of thousands of Ohio's young people. Furthermore, they
threaten to destabilize a system of schools that provides high quality education
for hundreds of thousands of citizens in this state and has done so reliably for
150 years. Chartered nonpublic schools save Ohio taxpayers close to $2 billion
every year.

Reduced will be funds that provide for guidance counselors, standardized testing,
remedial reading and math, textbooks, speech and hearing therapy, school
nurses, instructional supplies and equipment.

Director Jurkowitz estimates that a typical elementary school of 350 students will
see its state-funded assistance reduced by $50,000 in the fall, and a typical high
school of 800 students will see its assistance reduced by $114,000.

These cuts fall particularly hard on parents in economically disadvantaged areas,
who cannot possibly afford to make up the lost revenue in increased tuition.
Director Jurkowitz also lamented the harm that will befall many vulnerable
persons as a result passage of HB 1. The $250 M cut in public assistance has
dismantled child protective services and needed jobs and training programs.
Denying PASSPORT in-home care and community-based services to older
Ohioans will harm many, many families and will result in increased reliance on
costly nursing home care.


Jurkowitz reported that the Ohio Catholic bishops are on record as opposing slot
machines and casino gambling. Neither is in the best moral, social or economic
interest of the people of Ohio.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is the official representative of the Catholic
Church in public matters affecting the Church and the general welfare of the
citizens of Ohio.

The Catholic Conference promotes the defense of all human life, from conception
through natural death, care for the poor and vulnerable, and the promotion of the
common good. The Catholic Church also provides direct care and education for
Ohio's citizens through numerous schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social
service agencies.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Aid Director Notes Encyclical's Scope

Speaks for Poor from 140 Countries

KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, JULY 13, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

The international president of Aid to the Church in Need is affirming the value of the Benedict XVI's latest encyclical, especially its emphasis on freedom and responsibility to eliminate injustice.Father Joaquín Alliende stated this in an open letter to the Pope as a response to the encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," which was released to the public last week.

The priest explained his perspective, as one who listens to "the cries of the poor from over 140 different countries."

He affirmed that he wrote the letter on their behalf, to express gratitude for the encyclical's cry "against the scandal of injustice."

In this document, Father Alliende stated to the Pontiff, you show us that "the way of hope that is not simply one more illusion, one more adventure leading to a new failure."

He continued: "Your words proclaim the fact that the poverty and inequality in the world are not a question of fate, not simply a natural disaster."You urge us to be conscious of our own freedom."

The priest underlined the encyclical's call to "awaken our sense of responsibility for the shaping of a 21st century of peace that is born of truth and justice."

Brotherhood

This document conveys the "wisdom of Christ," he affirmed, and shows us "the meaning of an intelligent, rational and effective love."

"Caritas in Veritate" opens up "the horizons of practical brotherhood and solidarity," he noted, and in it "there shines the essential truth of human friendship.

"The agency director acknowledged that the encyclical responds to "crucial questions" such as: "Can the inhabitants of this earth live together as brothers? Can those in greatest need be put first among us all?

"In the midst of the worldwide financial crisis, he continued, the document points out that "justice and solidarity are not achieved simply by making financial adjustments."

"Rather than changing laws and regulations," the priest wrote to the Holy Father, "you call for a firm ethical decision, in a spirit of national and global harmony."

He added, "You venture to ask space for a creative and spontaneous fraternity."

Father Alliende acknowledged Benedict XVI's message to worldwide leaders, proposing the Gospel "as the soul of the economy of a future age."

He concluded by thanking the Pope for his "stark realism and for the uncompromising truth of love."

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Monday morning mission meditation for week of July 12: Pope Benedict's Angelus and reflection on Caritas in Veritate

Church Is an Expert in Humanity, Says Pope Affirms It Also Preaches Gospel of Love and Justice

VATICAN CITY, JULY 12, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

Although the Church may not have all the technical solutions to the problems afflicting the world today, it is an expert in humanity and offers to all mankind teachings of truth, justice and love, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope said this today before praying the midday Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, days after the conclusion of the annual Group of Eight summit, held this year in L'Aquila.

The G-8 comprises the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia. Several developing nations, including China, India, Brazil and Mexico were invited to the summit.

"Some of the topics on the agenda were dramatically urgent," the Pontiff said. "In the world there are social inequalities and structural injustices that are no longer tolerable, that demand, besides the right and proper immediate interventions, a coordinated strategy to find long lasting general solutions."

During the summit the heads of state and of governments of the G-8 again stressed the necessity of arriving at common accords with the purpose of assuring humanity a better future."

"The Church does not have technical solutions to present," the Holy Father continued, "but, as an expert in humanity, she offers to everyone the teaching of the sacred Scripture on the truth about man and proclaims the Gospel of Love and justice."

Referring to his third encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," published ahead of the summit, Benedict XVI noted that a "new economic plan is needed that will reshape development in a global way, basing itself on the fundamental ethics of responsibility before God and before man as a creature of God."

"This is because," he said, quoting the encyclical, "in an increasingly globalized society, the common good and the effort to obtain it cannot fail to assume the dimensions of the whole human family."

The Holy Father said his encyclical was dedicated to the "global horizon of the social question," which has become in our time a "radically anthropological question."

He explained: "The solutions to the current problems of humanity cannot be merely technical, but must take account of all the needs of the person, who is endowed with soul and body, and must thus take the Creator, God, into consideration.

"The 'absolutism of technology,' which finds its highest expression in certain practices that are contrary to life, could design gloomy scenarios for the future of humanity.

"The deeds that do not respect the true dignity of the person, even when they seem to be based on a 'loving decision,' are in reality the fruit of a 'materialistic and mechanistic understanding of human life' that reduces love without truth to 'an empty shell, filled in an arbitrary way' and could in this way lead to negative effects for integral human development."

"Despite the complexity of the current situation of the world," Benedict XVI concluded, "the Church looks to the future with hope and reminds Christians that 'the proclamation of Christ is the first and principal factor of development.'

Friday, July 10, 2009

Vatican Statement on Public Health/Geneva

Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, at the 2009 High-Level Segment

of the Economic and Social Council

Geneva, 9 July 2009



Madame President,



1. The international community is struggling to find solutions to the financial and economic crisis that greed and lack of ethical responsibility have brought about. While analysts debate the causes of the crisis, the social consequences of new poverty, loss of jobs, malnutrition and stifled development, all impact the most vulnerable groups of people and therefore call for effective and prompt answers. The Delegation of the Holy See appreciates the fact that the focus of attention is directed in this High-Level Segment, in a most timely manner, on “Current global and national trends and their impact on social development, including public health.” The global economic crisis continues unabated. It is exacerbated by the emergence of a previously unknown influenza virus, A-H1N1 already recognized at pandemic proportion with a future impact that cannot be projected with much certainty, and by the global food security crisis that endangers the lives of millions of people, particularly the world’s poorest, many of whom already suffer from acute and chronic malnutrition. These examples show once again the link between poverty and health and the disproportionate burden on developing countries and even on the poor in the developed ones. Faced with such urgent global challenges, the future is mortgaged in a way that young people risk to inherit a severely compromised economic system, a society without cohesion, and a planet damaged in its sustainability as a home for the whole human family.



2. The Holy See Delegation notes with deep concern predictions by the World Bank that during 2009, an additional 53 to 65 million people will be trapped in extreme poverty and that the number of people chronically hungry will exceed one billion, 800 million of whom live in rural areas where public health is weakest and where innovative health care initiatives are urgent . We can reasonably conclude that significant numbers of those extremely poor and hungry people will be more at risk of contracting both communicable and chronic, non-communicable diseases. Moreover, if they are faced with cutbacks in international aid or if there is an increased number of people seeking care, the already fragile public health systems in developing countries will not be able to respond adequately to the health needs of their most vulnerable citizens. In addressing this problem, even more than an expression of solidarity, it is a matter of justice to overcome the temptation to reduce public services for a short-term benefit against the long-term human cost. In the same line, aid for development should be maintained and even increased as a critical factor in renewing the economy and leading us out of the crisis.



Madame President,



3. Another key obstacle to achieving the internationally articulated goals in public health is to address the inequalities that exist both between countries and within countries, and between racial and ethnic groups. Tragically, women continue in many regions to receive poorer quality health care. This situation is well known to people and institutions working on the ground. The Catholic Church sponsors 5,378 hospitals, 18,088 health clinics, 15,448 homes for the elderly and disabled, and other health care programmes throughout the world, but especially in the most isolated and marginalized areas and among people who rarely enjoy access to health care provided under national, provincial or district level governmental health schemes. In this regard, special attention is given to Africa, where the Catholic Church has pledged to continue to stand alongside the poorest people in this continent in order to uphold the inherent dignity of all persons.



4. There is an increasing recognition that a plurality of actors, in the respect of the principle of subsidiarity, contribute to the implementation of the human right to primary health care. Among the civil society organizations assuring health care within various national systems, the programmes sponsored by the Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations stand out as key stakeholders. WHO officials have acknowledged that such organizations “provide a substantial portion of care in developing countries, often reaching vulnerable populations living under adverse conditions.” [1] However, despite their excellent and documented record in the field of HIV service delivery and primary health care, faith-based organizations do not receive an equitable share of the resources designated to support global, national and local health initiatives.



5. The mere quantitative tracking of aid flows and the multiplication of global health initiatives alone may not be sufficient to assure “Health for All”. Access to primary health care and affordable life-saving drugs is vital to improving global health and fostering a shared globalized response to the basic needs of all. In an increasingly interdependent world, even sickness and viruses have no boundaries, and therefore, greater global cooperation becomes not only a practical necessity, but more importantly, an ethical imperative of solidarity. However, we must be guided by the best healthcare tradition that respects and promotes the right to life from conception until natural death for all regardless of race, disability, nationality, religion, sex and socio-economic status. Failure to place the promotion of life at the center of health care decisions results in a society in which an individual’s absolute right to basic health care and life would be limited by the ability to pay, by the perceived quality of life and other subjective decisions which sacrifice life and health in exchange for short-term social, economic and political advantage.



6. In conclusion, Madame President, the Holy See Delegation wishes to call attention to the need for more than financial solutions to the challenges posed by the economic crisis to global efforts aimed at assuring universal access to health care. In his new encyclical Pope Benedict XVI states:

Economic activity cannot solve all social problems through the simple application of commercial logic . This needs to be directed towards the pursuit of the common good , for which the political community in particular must also take responsibility . [2]

An ethical approach to development is needed which implies a new model of global development centered on the human person rather than profit, and inclusive of the needs and aspirations of the entire human family.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] DeCock, Kevin (2007), “Faith-based organizations play a major role in HIV/AIDS care and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa,” as quoted in press release by the World Health Organisation, 9 February 2007, Washington, D.C.

[2] Benedict XVI, Encyclical letter Caritas in veritate , n. 36.

Vatican Communique: Benedict and President Obama

This afternoon, Friday 10 July 2009, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received in Audience the President of the United States of America, His Excellency Mr. Barack H. Obama. Prior to the Audience, the President met His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, and also His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

In the course of their cordial exchanges the conversation turned first of all to questions which are in the interests of all and which constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the true progress of peoples, such as the defence and promotion of life and the right to abide by one’s conscience.

Reference was also made to immigration with particular attention to the matter of reuniting families.

The meeting focused as well upon matters of international politics, especially in light of the outcome of the G8 Summit. The conversation also dealt with the peace process in the Middle East, on which there was general agreement, and with other regional situations. Certain current issues were then considered, such as dialogue between cultures and religions, the global economic crisis and its ethical implications, food security, development aid especially for Africa and Latin America, and the problem of drug trafficking. Finally, the importance of educating young people everywhere in the value of tolerance was highlighted.

Holy See Calls for Health Care Aid

Warns That Sickness Has No Borders

VATICAN CITY, JULY 9, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- The Holy See is affirming that developing countries need continued aid, especially with health care, if the world is to recover from the current economic crisis.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, stated this today.

He gave the address at a High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council on "Current global and national trends and their impact on social development, including public health."

The archbishop expressed concern for the World Bank predictions that 53-65 million more people will fall into extreme poverty by the end of this year, and that the number of "chronically hungry people" will exceed one billion.

The prelate affirmed that 80 0 million of these live in areas with weak public health systems, and that "innovative health care initiatives are urgent."

Moreover, he pointed out, if there are cutbacks in international aid due to the economic recession, or if there is an increased number of people seeking health care, the "already fragile public health systems in developing countries" will be unable to care for "their most vulnerable citizens."

The archbishop called for a solution to this problem, as an expression of solidarity as well as a "matter of justice."

He explained that justice demands overcoming the "temptation to reduce public services for a short-term benefit against the long-term human cost."

Critical factor

Archbishop Tomasi added that "aid for development should be maintained and even increased as a critical factor in renewing the economy and leading us out of the crisis."
< br />He pointed out that inequalities in public health must be eliminated, "between countries and within countries, and between racial and ethnic groups."

The prelate emphasized the situation of women, who in many regions "receive poorer quality health care."

He underlined the Catholic Church's commitment to help in the "most isolated and marginalized areas and among people who rarely enjoy access to health care."

In particular, the archbishop pledged the Church's help in Africa, the dedication to "stand alongside the poorest people in this continent in order to uphold the inherent dignity of all persons."

"In an increasingly interdependent world," he pointed out, "even sickness and viruses have no boundaries, and therefore, greater global cooperation becomes not only a practical necessity, but more importantly, an ethical imperative of solidarity."

This health care must be guided by the "best" tradition, Archbishop Tomasi added, that respects the "right to life from conception until natural death for all regardless of race, disability, nationality, religion, sex and socio-economic status."

He highlighted the need to find "more than financial solutions to the challenges posed by the economic crisis to global efforts aimed at assuring universal access to health care."

Quoting Benedict XVI's latest encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," he stated, "Economic activity cannot solve all social problems through the simple application of commercial logic."

The prelate called for an "ethical approach to development" that is "centered on the human person rather than profit."

This model, he added, must include "the needs and aspirations of the entire human family."

--- --- ---

On ZENIT's Web page:

Full tex t: http://zenit.org/article-26415?l=english

Sunday, July 5, 2009

MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for July 5, 2009

Providing Help. Creating Hope.


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. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)





On Sunday (Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B) we read from the Gospel of Mark that Jesus is not really welcomed in his own hometown. The local residents are not sure who this local guy is and what gives him the authority and right to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The first reading from the prophet Ezekiel tells of his call to be a prophet in the world. St Paul in the second reading talks about how he constantly is reminded of his weaknesses but that this weakness to proclaim the Good news is truly a strength.

As Catholic Charities we are called sometimes to be prophets in our own land -- locally and nationally. Sometimes people are not ready to hear the challenges we bring to the social order and may even be opposed to our positions. Think of our positions on abortion and immigration: not everyone agrees with our total commitment to human life and dignity. But that is what we must do: constantly proclaim the Good News, despite our own weaknesses and opposition by others. Our faith demands no less.

N.B. Please consider joining our new Twitter account, CCDOY, for current updates and calls to action that we can all use.

Some important date(s) this week:


TUESDAY JULY 7. Pope Benedict XVI will accept and publish his new encyclical Caritas in Veritate which will address the social and economic challenges of today by exploring the current economic crisis, poverty, globalization, ecology and personal and corporate ethics. The publication of the encyclical will offer dioceses, parishes, schools and campus ministries a “teachable moment,” especially with the interest that will be generated in the Church’s teaching on economic life in light of the current economic crisis.

TUESDAY JULY 7. Sharing Hope in Tough Times Workshop



Are you concerned about job loss and the state of the economy?

Are you interested in helping those who are struggling in these tough times?
If you answered “yes” to either of the above questions, join us.

What: Sharing Hope in Tough Times “Core Team Development” session.

Learn more about two programs that can be adapted for use at your parish or in your community.

Where: Holy Family Hall at Blessed Sacrament Parish - 3020 Reeves Rd. NE, Warren, Ohio 44483

When: 6:30 p.m.

Who: Parish representatives are asked to attend and learn more about helping those looking for work and dealing with economic stress.

Sponsored by Catholic Charities, Offices of Social Action and Social Services, Diocese of Youngstown

Sharing Hope in Tough Times is a Catholic Charities initiative to engage the Church in ministering to people who have been adversely impacted by the economic crisis. Recognizing that the needs of those impacted are varied and multi-dimensional, Sharing Hope in Tough Times attempts to address spiritual, emotional and material concerns resulting from our troubled economy.

The session on July 7 is free and open to the public. You do not have to live or work in Trumbull County to attend. For more information, contact George Garchar or Rachel Hrbolich at 330-744-8451, or Terry Supancic at 330-372-2215.


In their November 1996 statement, A Catholic Framework for Economic Life, the U. S. Catholic Bishops state, “a fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are faring.” This Independence Day, pray for those most impacted by the current economic conditions in our country, and for our government leaders who have the great responsibility of developing solutions to this crisis.


PAPAL INTENTIONS:



JULY 2008
General:
That there may be an increase in the number of those who volunteer to serve the Christian community with generous and prompt availability
Mission:
That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, may kindle the fire of divine love in numerous young people and render them sowers of hope for a new humanity





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, July 3, 2009

Holy See Requests Tangible Relief for the Needy Urges UN to Support Sustainable Economy

NEW YORK, JULY 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

The Holy See is underlining the need to help the poorest countries during the recession, and to find ethical solutions in order to build a sustainable economy for the future.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, affirmed this June 26 in a conference on "The World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development."

"We must not forget that it is poor people both in developed and in developing countries who suffer most and who are least able to defend themselves against the impact of this crisis," he said.

At the end of April, the prelate reported, the World Bank estimated that "an additional 55 million to 90 million people will now be trapped i n extreme poverty in 2009" and the "number of chronically hungry people is expected to climb to over 1 billion individuals this year.

"Thus, he said, the Holy See is underlining the "compelling moral obligation to address these worsening social and economic disparities, which undermine the basic dignity of so many of the world's inhabitants.

"Church institutions worldwide are using the momentum to build "new structures of solidarity" and to call for a "redirection of the natiorecnal and global financial and economic systems toward the principles of justice, solidarity and subsidiarity," the archbishop affirmed.

He continued: "Given the vulnerability of so many of the world's poor, we endorse the proposed approach to protect them with short-term stabilization measures while using longer-term measures to help ensure sustainable financial flows and reduce the likelihood of this crisis reoccurring. These short-term actions should bring "tangible relief within a reasonable time period," he added.

Looking ahead

Longer-term goals, Archbishop Migliore stated, should focus on supporting sustainability.He lauded the commitments made at the Group of 20 London Summit last April to "make available more than $1 trillion in additional assistance," but noted that only a "small part of this" was "targeted for the poorest developing countries.

"The prelate underlined the importance of giving "adequate financial assistance" to these countries.He also expressed support for "measures aimed at strengthening food security, the protection of social expenditures, and, more generally, a people-centered focus of public expenditure."The prelate continued: "Underlying the current economic crisis is an ideology which places individuals and individual desir es at the center of all economic decisions.

 "The practice of economics has reflected this ideological focus and has sought to remove values and morality from economic discussions rather than seeking to integrate these concerns into creating a more effective and just financial system.

"The archbishop underlined the need to give priority to the poorest countries and to adopt an "ethical approach" in "economics by those active in international markets, in politics by those in public office," and to "allow for inclusive participation by all members of civil society."

--- --- ---On ZENIT's Web page:Full text: www.zenit.org/article-26343?l=english

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Bishops Call for Migration Summit

Say No Church Member Is a Foreigner

TECUN UMAN, Guatemala, JULY 1, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- Bishops of different nations are urging their civil leaders to hold a conference in order to discuss the problems presented by migration and possible solutions.

The prelates stated this in a message released at the close of a June 2-4 meeting of representatives from the bishops' conferences of the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

The conference was held in Tecun Uman on the topic of migration issues, with the goal of finding a way to contribute to policies that respect human dignity and protect life.

The bishops' statement affirmed the current "privileged moment in the history of migration," shown by the efforts of various co untries to confront the problem.

"There is no time to lose," the prelates affirmed. Every day migrants confront a "very dangerous journey," in which they "suffer harassments, assaults from smugglers and human traffickers, as well as drug cartels."

The statement underlined the need to attend to the groups of organized crime that "in many cases operate with impunity along the borders" and within many countries.

These violations against the human rights of migrants "have notably increased," it affirmed, and until now the local authorities have not done anything to stop them.

The bishops noted a particular concern for the impact of immigration on familial unity, especially for the children who may be left alone or forced to work in order to sustain the family.

Public welcome

In our countries, they affirmed, "public opinion regarding the phenomenon of immigration is ver y weak, and there is not a clear consciousness about the problem of human trafficking."

Even worse, they continued, in many cases migrants are seen as "criminals and delinquents."

Citing the principles of the Church's social doctrine, the prelates acknowledged that every person "has the right to reside in their homeland and migrate when their countries do not offer them opportunities for their well being."

They continued, "Although it is true that each country has the right to strengthen its borders to promote internal security, it is also true that we are a Church without borders and that there is a universal common good, which implies a moral obligation for countries to protect the dignity of human beings."

"It gives us great sadness," they stated, "when we see that within our own parish communities the migrants are not welcomed and are cared for as brothers in the faith and members of the same family."

The prelates emphasized, "No one in the Church is a foreigner."

The statement urged civil leaders to come together in a regional summit in order to reach a consensus on the themes of immigration and development, to strategize for cooperative solutions.

The bishops also appealed to all Catholics to welcome migrants into the parish communities, to support them along the "long and tiring journey" they have undertaken.