Prayer
The Peace Center of the Clinton Franciscans and 14 other co-sponsoring religious communities, including the Ohio Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, will host a Prayer for Peace on August 6 at 7:00 ET. It is in remembrance of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II and a call for peace in our world. REGISTER.
Advocacy and Action
Three things we know: the ecological crisis is here, it’s getting worse, and one thing we can do to fight climate change is talk about it. The Laudato SI’ Movement invites you to do exactly that. The more we talk about it, the more we invite each other and ourselves to factor in the ecological crisis as we make decisions, both short and long-term.
Join them for a series of three conversations to learn how we can approach the ecological crisis in light of our faith, with our communities and families, during the 2024 Season of Creation (Sept 1-Oct 4).
August 12: Hope and Act with Creation: Maximizing our Impact
August 19: Managing resistance: How to work with people who don’t support ecological issues in the Church
August 26: Communicating Climate as Catholics
REGISTER.
Education
The Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund has released a statement of gratitude for the work President Biden has helped accomplish for native peoples.
Under President Biden’s administration, federal agencies have signed over 200 Tribal-federal co-stewardship agreements for lands and waters across Turtle Island, rescinded the Keystone XL pipeline’s permit and designated monuments like the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument, which protects the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. He also reinstated protections for Bears Ears National Monument, re-establishing Tribal Nations as collaborative managers of this sacred landscape.
After a cross-country totem pole journey to 10 Tribal Nations called the Red Road to DC, President Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to strengthen and protect Native treaty rights. He also listened to the call to appoint Deb Haaland as the first Native Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, an agency that oversees their ancestral homelands. In addition, President Biden appointed five Native women judges to serve in federal courts, and he has appointed Native people as leaders in his administration.
There is, of course, more to be done to protect indigenous rights. The work will continue to be focused on advocacy and involvement of the next administration, whomever that may be.
Democracy Watch and Resources
Transforming Grace Virtual Prayer Space continues as a way to seriously engage in contemplation during this time in our country, particularly in relationship to the US National Elections.”
Faith and Public Life has started a new podcast/radio show titled Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation.
The USCCB has released new materials for Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. We are invited to read and share these materials, which guide our political responsibility as Catholics and faithful citizens. The information is available in English and Spanish.
New Introductory Note to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: English | Spanish.
The Role of the Church in American Political Life: English | Spanish.
The Dignity of the Human Person: English | Spanish.
The Common Good: English | Spanish.
Solidarity: English | Spanish.
Subsidiarity: English | Spanish.
“In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” — Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13. The USCCB encourages us all to form our conscience and vote! It is a call of our faith.