Prayer
This moment in our history calls us to contemplative listening, ongoing dialogue and critical social analysis that move us to action. 2014 SNDdeN Chapter Acts
“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone – any person or any force – dampen, dim, or diminish your light.” -John Lewis
Advocacy and Action
Advocacy over the next few years will be a challenge. But we cannot stop trying to make a difference. Many in the justice and peace community are urging us to focus on local and state issues and candidates, others are thinking of creative ways to still make a difference. I don’t know what our calls for advocacy will entail with the incoming administration, but we will continue to make them. One piece of advice I have received is to continue to be “the gnat in the ear” of those elected officials who are making detrimental decisions on the issues we hold close. Regardless of whether you are excited or anxious about our election results, we will continue to advocate and act on behalf of God’s creation and people on the margins whose dignity is as important as our own. We will stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world.
Today I read the statement from Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University. It helped light a fire under me to get back into action. Don’t agonize, organize!
One immediate advocacy call on the state level is to contact your state representatives and to ask them to support the end to Ohio’s death penalty. We are close in Ohio to ending the death penalty. But we need voices in support. The online tool linked above will help you craft a response.
Our advocacy does not take a break in lame duck sessions either. Last month, the Biden Administration warned the government of Israel that if they continued blocking desperately needed humanitarian aid from getting to millions of starving and injured Palestinians in Gaza within 30 days, the U.S. would consider withdrawing military assistance. Those 30 days have come and gone, and human rights organizations report that the situation is even worse. Will we hold government of Israel accountable? When questioned about this by the press on Tuesday, Biden officials said the U.S. would continue to arm Israel despite them failing to comply with State Department demands. If you agree that the US should follow through with our warning, you can send a letter to the Biden Administration asking them to do that. Use this online tool from Justice Democrats.
Education and Information
It is Black Catholic History Month. I hope you will take time to learn a bit about Black Catholic History in the US and pray for the sainthood causes of the 6 Black American Catholics on the path the sainthood. Check out the National Black Catholic Congress website.
Join the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought for a Dahlgren Dialogue titled Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan, and a Broken World on November 18 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. You can RSVP for the livestream here.
Democracy Watch and Resources
“I cannot do all the good the world needs. But the world needs all the good I can do.”
- Author unknown