Prayer
Advent is upon us. Sr. Cj Willie, SC, is generously sharing her Advent reflections again this year. Her theme is Listening, and she invites anyone to submit quotes on listening as well as photos for these reflections. You may email them to me, and I will forward to Sr Cj. I have attached the Third Week reflections for your use.
Advocacy and Action
Today I learned that the Ohio Legislature has over 1000 bills in various stages in process during this Lame Duck session. Many think that it is an attempt to make it so confusing that advocates simply give up. But we can’t give up! There are several voter suppression bills that are of acute concern. These bills are aimed at making it even harder for marginalized people and those made poor to have their voices heard. There are bills that will make it legal for any voter to protest a candidate’s run for office. Bills that will ban all drop boxes, making voting for elderly or disabled persons that much more difficult. Ohioans to Stop Extremism is a good source for information about these things. Their opinions on bills to support and oppose do not always match our Catholic teachings, but there are many, particularly centered around democracy and education, that are imperative to track. Please consider informing yourself and engaging in democracy on a state level. It is where we will have most impact.
Don’t Forget! - The Cincinnati Immigrant Dignity Coalition through Ignite Peace (a local justice organization the Ohio Province helped start and continues to support) is mobilizing in anticipation of raids on workplaces in the coming months. They are planning for what to do for children who come home from school after parents have been taken into custody, or households whose main breadwinner is deported. They invite all of us to discern what we can do to help. There are 6 teams in the Rapid Response plans - Grassroots Organizing, Humanitarian Services, Legal Services, Policy and Advocacy, Volunteer Coordination, and Communications and Media. What way can you help? Perhaps you write well. Perhaps you are a community organizer? Perhaps you have space for temporary housing? All ways we can help our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Education and Information
Recording Available! Last Tuesday, the Georgetown University Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted a public dialogue titled What Do We Do Now? Catholic Responsibilities, Opportunities After the Election and Synod. I didn’t know when I posted this last week, but our very own Sister Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, was involved in the sessions that led up to this presentation. The event explored how American Catholics and people of good can bring principles of Catholic social thought—human life and dignity, family and community, solidarity and subsidiarity, priority for the poor and care for creation—into U.S. public life more effectively and consistently?