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August 29, 2011
Martyrdom of John the Baptist
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Harden Not Your Hearts
 The readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time offer an interesting tension. In the first reading, we hear that God has appointed us to be "watchman for the house" (Ez 33:7). What does it mean to be watchmen for the house? A watchman is generally thought of as a protector, someone who makes sure nothing bad happens to people and property. In this passage, are we being charged with caring for all of God's creation? What does this mean? In the second reading, we receive a clearer understanding when the author writes, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom 13:9).
In Genesis Cain asks God, "Am I my brother's keeper"? God very clearly answers that question in Ezekiel. But is it enough for me to be a "good person," to give charity, to help out when we see someone in need? Is that all God is telling us to do? What about when we see someone not loving their neighbor, not welcoming the stranger? We often hear people say it is not their responsibility to take care of the marginalized, the poor. When our neighbors and fellow parishioners support government policies and budgets that go against the "Consistent Ethic of Life," should we remain quiet?
As a result of the recent debt deal, billions upon billions of dollars will be cut from programs such as those that feed the hungry and provide medicine for the poor, while maintaining billions upon millions of tax breaks for oil companies and the purchase of luxury yachts. If we sit idly by and say nothing, are we being good watchmen? God didn't say it is enough to be a good person, to try and help those in need. Ez 33:8 clearly says what will happen to us if we do not speak out against injustice: If "you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death."
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Responding to the Word: Ask Your Senators to Support the DREAM Act
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Please urge the entire Senate to support the DREAM Act and give thousands of deserving students a chance to be legal residents.
Call, and/or e-mail your Senators to encourage them to support S. 952, the DREAM Act of 2011. You can call their Washington office via the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121.
Take further action by going to the Justice for Immigrants website to send an electronic postcard to President Obama asking him to protect innocent DREAM youth from deportation. You can also find out how your parish can participate in the upcoming Pray for the DREAM events Sept. 18-Oct. 9.
More information on the DREAM Act:
S. 952, the DREAM Act of 2011, would authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children. Applicants must have entered the U.S. before age 16, they must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years prior to the DREAM Act becoming law, they must pass a criminal background check and the must not have turned 35 when the act becomes law. The DREAM Act is not an alternative to comprehensive immigration reform but a step in the right direction.
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Take a Survey to Share Your Views on Climate Change
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Stand in Peaceful Opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline
 TODAY (August 29, 2011), Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM and Fr. Erick Lopez, OFM join other faith leaders to risk arrest in peaceful opposition to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The State Department is considering whether to approve Keystone XL, a proposed pipeline from tar sands oil extraction in Alberta, Canada to refineries in Texas.
Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM and Fr. Erick Lopez, OFM explain why they are willing to risk arrest
You can sign up to participate (through Sept. 3) on the Tar Sands Action website. If you sign up for the interfaith witness, please also email Rose Berger to ensure that you receive information related to that event.
 The following resources provide further information about the tar sands:
- Four-page fact sheet
- Reflection from Sr. Dawn Nothwehr, OSF, professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago
- January 2009 pastoral letter from Bishop Luc Bouchard of the St. Paul Diocese, located in the tar sands area
- If you cannot participate in person, you can sign a petition online
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FAN Members Join in GreenFaith Fellowship Program
Dennis Testerman, OEF, who features in the DVD that accompanies FAN's C4C: Franciscan Care for Creation program, joins Sr. Jackie Keefe, CSSF in the next class of the GreenFaith Fellowship Program. As members of FAN, Sr. Jackie and Dennis receive scholarships towards their program tuition.
To learn more about the GreenFaith's Fellowship Program and the Certification Program, please visit the GreenFaith website. You can also participate in an informational webinar about the Certification Program on Monday, Sept. 19 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. EDT. E-mail Stacey Kennealy to register.
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SAVE THE DATE: Join FAN for a Webinar on Hydro-Fracking
 SAVE THE DATE (and time)! Please join us for FAN's webinar on hydro-fracking: Wed., Sept. 21, 3-4 p.m. EDT Prof. Rob Jackson, PhD of the Nicholas School for Environmental Sciences at Duke University will share his hydro-fracking expertise with us, and Sr. Caryn Crook, OSF (Neumann Communities) will lead us in applying Franciscan values to the challenge of hydro-fracking. Registration details coming soon. You can also read a FAN blog post from intern Ben Feuerherd (St. Francis College) on hydro-fracking.
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Everybody Loves Francis: Ways to Observe St. Francis' Feast St. Francis Pledge The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change offers the St. Francis Pledge and other resources to feature in preparation for and celebration of the Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4.  Forthcoming resources include: - "Friending Planet Earth: Helping Youth Understand Solidarity and Sustainability in Light of Climate Change": A five-session learning program designed for high school students (in schools or in youth groups). Done in partnership with the Center for Ministry Development.
- Toolkits for: Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education and Parish Implementation of the Pledge.
- A revised JustMatters module on care for creation in collaboration with JustFaith Ministries: excellent for adult religious education programs.
- The announcement of the St. Francis Pledge Award for elementary and secondary schools sponsored by the National Council of Catholic Women.
Please join with us to help promote the St. Francis Pledge as part of what it means to Care for Creation and Care for the Poor: two values by which St. Francis lived and through which his example continues to inspire millions around the world.
Learn more by going to the Catholic Climate Covenant: St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor website. St. Francis Day in a Box 2011
This year, the Humane Society of the U.S. partners with St. Anthony Messenger press to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with a box full of books, DVDs, and an audio book of Murray Bodo, OFM's "Francis: The Journey and the Dream."
You can check out the resources and order a box online.
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Lord our God,
in your justice and mercy meet.
With unparalleled love you have saved us from death
and drawn us into the circle of your life.
Open our eyes to the wonders this life sets before us,
that we may serve you free from fear
and address you as God our Father.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
[Prayer for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time]
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Mission Statement
Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus, and the example of saints Francis and Clare, the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) is a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform U.S. public policy related to peacemaking, care for creation, poverty, and human rights. |
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