Greetings!
The Social Concerns Ministry of St. Michael Parish in Livermore has asked CCOP's Social Justice Committee to share information with them, and our committee readily agreed. They have a weekly blog, http://stm-scm.blogspot.com/, and a Facebook page, scm page. The blog contents appear in the weekly bulletin for St. Michael Parish.
Comments are welcome. Write to socialjustice@catholicsofpleasanton.org.. . |
Join the Campaign to End Use of Death Penalty
It's official!
On Monday, April 23rd, the California Secretary of State announced that the SAFE California Act officially qualified and will appear on the November 2012 ballot. SAFE CA is looking for volunteers to host house parties or parish get-togethers to educate fellow Catholics and neighbors about the need to pass this act. Please visit www.safecalifornia.org
and sign up to volunteer today.
As lay Catholics we are actively encouraged to follow Catholic Social Teaching, which has remained consistently clear, that moral conditions for the use of the death penalty don't exist in the United States. That has been the position of the USCCB for three decades. Pope John Paul II reframed the arguments about the death penalty and enhanced our present teaching against its use in the United States.
This past November, Pope Benedict XVI, said, "I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order."
In the words of the California Catholic Bishops when they recently endorsed SAFE CA., "Justice should uphold human dignity as it protects the community".
Here is a link to the SAFE CA qualification blog by Jeanne Woodford, a Catholic, who was also the former warden at San Quentin Prison. Please help us share the good news! Blog
The Social Justice Forum that was held at Holy Names University on February 11, 2012, included a workshop on organizing to end the death penalty in California. The workshop is described here.
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It's Not Too Late - Join the Hunger Walk in Person or in Spirit
You still can register for the Hunger Walk, Saturday, April 28. It is a three mile loop walk starting at St. Elizabeth Seton. You can register in person starting at 9:00 A.M. The walk starts at 9:30.
You can participate in spirit (and not walk) by registering and donating to Catholic Relief Services or another international humanitarian organization of your choice.
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Action Alerts
Catholics Confront Global Poverty (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops & Catholic Relief Services
Raise your voice and take action today!
Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9)
California Catholic Conference - Catholic Legislative Network
For Action Alerts for the California Legislature you are urged to keep watching CLN Alerts because bills are moved to different committees on a daily basis. |
Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 28, 9:00 A.M. registration, 9:30 A.M. three mile loop walk begins Tri-Valley Hunger Walk, see www.BayAreaHungerWalk.org
St. Elizabeth Seton Church 4001 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, 94688
Thursday, May 3, 7:00 P.M. Social Justice Committee meeting "Cry Room" of St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Pleasanton
Wednesday, May 9, 7:00 - 8:00 P.M. Peace Vigil sponsored by Pleasantonians 4 Peace, http://www.pleasantonians4peace.org/ Meet in front of Pleasanton Museum, 603 Main Street, Pleasanton
Friday, May 11, 5:30 - 8:00 P.M. Kickoff Celebration of East Bay Housing Organizations 16th Annual Housing Week Uptown Body & Fender 401 26th Street, Oakland www.ebho.org |
Brief Links
Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty, Mobilizing
Death Penalty - SAFE California, Safe CA
California Catholic Conference articles on the death penalty, Articles
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