This newsletter will be published on the second Saturday of the month from February through June and resume monthly in September.

Contributions of ideas and sources for articles are welcome. Especially welcome are submissions of articles and anyone who is a prospective new editor of the newsletter.
TriValleySocial Justice Issues in the Tri-Valley

Concern for the civilian populations of Israel and Palestine
  
One of the major obstacles to peace in the Middle East is the continuing conflict between Israel and its Islamic neighbors, particularly Palestine. The conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians has involved open warfare and sporadic attacks for almost 70 years, with much suffering by civilians.
  
We in the Tri-Valley can do our part by talking about this terribly sad situation and by demonstrating our concern.

To continue click here.

Tri-Valley Poverty Effort
  
From your Facebook page search for Tri-Valley Anti-Poverty Collaborative to see the latest news from the organization that used to call itself the Tri-Valley Poverty Awareness Initiative. A website will be forthcoming. 
SocialTeachingCatholic Social Teaching and the Real World 

Interfaith Interconnect provides opportunities for members of CCOP to meet with others from the Tri-Valley and learn about their faiths, beliefs and practices. This accords well with Catholic Social Teaching (see section c of the Introduction to the Compendium of the Church's Social Doctrine by clicking here and read the opening words of the Second Vatican Council's encyclical on the Church in the Modern World ("Gaudium et Spes") by clicking here).

Interfaith Interconnect's "Religion Chat" on February 10

This monthly event (normally on the 2nd Wednesday) was held at the Hindu Community and Cultural Center in Livermore. The two announced speakers were Mr. Doug Krotz, who gave the Baha'i perspective and Mr. Sam Stone, who spoke without a religious perspective on the topic "What is your faith's perspective on an afterlife?"
  
Mr. Krotz described Baha'i as a religion that sees commonality across people's religious beliefs. It sees spiritual unity. Baha'i was founded in Persia by the prophet Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th century and given new life 19 years later by a second prophet, Abdu'l-Bahá. (For a fuller picture from Wikipedia click here.)
  
Mr. Stone wanted his audience to know that he reached certain conclusions by careful reasoning and would speak in precise and carefully chosen words. He said that evolution is not just a theory. It is so thoroughly established that it should be regarded as a law. He said that biological evolution from one species to another is a very slow type of evolution. But within the human family there is a much more rapid cultural and technological evolution resulting from the imitation of behavior. He referred to meme theory (discussed in Wikipedia, click here, but much more thoroughly in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (search on the word meme), click here).

To continue click here.
WiderWorldThe Wider World 

Excerpt from an appeal by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, CNEWA

During my years with Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), I've met thousands of people shattered by loss. Many have seen their life thrown into chaos by war in the Middle East. Many more - in Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe - endure poverty they've spent a lifetime trying to escape.
   
In tiny villages, urban slums and refugee camps, some have lost children, spouses or relatives. Many are children themselves. They've watched loved ones perish due to violence, illness or hunger.  You can help them by clicking here. 

Thank you for giving and God bless you,

Msgr. John E. Kozar
President


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