April 27, 2015
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Pruning Time/Heart Time 

 

Although he was a carpenter by trade, Jesus was familiar with the work of farmers and vine growers. He references wheat, corn, fig trees, mustard seeds, and in today's gospel, vineyards. He knows that productive vines need pruning, and, of course, if a branch is separated from the vine it withers and dies. Recently, I brought my geranium pots up from their winter slumber in the basement. It was time to cut away dead leaves and prune green stalks down close to the soil. Now it's time to feed, water, and watch for growth. One or two plants may not survive, but they deserve a chance after giving so much pleasure last year. 


Pruning can mean severe cutting. After winter frosts, rosebushes are dramatically cut back. The pruner cannot be timid if he or she wants abundant roses to bloom. Perhaps it's pruning time spiritually also. We can be choked by busyness, by self-centeredness, by continual new demands on time and energy. We can feel helpless and discouraged by global violent conflicts, attacks on poor and migrant people, rape of Earth, congressional quagmires. Pruning for the sake of abundant life may not always involve cutting. Perhaps it can mean carving out spaces for contemplation, for re-connecting to our vine, Jesus.

 

In this "pruning" we get in touch with our hearts and remember, gratefully, that "God is greater than our hearts and knows everything" (1 John 3: 20) - our failures, frustrations, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness. In his First Letter, John reminds us that we are "Beloved," and "if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God, because we keep God's commandments," that is, to believe in Jesus and love one another. In this way, we remain in Jesus and Jesus remains in us, branches and vine, bringing forth much fruit. May we move into pruning time without fear or timidity, but with confidence in God because "our hearts do not condemn us."  

 

Sr. Marie Lucey

FAN Director of Advocacy and Member Relations   

 

Suggested Petitions

 

That we remain in Jesus and reach out to the most vulnerable among us as he did, let us pray... 

 

As we delight in spring's beauty, may we do the pruning needed in our hearts, let us pray... 

 

Traditional Gaelic Prayer

As the hand is meant for holding and the eye for seeing,
you have created me for joy, O God.
Share with me in finding that joy everywhere;
in the violet's beauty, in the lark's melody,
in the child's face, in the mother's love,
in the purity of Jesus.
 

 

Amen.  

 

Catholic Group Meets with State Department About Human Trafficking


On April 22nd, representatives of several Catholic groups, including FAN, met with members of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The meeting was arranged by Ryan Murphy, who works with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas during the time when Father Shay Cullen, Columban priest who ministers in the Philippines was in DC for Ecumenical Advocacy Days and congressional briefings along with a trafficking survivor, Marlyn Capio Richter, who shared her story with office staff. Marlyn now works with PREDA, an organization founded by Father Cullen to provide a variety of programs and services to children, youth and women ensnared by human trafficking and prostitution near U.S. military bases.

 

Others who presented perspectives on trafficking were Sr. Jeanne Christensen, RSM, Sr. Denise Boyle, OSF (via phone from Ireland), Ashley Feasley Esq. Policy Advisor to USCCB Migration and Refugee Services, and Sr. Marie Lucey, OSF, FAN. In her brief comments, Sr. Marie addressed trafficking and extractive industries, using examples from last year's program co-sponsored by Franciscans International and FAN in conjunction with the UN Commission on the status of women. State Department committee members were attentive, took notes, shared the 2014 TIP report, and invited the group to submit stories they can use in preparing the 2016 TIP report since the 2015 report is near completion. They were also responsive to a few requests made by members of the group.


One of the resources provided by the State Department is "How Many Slaves Work for You?" a survey that indicates which consumer items most of us use throughout the day, including food, electronics, coffee, sugar, tires and cotton, may be produced by slave labor: www.slaveryfootprint.org. Ways to make a difference are provided.


Postponed to April 28th: Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness to Offer Webinar

Last week, FAN learned from the Church of the Brethren that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Going to the Garden webinar had to be postponed to this week on Tuesday, April 28th, at 7pm. The registration link is still the same and has been updated with the new date.

While there are many causes to crisis in Nigeria, natural resources, both plentiful and scarce, contribute to the ongoing situation. From oil in the south to the rapidly expanding desert in the north many layers of the conflict connect to the environment. This webinar will consider these issues as well as our relationship to them.

As a nation, our consumption of goods is leading to ever increasing strain on our global resources, causing harm to our environment, and is promoting conflicts in parts of the world that have limited resources. The reality of these impacts can be witnessed in the current Nigerian conflict. Join the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness as we discuss the environmental impacts of our actions on our world and our global neighbors in the context of the crisis in Nigeria, as well as how we think about this theologically.

During this second webinar of the Going to the Garden spring series, we will focus on ways to live out the call to love our neighbors through our choices that affect all of creation. Please click here to register for this webinar. Any questions can be directed to kfurrow@brethren.org.
Immigration Updates: A Mother's Day Resource, a Statement and a Webinar

On Mother's Day we honor the special role of motherhood in our families. Our mothers perhaps make the most impact on our childhood in shaping how we are raised and who we become. This Mother's Day we are paying special attention to the crisis we face in regards to mothers and children held in immigration detention facilities.

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition, of which FAN is a part, developed this resource as an educational tool as well as a prayer resource. In it you'll find individual stories of women in various detention facilities, prayer and worship resources as well as a sample script for a call-in day scheduled for May 7th.

Last week the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement urging Congress to improve an in-country refugee program for Central American Minors. FAN applauds the bishops for this bold statement in support of this program, which also suggests addressing the "push factors", or reasons for migration from home country. This is a great step, but we need to do keep working.

Please plan to join Justice for Immigrants for a webinar on Family Detention scheduled for this week. Here are the details:

Date                   Wednesday, April 29th 2015

Time                   2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific

Webinar link       http://usccb.adobeconnect.com/jfi/  

Call-in number   Dial 1-800-446-1162 and use conference code 106181 

Vatican Council: More Than Ever, There's Space for Dialogue With Muslims    

 

With last Sunday's release of another ISIS video depicting the slaying of Christians, today's statement notes, "The events of recent times cause many of us to ask: 'Is there still space for dialogue with Muslims?'. The answer is: yes, more than ever."

 

The statement says this is because, firstly, "the great majority of Muslims themselves do not identify with the current acts of barbarism." The Vatican council observed that today the word "religious" has come to often be associated with "violence," but that "believers must demonstrate that religions are required to be heralds of peace and not violence."

 

"To kill in the name of religion is not only an offense to God, but it is also a defeat for humanity." The statement quotes both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis in condemning violence hiding behind religion.

 

"Unfortunately in recent days we have witnessed a radicalization of community and religious discourse, with the consequent risks of increasing hatred, violence, terrorism and the growing and commonplace stigmatization of Muslims and their religion," the statement noted. "In such a context we are called upon to strengthen fraternity and dialogue."

The statement says that "continuing to engage in dialogue, even when experiencing persecution, can become a sign of hope."

 

It also calls for the courage to review family life, methods of teaching religion and history, and sermons. Citing Pope Francis, the statement adds: "Any violence which seeks religious justification warrants the strongest condemnation because the Omnipotent is the God of life and peace." 

  

Take Action: Email Congress to Reject Fast Track for TPP 

 
As if you needed another reason to be against Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), here it is.

Last week, WikiLeaks posted another chapter of the top secret TPP text. And it's even worse than we feared.

The leaked text shows how the TPP would make it easier for U.S. firms to offshore American jobs to low-wage countries while newly empowering thousands of foreign firms to seek compensation from American taxpayers by challenging U.S. laws and court rulings in unaccountable foreign tribunals.

The devious mechanism revealed in the leaked text, called Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), elevates individual foreign corporations and investors to equal status with sovereign nations, empowering them to privately enforce a public treaty.

I know ISDS sounds too nefarious to be real. But it is all too real. And it is already happening - here and in other countries.
 FAN friends at Public Citizen have developed this easy way to email your members of Congress urging them to reject Fast Track for the corporate-friendly TPP. 

 

This Week: NCMEC Offers Virtual Panel Discussion  
 
 

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), in 2014 one in six endangered runaways were likely sex trafficking victims. We know that runaways and other children are at greater risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking. Despite the media attention, sex trafficking of minors is still a largely underreported problem nationwide. As faith based representatives, how can you impact communities nationwide to take a stand against this issue? Should we take on more of a proactive approach? What prevention resources can be used and how can all faith based organizations collaborate to strengthen efforts?

 

Join NCMEC on Tuesday, April 28th from 2:00-3:30 PM (EST) for a virtual panel discussion, "Faith Based Communities and Child Sex Trafficking: What work is being done? What are we missing?" The panel will feature representatives from multi-denominational faith organizations who are sharing their work, challenges, and positive outcomes. The panelists will also dialogue about the gaps in prevention and what needs faith based communities have.

 

Registration is required to participate in this panel discussion. Please follow these instructions:
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to this website to register.
2. Click "Register"
3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit"
You will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the webinar.

 

Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you on the 28th.

 

If one of these articles has touched your heart, please consider donating to the Franciscan Action Network.  
 
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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