The Lord has died and risen, and like the apostles, we are left now with his mysterious presence, alive in our hearts and bidding us to bring his peace to the world. And the world needs it! Holy Week attacks in various communities, human trafficking in Mexico, the legacy of Catholic sins with Native American Boarding Schools, continued gun violence in the United States, and many other issues - all beg for the healing of God’s justice, which is ours to help enact. | |
CMSM is pleased to announce a compilation of JPIC resources available for JPIC coordinators or leaders of communities in the new Member Content area of our website. If you are interested in gaining access to these resources, please email David Rohrer Budiash (droherbudiash@cmsm.org) for instructions on how to sign up. | |
Immigration Stories from CLINIC | |
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) has started publishing stories about immigration and asylum seekers. The first installment of the interactive series is now available. It is about a Nicaraguan family fleeing political persecution and the dangerous and harrowing journey to the United States. See the story here. | |
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“Doctrine of Discovery” and Native American Boarding Schools
The “doctrine of discovery” (a phrase coined in the United States in 1823), a claim that the papacy gave legitimacy to the exploitation of colonized lands via several papal bulls in the 15th and 16th centuries, has been formally repudiated by the Dicasteries for Promoting Integral Human Development and Culture and Education. Michael Cardinal Czery, SJ, Prefect of IHD, indicated in an interview that doctrine’s history is complicated and likely didn’t play a big role in colonization, but various Native American communities had asked for a formal repudiation, and the Dicasteries granted it.
Read the declaration here and Czerny’s interview here.
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Vos Estis Lux Mundi
On March 25, the Holy See released an update of the motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi (You are the light of the world). It includes several important updates, including expanding the scope of those covered to leaders of lay associations and separating the term “vulnerable person” from those with diminished mental capacity.
Read the text here and coverage here.
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Louisiana Governor Moves to End Death Penalty as Pro-Life State
Although politicians will often call for an end to abortion or the death penalty, it is far less common for a state to call for an end to both, especially on explicitly pro-life terms. Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, called for an end to the death penalty in his final State of the State address to help enact his vision of Louisiana being a “pro-life state.” Louisiana already has an abortion ban in place.
Read the address here and coverage here.
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Rahmim Network: Mexico ranks first in human trafficking and child abuse
Sister Karina de la Rosa Morales, a sister with the Xavierian Missionary Sisters of Mary, is a member of the Rahamim network, a group of Mexican religious fighting against human trafficking. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) claimed in a January report that Mexico has “first place in human trafficking, child abuse, organ selling, sex tourism, child abduction, and child pornography.” The International Conference on Tourism and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children estimated that pre-COVID, about one pedophile per minute entered Mexico.
Read more here.
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Louisville archbishop prays for victims of Easter Monday shooting
Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville asked for prayers for those involved in an Easter Monday shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, which left five people dead and at least eight others injured. Archbishop Fabre reminded us, “Even though our hope is renewed we still love in the shadow of the cross,” and gave condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the shooting.
Read more here.
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A Deadly Holy Week
Across the globe, a series of attacks left a trail of destruction through Holy Week. In north-central Nigeria, at least 94 people reportedly have died in a series of attacks throughout Holy Week. In Ethiopia, two Catholic Relief Services workers were shot and killed on Easter Sunday. In the Holy Land, a series of attacks resulted in a spiral of violence, with police retaliation and rocket attacks after the police retaliation.
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- Webinar: America’s Real Sister Act: The Hidden History of Black Catholic Nuns in the United States
- Thursday, April 27 | 5:00-6:30 pm CT
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Read more here.
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Webinar: Revitalizing Our Church Communities Through Ecological Education (Laudato Si’ Action Platform)
- May 4, 2023 | TBD
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Read more here.
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Webinar: The Letter: A Message For Our Earth Documentary, A Vehicle For Promoting Political And Social Ecological Commitments (Laudato Si’ Action Platform)
- June 1, 2023 | TBD
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Read more here.
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