Election-year workshops on the U.S. bishops' document "Faithful Citizenship," promoting the work with Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and an art exhibit on Rwandan genocide are among the current activities of the archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission and the Office of Justice and Peace.
These efforts and more were outlined at a recent meeting with Commission members and Cardinal Roger Mahony at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center. The meeting also included the introduction of new members.
"Orphans of the Rwanda Genocide: Portraits of Survival and Hope," is an exhibit at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on the 1994 Rwandan genocide with a special focus on the survivors. The exhibit opens in July and runs through early October.
"With this exhibit we honor the memory of the victims of this horrific and preventable genocide," said Cathy Crayton, a Commission member on the exhibit committee. "Even more, visitors to the Cathedral will be profoundly moved by the marvelous spirit of hope and courage of the survivors depicted in the photographic images."
Included in the exhibit will be an opportunity to learn more about the social mission of the Church through the work of Catholic Relief Services in Rwanda, and elsewhere in the world.
This week, the Commission coordinated two workshops on "Faithful Citizenship," a document updated regularly by the U.S. bishops as guide to helping Catholic voters in their election year choices. Other activities include continued meetings with the consulates and education in the parishes on the Justice for Immigrants (JFI) campaign; a new environmental initiative; and preparations for the Cardinal's Public Policy Breakfast in September, expected to address adult prisons ("New Home for Our Children?").
"It's very exciting to see our church putting its own teachings and the values of Jesus into action," said Allis Druffel, Commission chair for the coming year. "The Archdiocesan Synod named Social Justice as a focal issue and there is a great deal of action being taken by the Commission and the regional committees to make this a reality."
On the issue of immigration reform, Cardinal Mahony spoke of his hope that 2009 will be the year for passage of comprehension immigration reform based on respect and fairness. The presumptive presidential candidates of the two major parties, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, have expressed support for comprehension reform.
Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, Office of Justice and Peace director, presented the latest on the JFI campaign, including convening consuls of five foreign governments and leaders of local faith-based and community organizations to address the stepped-up workplace raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Commission is available to provide workshops to parishes, exploring the Catholic perspective on immigration and the Gospel-based responsibility of Catholics to treat undocumented immigrants with dignity, compassion and love.
Cardinal Mahony supported the "Restorative Justice" theme of this year's Public Policy Breakfast that will focus on focus on viewing the criminal justice system through the lens of faith which includes healing and restoration and not merely punishment. Specifically, the Commission plans to work for the defeat of the so-called Runner Initiative ("Criminal Penalties and Law Statute'), that would mandate the processing of juveniles convicted of a felony through the adult system. The Los Angeles City Council recently opposed this measure by a vote of 9-1. "There is a lot of heat around issues such as these but not a lot of light", said Cardinal Mahony.
Four new Justice and Peace Commission members from a variety of backgrounds were introduced at the meeting: St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Marilyn Rudy, co-founder of Eartheart Organic Garden; Deacon Jaime Abrera Jr., of St. Francis Xavier Church, Burbank; Rocky Domingo, Religion chair of Bishop Amat High School, La Puente; and Christopher Gabriele, director of POWER (People Organized for Westside Renewal).
Other members of the Commission, in addition to Crayton and Druffel, are George Crook, Tony Fadale (vice chair), Social Service Sister Anne Field, Robert Gutierrez, Dominican Sister Mary Sean Hodges, Alice Linsmeier, Ramon Posada, Bernadette Robert, and Deacon John Steele. The outgoing members are Deacon Manuel Valencia, vice chair Judy Girard and Company of Mary Sister Claudia Romero.
Representatives of the regional social justice committees are Joe Esseff, Santa Barbara; Joe Lusnia, San Gabriel; and Frances Jonte, San Pedro. Two new members will be named to represent the San Fernando and Our Lady of the Angels Regions.
Ex-officio members include Bishop Solis, director; Social Service Sister Gail Young, program coordinator; Joan Harper, program consultant; and Aquilina Soriano and Cambria Smith, former commission chairs. In addition, the work of the office is supported by Sergio Lopez, a CCHD intern, and Pia and Anselm Varni, CRS volunteers. |