Water
The Water Committee is working on a series of educational resources about water accessibility and sustainability. We invite you to reflect on the first piece by Sister Mary Heather, “Spirituality of Water.”
Human Trafficking
Please reflect on this voter guide by The Voices and Faces Project, a World Without Exploitation founding organization: “How to Be An Anti-Exploitation Voter,” an eight-point checklist for candidate consideration.
Before you vote
for any candidate for public office
consider whether they...
Recognize that human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are human rights and gender justice issues that must be elevated in any policy platform or agenda, and addressed through state, federal and international law.
Understand that economic injustice fuels the sex trade, and have a plan for reducing poverty and supporting the social and economic independence of the economically marginalized.
See sexual exploitation as a racial and social justice issue, and actively advocate for policies that address the discrimination faced by Black, Brown, Indigenous and other marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community.
Actively engage with and listen to community-based anti-exploitation advocates and organizations, particularly organizations led by survivors of the sex trade.
Believe that no person who is bought or sold should ever be criminalized or penalized, and oppose any laws that make those who have been sexually exploited vulnerable to prosecution.
Recognize that holding pimps, traffickers and johns accountable for the harms that they cause is critical to ending the consumer demand that drives the sex trade.
Support funding for the vital social services and jobs training programs needed to help those who seek to exit the sex trade rebuild their lives.
Reject dangerous conspiracy theories - like QAnon – that can lead to the spread of harmful myths about human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation that threaten to erode the progress legitimate anti-trafficking groups have made over the last two decades.
Engaging Fratelli Tutti, new encyclical by Pope Francis
Pope Francis released his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, “On Fraternity and Social Friendship,” on October 4th. The new encyclical builds on themes he has emphasized throughout his papacy, such as interconnectedness, encounter, openness, and dialogue, and makes the case that these values should characterize our approach to social and political structures, as well as interpersonal relationships.
- Click here for a reflection by Kathleen Bonnette, Th.D. (Assistant Director, JPIC)
- Click here for a study guide by Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Click here to listen to this ‘Inside the Vatican’ podcast: ‘Fratelli Tutti’ in 5 minutes
Read All About It!
Please read the latest publications by Kathleen Bonnette (JPIC), Can a pro-life Catholic vote for Joe Biden? Vatican II has an answer; and To be truly pro-life, the church must be antiracist. Check out the Read All About It page for more articles by sisters and staff!
In Case You Missed It...
Race Matters
Consider attending Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity: An All-Virtual Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice, hosted by the Catholic Mobilizing Network (October 27, 29, and 31). “Restorative justice is a way of understanding crime and harm in terms of the people and relationships impacted, rather than the law or rule that was broken. Restorative practices seek to repair harm through transformative encounters that model Jesus’ reconciling way. A lived expression of Catholic Social Teaching principles, restorative justice offers a framework for transforming relationships and systems that values human dignity, accountability, healing, and racial equity.”
Immigration
Check out the Immigration Committee’s new voting guide, and remember to vote on or before November 3!
Climate Crisis
Consider attending Kairos Canada’s virtual For the Love of Creation: Fall Forum Series (every Monday evening at 7:30pm EST): Nov 2nd: Communicating Climate Change; Nov 9th: Advocating for Climate Justice; Nov 16th: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting with Creation; Nov 23rd: Creation Care: A Letter of the Faithful; Nov 30th: Climate Action Now!
