'Justice'
Homily about voting by Tommy King – OFM
Posted on 16. Oct, 2012 by admin.
Here is a homily about being involved in the November elections. It was given by Tommy King, OFM, at St. Boniface Church, San Francisco.
Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi
September 30, 2012
We who live in the United States are experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930’s. You do not need to be reminded of this fact because we have all had personal experiences or know someone who has work hours reduced, lost health care benefits, lost a house and even lost their job completely. Unemployment among Blacks and Hispanics is higher than in other races. Violent crime is up on our already tough neighborhood and drug dealing now takes place constantly on our sidewalks in broad daylight without any shame. Essential government services like education, police and fire services and health care are being greatly reduced. At the same time, we are still involved in two wars that have taken thousands of lives of young soldiers on both sides and has killed even more innocent people, especially women and children. Many of our brothers and sisters from other countries who live and work here are being treated with disdain because they are being falsely accused of “taking jobs away from Americans.” More people are living in poverty and organizations like St. Vincent de Paul, the Gubbio Project and St. Anthony Foundation are being asked to do more with less money.
In the midst of this crisis, political campaigns are now in full swing in anticipation of the elections on November 6th. The Republicans are promoting the “We built it!” slogan and the Democrats proclaiming “We are in this together” with equal determination. I do not know about you, but neither slogan offers me much hope in these difficult times. Brothers and Sisters, I ask you and I ask myself , “As disciples of Jesus Christ, how do we live the hope and joy He calls us to in such difficult times?” “How do we proclaim and live the Gospel in the in our neighborhoods in the fall of 2012?” “How should our faith as Catholic Christians influence us when we vote in November?” I believe the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel and the spiritual wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi offer us refreshing hope. [...]
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CRS/USCCB Action Alert on Syria
Posted on 16. Oct, 2012 by admin.
Send a letter to Secretary Clinton: click here
*Although language is provided in the link, here is some additional language you might consider in your letter: “I ask that you work to ensure the U.S. do all it can to promote an end to the violence by both sides, a social and political solution inclusive of all Syrians, and further assistance in the deepening humanitarian crisis. This includes a call to stop providing assistance to the rebels, and only support the nonviolent movement. I also support small-group, but broad restorative justice efforts not only after the violence, but during it in order to defuse the distrust, bitterness, and anger that maintains this violence.”
See recent post about our Friars in Syria.
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Faith and Food Day
Posted on 07. Sep, 2012 by admin.
Food Day — a nationwide day of observance of that promotes healthier, more affordable, and more sustainable food — will be observed October 24, 2012.
Food Day highlights the need for a system that offers “real food,” produced with care for the environment, animals, and the women and men who grow, harvest, and serve it. Last year Food Day featured more than 2,300 events in all 50 states.
Communities of faith can have a critical role in influencing behavior change and policy around food, agriculture, and nutrition, as well as can affect how food-related services are provided across America. For more information about Food Day, please see the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) newsletter.
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Franciscan Position on the Poor Covered in Mainstream Media
Posted on 15. Aug, 2012 by admin.
The Franciscans’ stance on justice for the poor is finally getting some attention in the mainstream press! The Huffington Post recently posted a story about the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) and its criticism of the economic policies proposed by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. FAN is an advocacy group of Franciscan sisters, friars, Secular Franciscans, and a broad range of others committed to matters of peace and social justice in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Contrary to the headline on The Huffington Post website, the statement criticizing Romney’s campaign rhetoric came from FAN itself, not exclusively the Franciscan friars.
For The Huffington Post story, please click here.
For the original piece on the FAN website, please click here.
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2012 Migrant Trail Walk by Br. David Buer, OFM
Posted on 08. Jun, 2012 by admin.
“Continuing on the way” is a variation of the phrase that ends this posting on a note of mystery. It also describes the quiet perseverance of participants in the Migrant Trail Walk. For these witnesses, as diverse as the early church, the way through the desert becomes something almost sacramental, an encounter with Christ and an icon of solidarity. Watch the slideshow below to see the pictures from the walk.
The 9th annual Migrant Trail Walk took place May 28-June 3. The 75-mile, 7-day pilgrimage was walked by 50 participants from 12 states. Among us was the president of a theological school in Southern California, a doctor, college students, indigenous, doctoral students, a lawyer, nurses, an Episcopal priest, a Methodist minister, human rights workers, a college professor, poets, a ballerina, musicians, a nun, Presbyterian lay missionaries and a Franciscan brother.
We trekked through the desert, getting up at 5 AM, tearing down our tents by 5:30 AM and starting our daily walk by 6 AM, usually arriving to our camp site by 12 noon. Some days we walked under 7 miles, other days we walked as much as 16 miles. Every 1 ½ miles we had a water stop and every other water stop was a “full stop” for snacks and rest. Our medical team took care of blisters and other health issues. The environmental team took care of our “waste” issues. The food team took care of coordinating the snacks at the “full stops” and the churches and other organizations who supplied our 14 lunches and suppers. The security team in their orange vests made sure we walked together safely, as vehicles whizzed by near us.
We were a spiritually diverse group with Native American blessing ceremonies, Catholic evening prayers and an Episcopal mass among our spiritual experiences. Near the end of our time together, we had an hour long, large group faith sharing reflecting more deeply what our time together in the desert meant to us. Each of us committed to go back to our local communities with renewed effort, to work for comprehensive immigration reform and to reach out to the undocumented, who are living among us in such fear these days. As has happened a couple of times in previous years, we had a migrant come into our camp whose feet were badly blistered and swollen. After some rest, food, water and medical attention, he continued on his way.
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/43980474]
