Common Good Newsletter: October 2007

Catholics Speak Out to Defend SCHIP

As Congress prepared to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under the threat of a veto by President Bush, Catholic social justice leaders spoke out on Capitol Hill to call on both branches of government to help give health insurance to impoverished children.

On Wednesday, September 26, Senators Edward Kennedy, Harry Reid, Ken Salazar, and Robert Menendez held a press conference urging President Bush to reauthorize SCHIP and reconsider his veto threat. The senators were joined by Catholic, Protestant and Jewish religious leaders who spoke about the positive effects of SCHIP and the moral imperative of government to care for its poorest children.

At the press conference Sr. Catherine Pinkerton of NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, spoke on behalf of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. “Today is one of those defining moments in our nation's evolution, this moment when Congress and the president either accept or reject the obligation of government to provide for the common good, in this case the common good of our nation's most vulnerable children,” she said. “The moral measure of a great nation is not found in the mighty power of its military or even the heights its stock market reaches, but in that hopeful place where compassion and justice meet to build a society where all of God's children are cared for and loved.”

Sr. Pinkerton was joined by Fr. Clarence Williams, Director of Racial Equality and Diversity Initiatives for Catholic Charities USA; Rabbi Michael Namath, Program Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; and Rev. Daniel Mier of PICO National Network.

Catholics United followed up on Monday, October 1 delivering to the White House a petition protesting President Bush’s threatened veto of SCHIP. The petition contained more than 2500 signatures and was delivered by two children, 3-year-old Kyle Catanzaro and 21-month-old Elle Catazaro, along with other members of Catholic United to the White House.

Sr. Simone Campbell spoke at a press conference on October 2, joining Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and other religious leaders. Sr. Campbell spoke about the truths and untruths circling the SCHIP debate and called on the President to authorize this important legislation.

Pax Christi Intl. Holds Triennial World Assembly

From October 30 to November 4, Pax Christi International will hold its Triennial World Assembly in Torhout/Bruges, Belgium. At this time Marie Dennis, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and a Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good Commentator, will begin her three-year mandate as co-president of Pax Christi International, the Brussels-based peace movement. Dennis will be co-president with Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo of the Congo.

A devoted advocated for peace, Dennis has worked extensively in Latin America and Africa. She is also the chair of the Religious Working Group for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and was named one of Pax Christi USA's "Ambassadors of Peace."

Catholics in Alliance Launches Radio Tour on Immigration

On October 1, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good launched its first national radio tour, promoting the Catholic social message on immigration. Sr. Pat McDermott and Sr. Susan Severin of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and Father Richard Ryscavage, S.J. director of the new Center for Faith and Public Life at Fairfield University spoke about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and offered their perspectives on how Catholic social teaching calls us to welcome the stranger. “For us, it is a responsibility of faith to ‘welcome the alien.’ This is not a debatable issue for the Church,” Fr. Ryscavage told radio listeners.

The interviews, both live and taped, were heard on more than 1400 radio affiliates across the country. All three guests spoke to both national and local audiences where immigration is an issue of specific concern. This successful radio tour will be the first of many that Catholics in Alliance for the Common will sponsor on contemporary policy issues and Catholic Social Teaching.

Catholics in Alliance Featured in Best Selling Book

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good is one of several nonprofit organizations working for positive change cited by former President Bill Clinton in his book Giving, How Each of Us Can Change the World. He lists CACG along with the National Council of Churches, Faith in Public Life and Sojourners as one of the religious organizations working to strengthen the middle class and helping poor people.

Giving takes a look at nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations and individuals that are “solving problems and saving lives” locally and around the world. He highlights men and women of all ages who have contributed their time, ideas and skills to making a difference. Giving was released last month and has already made several best sellers’ lists; it’s number one on the New York Times and the Washington Post Best Sellers lists for nonfiction.

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good is pleased to be recognized for its social justice work guided by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Pax Christi Peace Award

Last month, Pax Christi USA presented its 2007 Teacher of Peace award to Father John Rausch, Director of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia and Coordinator of the Peace and Justice Committee, Diocese of Lexington Ky. Father Rausch was cited for his work in advocating for the people and the land in Appalachia. The 2007 Book Award to Father Daniel Groody for editing The Option for the Poor in Christian Theology, University of Notre Dame Press. Father Groody is a Voices for the Common Good commentator.

Bishop Gabino Zavala, Bishop President, Pax Christi USA and Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Los Angles served as host for “The Pursuit of Peace” program held at Trinity University in Washington, DC. E. J. Dionne, a Washington Post columnist and Brookings Institute fellow was the keynote speaker for a standing room only audience.

Catholics to End the War in Iraq Take to the Internet

Taking advantage of the power of the World Wide Web, Catholics to End the War In Iraq (CEWI) will run a banner ad on Catholic Online, www.catholic.org, The ad will feature a quote from Joe Colgan, father of Lt. Ben J. Colgan, US Army, who was killed in the war in Iraq. A banner then appears asking persons to sign the Catholic petition to end the war in Iraq. In addition to the banner ad, a letter from Colgan will be e-mailed to more than 100,000 Catholic Online subscribers asking them to sign the petition. According to CEWI organizaers, the petition currently has more than 14,000 names. With this advertising, organizers hope to add an additional 20,000 names to the petition.

Calendar of Events

October 4, 7:30 pm

“The Faith that Does Justice” Forum

Sponsored by Woodstock Theological Seminary

Georgetown University Washington, DC

For more information, visit: woodstock.georgetown.edu

October 10, 9-4pm

“Voices for the Common Good” Media Training,

sponsored by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

Rivers Edge Retreat Center, Cleveland OH.

To Participate in the Media Training: Contact Vicki Kovari at 313-549-0421 or vkovari@catholicsinalliance.org

October 24, 2007 10 am-noon

“League of Women Voters Presents a Panel Discussion on Immigration”

Featuring Donald Kerwin, Executive Director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network

The Charles Sumner School Lecture Hall 102 Washington DC

For further information cal (202-222-0710) or (lwvdc@aol.com)

November 16-18

Ignation Family Teach-In and School of Americas Vigil,

sponsored by Ignation Solidarity Network

Columbus, GA

December 1

Iowa Heartland Presidential Forum,

sponsored by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Center for Community Change and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Des Moines, Iowa

The Common Good Newsletter Staff

Editors:

Alexia Kelley, Executive Director
Pat Wheeler, Communications Director
John Gehring, Senior Writer and Media Specialist

John Cosgriff, Communications Specialist and Online Editor

Writers:

Pat Wheeler, Communications Director
John Cosgriff, Communications Specialist and Online Editor

Send letters to the editor to jcosgriff@catholicsinalliance.org
Send questions, comments and suggestions to jcosgriff@catholicsinalliance.org