Common Good Newsletter: December 2007

Putting The Common Good Back Into Christmas

As Christmas approaches, a diverse coalition of Christian social justice organizations kicked off a campaign to help renew a focus on the common good during this holy season. For the past several years some media pundits and “culture warriors” have launched an aggressive media campaign against a so-called “War on Christmas.” Targeting stores, city governments and school systems for replacing Merry Christmas with “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings,” Bill O’Reilly and John Gibson of Fox News have led the charge against what they call a “secular progressive agenda.” William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights warns of “cultural fascists” taking over Christmas.
In an Open Letter to Christmas Culture Warriors published as an advertisement in the New York Post, National Catholic Reporter and Washington Times, signers of the letters called for a “ceasefire” in the culture wars and urged the media pundits to “join us in a new campaign of civility and conscience that restores our focus on the common good during this holy season.”

The letter which was coordinated by coordinated by Catholics in Alliance states “The powerful message Christ brings to the world is “good news for the poor. Instead, Christmas is being reduced to a corporate-sponsored holiday that idolizes commerce and materialism. Shopping and gift giving are meaningful traditions that can express the season’s values, but perspective is lost when relentless advertising and maxed-out credit cards define the holiday. It’s time to reclaim the virtue of shared sacrifice for the common good.”

To read the complete letter and to sign a statement supporting “A Common Good Christmas”, visit www.christmascampaign.org
The signers include Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good; Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United; David Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA; Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director of Faith in Public Life; Marie Lucey, OSF, assistant director for social mission with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Jim Hug, S.J., executive director of the Center of Concern; Thomas P. Melady, former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda, and the Vatican and Simone Campbell, executive director, NETWORK, A Social Justice Lobby.
Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of CACG, appeared on The O’Reilly Factor on Dec. 4 and challenged host Bill O’Reilly to end his divisive attacks. Watch the video here.

CACG Executive Director Attends Vatican Justice and Peace Meeting

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good was invited to join more than 300 participants from 80 countries for the Second World Congress of Ecclesial Organizations Working for Justice and Peace held in Rome from November 27-29. Alexia Kelley, CACG executive director, represented the Alliance at the Congress, which was convened and facilitated by Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples), the Congress focused on today’s challenges and the progress to date in realizing the encyclical’s call for justice, peace and human development in nations torn by poverty, war and disease. Kelley was interviewed by Vatican Radio. Visit http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/index.asp to hear the full interview.

“The opportunity to collaborate with Catholic social justice leaders from around the world was an honor for the Alliance and an inspiring reminder that building the global common good is central to our faith,” Kelley said. “The work our brothers and sisters are doing in Africa, Asia and the Americas to fight extreme poverty, build peace, and promote human dignity reinforced the life and death nature of these issues and the urgent need to stand in solidarity with the global Church.”

In Populorum Progressio, Pope Paul VI criticized what he called “the international imperialism of money” and boldly challenged wealthy nations to confront “the struggle of destitution” so that “the poor man Lazarus can sit down at the same table with the rich man.”

Catholics United Unveils Television Commercial

Fresh off its successful radio campaign, Catholics United continued its work to encourage pro-life U.S. representatives to support the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Catholics United was integral in shaping the debate on providing health care coverage to impoverished children. In the television ad, Catholics United addressed Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan, who has publicized his pro-life commitment but adamantly opposes SCHIP. The ad can be viewed at http://www.spotrunner.com/ads/host/play.aspx?cde=AUPA

Catholics United is a 501(c)4 non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition. They accomplish this mission through online advocacy and educational activities.

Center of Concern Releases Election 2008

With the 2008 presidential election less than a year away, the Center of Concern has launched Elections 2008: Voting for the Common Good. The initiative will help citizens actively participate in the current political debates as informed and faithful Christians.

These policy reflection papers address issues such as immigration, international relations, jobs and outsourcing, poverty, war, national security, healthcare and climate change in an effort to promote a deeper understanding of how these issues are related in the context of globalization. Each topic is approached from the standpoint of the common good, eschewing sound bites and hyperbole for informed awareness of the issues and practical methods that can be taken to vote conscientiously in the upcoming elections.

Elections 2008: Voting for the Common Good can be found online at http://www.coc.org/election2008/, or by contacting the Center of Concern at 202-635-2757.

Christian Leaders Push for Immigration Reform

On Nov 14, Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) hosted a press conference on immigration reform. During the conference CCIR, a coalition of Christian organizations, churches, and theological and political leaders, jointly released “A House Divided: Why Americans of Faith Are Concerned About Undocumented Immigrants.” The report documents an escalation of harsh treatment of immigrants in America including hate-speech, anti-immigrant ordinances and increasing raids of immigrant families.

The event featured Rev. Jim Wallis, founder and CEO of Sojourners, Bishop John Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration; Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; and James Winkler, General Secretary of the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church & Society. The panelists urged Christians and non-Christians to reframe the immigration debate with a stronger moral imperative, noting the formative role immigrants have played in American and Christian history.

Presidential Candidates Address the Heartland

On December 3, Catholics in Alliance joined 20 community-based organizations to co-sponsor the Iowa Heartland Forum in Des Moines, IA. Organized by the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and the Center for Community Change, the forum attracted more than 3,500 people from Iowa and beyond. Billed as a conversation with community leaders, five presidential candidates presented their views on such issues as immigration, health care, fair housing and the environment in response to community leaders’ questions. Many of the questioners used their personal experiences to demonstrate the need for policies that address the common good.

During the forum, the Catholics in Alliance team, led by Field Director Vicki Kovari, distributed copies of the Common Good Pledge which can be downloaded at www.catholicsinalliance.org. In addition to gathering signatures for the Common Good Pledge, CACG Web Editor John Cosgriff worked the press room to inform the media about the issues of concern to the Catholic social justice movement and Catholics in Alliance.
The event website can be viewed here.
For video from the Forum, click here.

Catholic Social Justice Organizations Protest ‘School of the Americas’

Dozens of Catholic social justice organizations, including Pax Christi, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Catholics United and Catholics in Alliance, participated in the 17th annual pilgrimage of peace and social justice activists to the infamous School of the Americas (SOA) in Columbus, Georgia, November 16-18. Now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, the facility has trained tens of thousands of Latin American military personnel in techniques of torture since 1946. More than an expression of frustration with US military policy, the protest has evolved into a powerful vigil of hope and global solidarity.

Catholic schools, churches and community associations joined secular peace groups, Latin American solidarity organizations, and veterans in renewing their commitment to human dignity. They called on one another and their country to expand the understanding of the common good beyond national borders and to reflect this in their spiritual and political lives. The most powerful words, though, came from torture survivors and families of victims who offered painful and inspiring testimonies throughout the weekend.

Vicki Kovari, CACG Field Director, conducted a teach-in on how to promote the common good locally through grassroots outreach. Catholics United collected over 2000 signatures for its Catholics for an End to a War in Iraq petition. Among the attendees were Congressman Jim McGovern and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.

Calendar

January 1, 2008
World Day of Peace
This is a Global Event
To read Pope Benedict XVI’s message of peace (after Dec. 15) click here.

February 24 to 27, 2008
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
“Faithful Citizenship: Promoting Life and Dignity, Justice and Peace
Hyatt Regency, Washington, DC
For registration information, visit: www.catholicssocialministrygathering.org

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 Web Editor

Writers:

John Cosgriff, Communications Specialist and Web Editor
John Gehring, Senior Writer and Media Specialist
Sarah Sweeney, Executive Assistant
Vincent Rotondaro, Free-Lance Writer

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