News
Recent JPHD actions and resources on domestic and international issues
Climate Change and Poverty: Action Alert
November 3—Tell Senate to Protect the Poor in Climate Change Legislation
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will likely vote on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733, the climate change bill) in early November.
Contact your senators (especially those key committee members listed below)now and urgethem:
1) tofully protect low-income individuals and families in the United States from any potential rise in the price of energy and other consumer goods resulting from the legislation, by providing the same level of funding for low-income assistance as in the House bill, and
2) to significantly increase the funding for international adaptation programs, so people living in poverty around the world can be protected from the effects of climate change.
John Kerry, Mass., and Barbara Boxer, Cal. (co-sponsors); Joseph Lieberman, Conn.; Thomas R. Carper, Del.; Richard Lugar, Ind.; Benjamin Cardin, Md.; Amy Klobuchar, Minn.; Max Baucus, Mont.; Frank R. Lautenberg, and Robert Menendez, NJ; Tom Udall, NM; Kirsten Gillibrand, NY; George Voinovich, Ohio; Jeff Merkley, Ore.; Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, Penn.; Sheldon Whitehouse, RI; Lamar Alexander, Tenn.; Bernard Sanders, Vt.
You can contact them through the CRS Web site (http://actioncenter.crs.org)
Read the full Action Alert issued jointly from USCCB, Catholic Relief Services, and Catholic Charities USA.
USCCB Action Alert on Health Care
Domestic Issues: Health care: ACTION ALERT
October 9—U.S.Bishops Again Urge Congress for Principled Health Care
Call Congress now and tell them health care reform should respect the life and dignity of all people.
USCCB Action Alert on Health Care
International Issues: War and Peace: Afghanistan
October 6—Bishops Urge Focus on Diplomacy, Development, Criteria for Ending Action in Afghanistan
"We observe that some military leaders now share the view that the success of U.S. operations in Afghanistan cannot come from military measures alone. In light of the current situation, the moral guidance of our earlier pastoral message still seems applicable."
Read Bishop Hubbard's Letter to National Security Advisor General Jones on Afghanistan Policy
Domestic Issues: Catholic Campaign for Human Development
October 2, 2009—CCHD, in policy and practice, denies funding to groups that take positions contrary to Catholic teaching
Memo to Bishops from Bishop Roger P. Morin, CCHD Chairman; October 2, 2009
"CCHD Subcommittee and staff take seriously any allegation that groups we fund are not in compliance with Catholic teaching, or are participating in partisan political activity. We immediately investigate each allegation in consultation with the local diocese and, if the allegations are confirmed, discontinue funding immediately. We are always examining ways to strengthen and improve our monitoring efforts to ensure that all of the 250 current grantees comply with CCHD criteria. This is an ongoing process, involving both local dioceses and national CCHD staff."
CCHD pulls funding from two agencies, investigates two others
Catholic News Service
Domestic Issues: Health care, Human Life and Dignity
September 30—U.S. Bishops Again Urge Senate to Respect for Life, Access for All in Health Care Legislation
“We write to outline the bishops’ policy priorities and urge you to shape and adopt genuine health care reform which protects the life and dignity of all. At their core, health care choices are not just political, technical, or economic, but also moral. This legislation is about life and death, who can take their children to the doctor and who cannot, who can afford decent health care coverage and who are left to fend for themselves. Health care reform especially needs to protect those at the beginning of life and at its end, the most vulnerable and the voiceless.”
READ the full text of this joint letter to the Senate from the chairmen of the USCCB committees on Domestic Social Development, Pro-Life Activities, and Migration.
READ the USCCB press release.
Read the full text of the open letter to the President.
International Issues-Nuclear Weapons
September 22—IJP Chair Bishop Hubbard Among 'Diverse Voices' Urging Obama to Nuclear Reduction
"The end of the Cold War changed the world. September 11, 2001, changed it again. . . U.S. nuclear weapons policy must change as well. We cannot rely on old approaches and old thinking to meet these new threats. As president, your most profound responsibility is to keep us safe and prevent the use or spread of these frighteningly powerful weapons."
Read the full text of the open letter to the President.
International Issues-Middle East
September 18—Bishop Hubbard, Cardinal McCarrick Join Letter Supporting Comprehensive Peace Effort
"Both sides must take steps to move the process forward, and we support the President’s efforts
to end Israeli settlement growth and to halt Palestinian violence and incitement. It is now time to
move to the next stage of diplomacy and to address the tough issues that must be resolved to
bring this conflict to an end."
Read the full text of this open letter.
Domestic Issues: Catholic Campaign for Human Development
September 1CCHD Now Accepting Eligibility Quizzes for 2010 Grants
CCHD is now accepting Eligibility Quizzes for the 2010-2011 grant year. See www.usccb.org/cchd/grants for details. Deadline for submission isNovember 1, 2009.
International Issues-Middle East
August 7—-Ecumenical Letter Asks DOS to Insist on Reversal of Sheikh Jarrah Evictions
IJP Chairman Bishop Howard J. Hubbard joined with Churches for Middle East Peace in a letter August 7 to Secretary of State Clinton, urging the Department of State "to insist on the immediate reversal of this ill-considered eviction and on the restoration of these houses to their former residents."
READ the full text of the Ecumenical Letter on Sheikh Jarrah Evictions
International Issues-Global Poverty, Climate Change
July 29—Archbishop O’Brien Calls for ‘Path to Zero’ Nuclear Weapons
"Our world and its leaders must stay focused on the destination of a nuclear-weapons-free world and on the concrete steps that lead there," said Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of Baltimore, in a July 29 keynote talk at the first Deterrence Symposium, hosted by U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
READ the full text of Archbishop O’Brien’s speech
Domestic Issues: Health care, Human Life and Dignity
July 21-U.S. Bishops Urge Congress to Observe Respect for Life, Access for All in Health Care Legislation
“All people need and should have access to comprehensive, quality health care that they can afford, and it should not depend on their stage of life, where or whether they or their parents work, how much they earn, where they live, or where they were born. The Bishops’ Conference believes health care reform should be truly universal and it should be genuinely affordable.”
READ the full USCCB Press release
Domestic Issues: Labor
June 22—Respecting the Just Rights of Workers: Guidance and options for Catholic health care and unions
"We offer this document as a common alternative and way forward in carrying out the principles of Catholic Social teaching and the directions of the Working Paper 'A Fair and Just Workplace.' It is a product of extensive dialogue, candid discussion and differing experiences that we put forth for wide sharing, discussion, consideration, adaptation and use at the local level."
Download and Read Respecting the Just Rights of Workers