December 2, 2016

LCWR Commitment to Gospel Values in Post-Presidential Election Season

The presidency and staff of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious recently issued a statement congratulating President-elect Donald J. Trump upon his election and thanking Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton for her many years of service. In it we promised to stand with all who have been disaffected, disenfranchised, or discarded, to hold the needs of all in the contemplative heart of God, and we recommitted ourselves to the Gospel call to justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.

You can find the statement on our website.

LCWR’s Update Newsletter is Now Available

We are happy to share with you LCWR’s December 2016 newsletter. You might be particularly interested in articles about:

• The Catholic Coalition’s Statement on Racial Justice (p. 3)
• SHARE Delegation to El Salvador, March 2017 (p. 9)
• Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, December 14-18 (p. 9)
• World Day of Peace, January 1, 2017 (p. 10)
• Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 21-24, 2017 (p. 11)
• The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s Webinars (p. 11)

Post-election Reality for Immigrants, Refugees, and Marginalized Populations

Immigrants, refugees, minorities, and advocates are all trying to assess the implications of the 2016 presidential election.  As people of faith and people of conscience we recognize our obligation to resist administrative policies and legislative proposals that target millions of undocumented immigrants, and discriminate against marginalized communities. We acknowledge our responsibility to protect those targeted by hate, and to work alongside our friends, families, and neighbors to ensure the dignity and human rights of all people.

Post-election resources for immigrants and advocates:

• Catholic Legal Immigration Network’s (CLINIC) Preparing for Changes in the Presidential Administration
• Immigration Legal Resource Center, Post-election Talking Points and Resources
• Learn more about the sanctuary movement and download toolkits for advocates and immigrants.
• Learn more about what school administrators, educators, counselors and students can do to develop school protection strategies.
• Learn more about ways that your faith community can resist the dangerous and hateful policies of discrimination and deportation and prepare for Sanctuary.

Some things you can do immediately:

• Support refugee resettlement. Call your members of Congress at 1-866-940-2439 and tell them: “I support refugee resettlement.”
• Sign the Pledge for Sanctuary.
• Open your homes and your hearts to create spaces of dialogue, healing, and safety.
• Report incidents of hateful intimidation and harassment to your local law enforcement and to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
• Pledge to resist deportation and discrimination through sanctuary.
• Stand in solidarity. Listen to the voices of those who are marginalized or threatened. Talk to your own family, friends, and community about the challenges marginalized communities, particularly when you hear bigoted or misinformed rhetoric. If you witness an act of harassment, speak up and stand alongside the person who is being targeted.
• It is time to declare America’s cities “sanctuaries of safety” and not allow local police to do the work of immigration agents. Encourage your local officials to declare sanctuary!

December 12 National Day of Prayer for Immigrants and their Families

Join us in celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe — Monday, December 12th — with a national day of prayer. The Day of Prayer and Solidarity with Families of Immigrants will focus on the gifts of refugees and migrants and will take place across the United States.

Across the country Masses and prayer services will be held as the Church continues to accompany migrants and refugees seeking an opportunity to provide for their families. In this environment of uncertainty that multitudes of immigrants and refugees and their families are currently facing, the U.S. Catholic bishops are demonstrating their solidarity with our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters by asking Catholics to pray for the protection and well-being of this vulnerable population.

We have developed a Scriptural Rosary entitled “Unity in Diversity” and USCCB will continue to develop pastoral and advocacy resources following the basic principles contained in Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope.

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez, the USCCB Vice-President stated, “We want them to know the Church is with them, offers prayers on their behalf, and is actively monitoring developments at the diocesan, state, and national levels to be an effective advocate on their behalf.”

World Day of Peace 2017

Pope Francis has chosen “Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace” as the theme for the 50th World Day of Peace, commemorated each year on January 1. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace. Inspired by both St. Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in terris and his own encyclical Populorum progressio, Pope Paul VI introduced the commemoration of the World Day of Peace in 1967; it is now celebrated every year on the first day of January.

Visit Catholic Nonviolence Initiative website to find resources to learn more about and celebrate the World Day of Peace on January 1 and beyond.