US Bishops Fight Human Trafficking

800,000 people are caught in this modern day form of slavery every year – and up to 50,000 are moved annually into the United States. Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world and is closely tied to the international arms trade. Women and children are the most common victims.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services Department helps survivors, trains volunteers, provides awareness, education and advocacy. For information on how to assist victims and combat this horrendous crime, phone (202) 541-3357, or visit: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/trafficking/usccbresponse.shtml

What does Catholic Social Teaching say?

"Slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children and disgraceful working conditions, where people are treated as mere instruments of gain . . . poison human society . . . and debase their perpetrators." (Gaudium et Spes, The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Paragraph #27)

What can you do? It looks like our prayers and financial support to Catholic Charities USA are the best immediate action to take for the average parishioner. For direct involvement, contact your local Catholic Charities office, found through the main website of Catholic Charities USA.

Busting the Over Population Myth: Catholic Scientist Sets Record Straight

The Catholic Laboratory podcast is a wonderful program put on by a Catholic scientist.

In episode 24, Ian Maxfield systematically and logically refutes common myths about over-population. This is important for Pro-Life because all of these over-population myths are used as arguments for abortion and infanticide the world over.

http://www.catholiclab.net/TheCatholicLaboratory/Podcast/Entries/2009/12/17_Cathlab24_-_Dear_Sir_David_Attenborough_....html

Did you know that we have enough clean drinking water and food and living space on planet Earth? The key is the distribution. First world over-consumption and food waste play their part, as well. And don't forget oppressive regimes and their human rights abuses.

Ian Maxfield provides a detailed and careful analysis of this complex issue -- don't take my word for it -- go listen to episode 24 of "The Catholic Laboratory" podcast.

Walk for Life in San Francisco: 40,000 Despite the Rain!

The West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco last weekend was amazing! Imagine 40,000 people standing in the rain to listen to speakers championing life, and then walking 2.5 miles along the San Francisco waterfront -- parents with children in strollers, elderly men and women, Roman Catholic Christians, Evangelical Protestant Christians, Jews, Mormons -- everyone celebrating and praying for life.

The purpose is to stand up and say: human life is sacred and must be defended from conception to natural death.

We are supportive of mothers, of fathers, and of babies. No one was there to condemn a woman with an unexpected pregnancy. Everyone was there to help mothers, and to help fathers, and to help babies -- to give a voice to the voiceless.

Everyone was praying, singing, laughing or just quietly walking. The only frowns were from tiny knots of counter protesters, a strange mix of atheists, pro-choice advocates, and random advocates for who knows what (this was San Francisco after all).

The leaders of the procession held signs like this: "I regret my lost fatherhood", "I regret my abortion", "Women deserve better than abortion".

Some of my favorite signs read: "As a former fetus, I oppose abortion", "A person is a person, no matter how small. Dr. Seuss", "Jesus heals".

The speakers included: a woman who deeply regrets killing her baby, a former abortion clinic worker who had a conversion and now is a Pro-Life advocate, an Evangelical Protestant minister, a Pro-Life advocate from France, a Roman Catholic priest -- really inspiring.

What can you do? Please write your Congressional representative to keep abortion funding out of health care reform. I recommend this easy to use site by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:

http://tinyurl.com/StopAbortion

Also, keep an eye out for people collecting signatures for a change to the Constitution of the State of California to change the definition of a human being to include a fetus.

Free Audio Bibles for iPod! Also on iTunes!

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a wonderful program to distribute audio Bibles to the world!

Try it out!

http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download

I recommend the English Standard Version Audio Drama New Testament: The translation is easy to listen to, all the characters are done by different performers, and the music and special sound effects make the Word of God come alive! Your kids will love it! You will love it!

Over 400 languages now available! Because much of the world is illiterate, this is a great ministry for spreading the Bible!

If you wish to make a donation, of course Faith Comes By Hearing is happy to receive it. But they are also happy to give away their wonderful productions free of charge.

Don't have time to read the Bible? Think again! Think the Bible is hard to understand and boring? Think again!

US Bishops Ask Us to Write Congress: Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform

Here is a message from the Social Justice Coordinator from my own bishop's office:

Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform:
Protect Conscience - Ensure Affordable Health Coverage - Allow Immigrants to Purchase Private Health Insurance

As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: Contact your Representative and Senators today by e-mail as soon as possible. It took me less than 5 minutes today. To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action.

To read a nice summary of the US Bishops' position, go to: http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice/

LA Congress Coming March 19-21: Join 40,000 Catholics!

http://www.recongress.org/

The Religious Education Congress, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education, is the nation's largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics!

Over the three days, Congress 2010 will offer 272 workshops presented by over 200 speakers . Topics range from personal growth to music to spiritual topics – in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

My parish always sends a busload down -- and people rave about it!

If you want to be re-inspired by the Holy Spirit, this is the place to be!

Pope Benedict Links Hunger and Climate Change

This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. --Jeremiah 22:3

In his message to the World Summit on Food Security, the Holy Father said, "The desire to possess and to exploit the resources of the planet in an excessive and disordered manner is the primary cause of all environmental degradation." He continued, "While the entire human race is called to acknowledge its obligations to future generations, it is also true that States and international organizations have a duty to protect the environment as a shared good. "

Read the entire statement at: http://zenit.org/article-27563?l=english

My understanding is that there is, in fact, enough arable land on the planet to allow everyone to grow enough food, but that the distribution of land needs improvement. For example, do we really need golf courses in poor areas? Would not the land be better used by the local people to grow food? Or, do we really need to eat beef? Poultry and pork can be a far more productive source of protein.

Also, climate change will hit the poorest among us the hardest. We need to watch out for that.

I think it is always a good idea to read the Pope's own words, and take with a grain of salt any summaries you see in the secular press -- they do not understand Christian values, and often distort our Holy Father's meaning. Fortunately, all of the Pope's statements end up on the Vatican website, so that's easy enough.