My diocese has great resources for social justice topics.
Social Justice News is the monthly e-newsletter from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland. Email John and request to be put on the distribution list (jwatkins@oakdiocese.org)
Social Justice Resources (http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice) is a website which has a wealth of information on social justice issues, including educational materials and recommendations for action.
The newsletter and website contain news that goes way beyond the San Francisco East Bay; you can find issues affecting California State, America and the planet.
"Molokai: The Story Of Father Damien"
Molokai is the story of a priest, Father Damien, who chose to spend his life serving in a leper colony. The movie is a heroic story of great compassion and persistence in the face of physical hardship and isolation. Filmed on location on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai, the scenery is gorgeous, and it touches on the history and culture of Hawaii.
The Vatican recently announced that Blessed Father Damien de Veuster will be canonized this October.
The movie is available on Amazon, at Christian booksellers and Netflix.
"Charity in Truth" is a very readable document especially for those interested in economics, justice, and human development.
You can download and print the document from the Vatican website: <http://capwiz.com/cacatholic/utr/1/NKSYKVONIB/IYJOKVPZVA/3631167291> .
The letter has a great many subtleties and nuances than cannot be appreciated with a few selected quotes. With that caution, here are a few highlights to consider:
*"If we love others with charity, then first of all we are just toward them." (6)
*"A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized." (15)
*"Profit is useful if it serves as a means towards an end...Once profit becomes the exclusive goal...without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty." (21)
*"Openness to life is at the center of true development." (28)
*"Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone, and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State." (38)
*"Many people today would claim that they owe nothing to anyone, except to themselves. They are concerned only with their rights, and they often have great difficulty in taking responsibility for their own and other people's integral development. Hence it is important to call for a renewed reflection on how rights presuppose duties, if they are not to become mere license." (43)
*"The exclusion of religion from the public square - and, at the other extreme, religious fundamentalism - hinders an encounter between persons and their collaboration for the progress of humanity. Public life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character." (56)
http://www.whattheyplay.com
This family website lists current video games by title and platform, and provides ratings and descriptions so that parents and responsible teens can be informed consumers of entertainment software.
"What They Play" uses the rating system by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB); ratings are: EC (Early Childhood), E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone Above 10 Years Old), T (Teen), M (Mature), AO (Adults Only), RP (Rating Pending). The ratings are given from the perspective of caring parents, and are based on types of violence, use of alcohol/tobacco, and other potentially objectionable content.
Know what your kids are playing! Be aware of what you yourself are playing!
Fasting: Not Just for Lent! Consider spending a month fasting from pollution, taking responsibility for your own contribution to pollution. Here are specific ideas. Consider chosing one and commit to it with your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers:
1. Start or increase recycling of cans, plastic, glass, and/or paper.
2. To reduce junk mail, write to DirectMail.com, National Do Not Mail Registry, Prince Fredrick, MD, 20678. Request that they remove your name from all 3rd class mailing lists. You can make your request at no charge via the internet at www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail.
3. Buy cloth bags and use them instead of plastic or paper bags when shopping.
4. Buy and install a low flow showerhead, and take showers instead of baths. (Baths use twice as much hot water.)
5. Reduce time in the shower to 5 minutes.
“Beyond simply appreciating natural beauty, there is the active stewardship of ecological concern. Ecological stewardship means cultivating a heightened sense of human interdependence and solidarity.” -- from Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” -- Matthew 25:40
The goals of the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty:
1. Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
Learn more about the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty, sponsored by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops & Catholic Relief Services, at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/
