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.

Catholic Relief Services: Please Write Your Congressperson!

Please write your member of Congress on a number of hot topics.

Check current action alerts at: http://tinyurl.com/crs-action-center

This request comes from Catholic Relief Services in coordination with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Many items of upcoming legislation have moral dimensions, e.g. arms control, global poverty, immigration reform.

The website of CRS is sooooo easy to use -- will only take you 5 minutes to send your own representatives an email. If you are unfamiliar with an issue, all the policy statements and summaries are right there so you can understand WHY the Bishops' have a particular position.

The Bishops always apply Catholic doctrine to current issues -- they are not partisan. Their faith is informing their politics, not the other way around!

I just sent an email to my Congressperson regarding international nuclear arms control and global poverty.

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity or I Am My Brother's Keeper

Why should we walk for life? Give the gift of English language skills? Give microloans to invest in tiny businesses in developing countries?

To live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To act out our faith. To live our discipleship.

Actions of charity and justice have a deep spiritual dimension.

Matthew 25 is very compelling: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, New American Bible)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops summarize the Catholic Social Teaching of Solidarity like this:

"We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict."

-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

Help Others to Speak English: Volunteer as an English Tutor!

Now here is a New Year's Resolution you can make that will make a lasting improvement in someone's life: Give the gift of English language skills to an adult in your community!

Think how important it is for an adult in 21st century America to have good English skills: talking to their children's teachers, navigating the Department of Motor Vehicles, having better job opportunities. Good English skills can be the ticket to lift a family up and out of poverty!

In my parish, we are joining with a longstanding, successful program at the local public library. The only skill we need to qualify as tutors is to speak English. We do not need to be bilingual. The students are already in English as a Second Language classes taught by professional educators -- what they need from us is practice, practice, practice!

My local program is through the Livermore Public Library in the city of Livermore, California: http://www.ci.livermore.ca.us/library/literacy.html

To find a program near you, try the following website:

ProLiteracy (champions the power of literacy to improve the lives of adults and their families, communities, and societies): http://www.proliteracy.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=298

6th Annual Walk for Life, January 23, 2010, San Francisco

Mark your calendars!

Make a New Year's Resolution!

Make a stand against abortion -- and take a walk!

The West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco is January 23, 2010. Learn more at: http://www.walkforlifewc.com/

On the east coast, join the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on January 22, 2010. Learn more at:
http://www.marchforlife.org/content/view/13/26/

Last year, I joined two busloads of people from my parish of St. Michael. The rally at the start was incredible -- so many stories of women who bitterly regretted their abortions, men who regretted their lost fatherhood, and heartwarming stories of women who kept their babies and were so happy they had done so! I found the walk quite relaxing -- just strolling along the San Francisco waterfront with 32,000 of my best friends -- praying the Rosary, chatting, looking at the bystanders looking at us. There were only a handful of counter-protesters.

The walk is strenuous because you end up on your feet for several hours -- from the rally to the walk to the rally at the other end. If you cannot join the walk, please pray for the Walk and the March.

“Among Women” Celebrates the beauty and grace of Catholic Faith and Life among women

I just listened to an episode of the relatively new podcast, "Among Women", and found it very informative, enriching and worthwhile.

Here is a description from the Among Women website (http://www.patgohn.com/patgohn/AmongWomenPodcast.com.html):

Goal and Mission: “Among Women” celebrates the beauty and grace that women experience in their Catholic Faith and Life. They hope this “faith-sharing” program will be "faith building" . . . inspiring women in their call to holiness by drawing closer to Christ and the Catholic Church, by living lives of prayer and loving service.

Pat Gohn hosts this program featuring two segments: (1) “Blessed Are They”, a reflection focusing on faithful women who have gone before us . . . those saints and sages who bring inspiration for Christian life. (2) “Among Women,” features conversations with contemporary women from all walks of life.

Catholicism & Science are Friends: "The Catholic Laboratory" Podcast is Great!

I have been listening to a relatively new podcast called, "The Catholic Laboratory", which explores the friendship between Roman Catholicism and science. It is very orthodox, and is also very good science. The podcaster is a devout Catholic and a physicist.

Google "The Catholic Laboratory podcast" or go to http://www.catholiclab.net/TheCatholicLaboratory/Podcast/Podcast.html

The podcast includes short biographies of Catholic scientists and their contributions over the centuries, explorations of physics, cosmology and evolution from the perspective of Catholic theology, and a joke of the week!

Christmas Shopping Tip: Recycle Plastic Bags & Use Reusable Canvas Bags

California spends $25 million annually to landfill discarded plastic bags. You can help!

As you do your Christmas shopping, the California Integrated Waste Management Board recommends that we:

(1) Use reusable canvas or cloth bags.

(2) Say "No thank you." Not all items require a bag.

(3) Recycle! California requires large supermarkets or pharmacies to offer free recycling of plastic bags. How about your state or community?

(4) Reuse them. They make great waste basket liners and bags to take to the local farmers' market. What are your ideas?

(5) Tell a friend about the importance of recycling.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board has great holiday waste reduction tips anyone around the USA or around the world can use: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/PublicEd/Holidays/default.htm

Catholic Social Teaching: Caring for God’s Creation. Caring for the earth is a duty of our Catholic faith. We all are called to be careful stewards of God’s creation and to ensure a safe and hospitable environment for vulnerable human beings now and in the future.

Microlending Really Helps People Climb Up Out of Poverty

Microlending means providing hard working people in developing countries and the USA a few hundred dollars to help them start or improve a tiny business. Their own hard work can bring them and their whole community up and out of poverty, with dignity and self esteem.

All microloans are administered on the ground by charities who also provide money management training, literacy classes, and so on. Your microloan is not a "hand out"; you go into business with the person.

Yes, the economy is bad, but you can start with just $25. And you get it back (that's why it's called micro-LENDING).

An excellent agency is Kiva: http://www.kiva.org/

You can check out my investments at the links below. At the webpage, click on "loans" to see the loans made to groups around the globe.

"Debbie's Family" are my loans in lieu of Christmas presents -- my family wanted to get away from the materialism of Christmas shopping last year.

http://www.kiva.org/lender/debbie7735

JustFaith2 are the investments of my JustFaith group; in the JustFaith program, I first learned how very effective microlending can be. Catholic Relief Services highly recommends it.

http://www.kiva.org/team/st_charles_borromeo_just_faith_ii

About the photo: Kahooza John Bosco is the leader of his lending group in Ibanda. He is a very hardworking and friendly man. He is 38 years old and married with 2 children, both of whom are in primary school; he also takes care of 2 dependants. He has had a retail shop in the Nyarukika trading centre for 15 years, where he is able to make 120,000 as profits a week. This is mostly attributed to the use of the loans that enabled him to have a variety of items in the shop. In the future, John Bosco would want to sell wholesale so that he could sell more and consequently have a happy and united family. He is seeking for a loan to be able buy more products for his shop so as to avoid shortages.

Waste Prevention in Gift Wrapping: 10 Simple Ideas

Here are ideas from the California Integrated Waste Management Board at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/PublicEd/Holidays/

(1) Design your own gift-wrap by using a paper grocery or department store bag; have the kids add decorations.

(2) Spruce up brown paper wrapping with pretty bows (and save them for next year).

(3) Purchase sturdier gift bags and reuse them each year.

(4) For large, hard to wrap gifts, just add a large fancy bow.

(5) Or hide large, unwieldy gifts and give the person a card with a clue to lead them to the present.

(6) Fold up gift boxes and use them again.

(7) Christmas stockings are great for little gifts.

(8) Some gifts come in decorated gift boxes. Just add a bow and a gift tag (made from last year’s Christmas cards).

(9) Wrap gifts in the funny pages or old posters.

(10) If you do use store-bought wrapping paper, buy the kind with recycled content (the more postconsumer, the better).

You and your family can live the Catholic Social Teaching of "Caring for God's Creation" by reducing the amount of paper and ribbon going into landfills. And have a lot of fun doing it!

Fundacion Caminante: Ministry to Help Migrant Workers

Francisco Herrera and and his wife Maria Christina, have a foundation called Fundacion Caminante that helps migrant workers and also the very poor in the US and in Mexico .

Here’s the mission and a brief bio from the web site: http://caminantecultural.com/

OUR MISSION/NUESTRA MISSION

Contribute, as a social justice organization, to the defense of the rights and dignity of all human beings, from our identity as migrant people who in one way or another give witness to love, justice and peace in all social realities.

“Francisco Herrera directs CAMINANTE Cultural Work, dedicated to strengthening working people through retreats, workshops, conferences and concerts. Music provides the venue by which folks can bring their communities together to have a good time, listen to very soulful music and look at their community, deciding what it is we need to change. When people get organized leaders tremble and behave. Francisco's interpretation of original and traditional songs helps us believe in each other.”

Here is Francisco’s web site and you can listen to some of his music:

http://www.myspace.com/franciscoherrera

A friend from my parish loves the songs Atrevete a Sonar and La Tierra.

Bible Study Made Easy for Catholics!

http://greatadventureonline.com/

Don't have time to attend a Bible study? Find the Bible confusing and hard to read on your own? I recommend that you buy a CD set from Great Adventures and listen to it in your car or iPod.

I bought the Bible study on First Corinthians, and it was terrific! The speaker made the Bible come alive, providing the cultural context of the people in Corinth that St. Paul was writing to -- understanding the intended audience is absolutely crucial to understanding 1st Corinthians -- it's so easy to understand once you have the whole context.

Catholicism 101: Great Website for the Basics of Our Faith

http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/tp/Catholicism_101.htm

I just discovered this terrific website with a wealth of information on the basics of the Roman Catholic faith. I did a spot check on a variety of topics (Baptism, Confirmation, Cardinal Virtues) and this site appears to be absolutely orthodox. The explanations of the doctrines of our Roman Catholic faith are easy to understand. What a great resource!

The About.com: Catholicism website is written by Scott P. Richert. I checked his credentials, and he has an impressive knowledge of the Catholic faith, both eastern and western rite. Good job, Scott!

Xt3 -- Millions are using this Catholic social network

Xt3 - more than a social network.
So good even the Pope uses it!

http://www.xt3.com

From Xt3 homepage: "We've got discussions, profile pages, global and friends' prayer walls, podcasts, diocesan homepages, events and projects. You can even ask a priest all those burning questions you have... so why not join now?"

Father Roderick of SQPN is excited about this website -- I understand that it is the largest Catholic networking site in the world. It was founded out of the Pope's World Youth Day in Sidney a couple of years ago. Looks like a lot of fun!

Book Review: "Catholic and Christian" by Alan Schreck

Catholic and Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs
by Alan Schreck
ISBN 0-86716-599-5
Copyright 2004
Servant Books (St. Anthony Messenger Press)
www.AmericanCatholic.org

This book is recommended by Scott Hahn for Catholics in order to understand their own faith better, and to be equipped to explain common misunderstandings about the Roman Catholic faith to their Protestant Christian friends.

The explanation of the Saints was very good. I'm going to order copies for myself, my RCIA team, and two friends who are returning Catholics.

Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.

While the common good embraces all, those who are in greatest need deserve preferential concern. A moral test for society is how we treat the weakest among us – the unborn, those dealing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized. -- from the “Catholic Update” June 2008 Issue

“Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.” --Proverbs 16:8

Christmas Gifts with a Conscience: The Green Gift Guide

“Live responsibly, shop sustainably” is the motto of the Green Gift Guide website (http://www.greengiftguide.com/). You can act on the Catholic Social Doctrine of caring for God’s creation as you Christmas shop.

This website has ideas for buying gifts made of recycled materials, ways to trim your tree and wrap your gifts that do not lead more junk in our landfills -- plan ahead now and have a wonderful, meaningful and socially responsible holiday season!

“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.” --Psalm 146:7

New Catholic Podcasts -- Learn and Have Fun!

Catholic Vitamins (http://www.catholicvitamins.com/): Faith life a little down? Wondering where God is? That’s okay -- it happens to the best of us. This podcast is dedicated to helping you find the right nutrients that can add a lift and just the right amount of ‘zest’ to your faith practice.

The Catholic Foodie (http://catholicfoodie.com/): The Catholic Foodie brings much more to the table than merely recipes and reviews. The show highlights how food - good food - can be a sign to us of God’s love and care for each of us and our families. "Where food meets faith".

Among Women (http://www.patgohn.com/patgohn/AmongWomenPodcast.com.html): “Among Women” celebrates the beauty and grace that women experience in their Catholic Faith and Life.

In Between Sundays (http://inbetweensundays.com/): Gives you the essentials to live in the world outside of church. Being people of faith requires more than just one hour on Sunday...