Gaylord, MI 49735 
The Catholic Perspective on Immigration
REV. WAYNE DZIEKAN will be offering presentations around the diocese on the very difficult topic of IMMIGRATION. There are many voices speaking publicly and loudly on the issue, but very rarely do they offer perspectives that are in line with those of the Catholic Church.
· Do you struggle with how to apply the Gospel to the issues concerning immigration?
· Do you wonder what the root causes are to our nation's struggle with immigration?
· Is the U.S. unique in experiencing these struggles?
· What is a Catholic response to current immigration issues?
Come and hear the Church’s perspective on this issue. Presentations will be as follows:
Wednesday, August 6 , at Holy Family Parish, East Tawas (Begins with Mass at 6:00 pm followed by the presentation.)
Saturday, August 16, at St. Joseph Parish Hall, Manistee, 9:00-11:00 am
Tuesday, August 19 , at St. Francis, Petoskey, 7:00-9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 20 , St. Francis, Traverse City, 7:00-9:00 pm
Thursday, August 21 , Diocesan Pastoral Center, Gaylord, 7:00-9:00 pm
Abortion
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” *Catechism of the Catholic Church #2270
Project Rachel, a ministry of healing and reconciliation, seeks to serve any one who suffers psychologically and spiritually from an abortion. Through the training of clerics, mental health professionals, and interested community members, Project Rachel seeks to form a network of compassionate helpers who work effectively with post-abortive women and men. Further, Project Rachel fosters awareness of the spiritual and psychological aftermath of abortion.
Therefore I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her heart. There I will give her back her Vineyards and transform her Valley of Troubles into a Door of Hope. Hosea 2:16-17
There are retreats held throughout the year in many states -- including Michigan -- and that information can be found at the Rachel’s Vineyard national web-site.
If you or a friend are hurting from an abortion, call our the national Project Rachel toll-free hotline: 1.877.HOPE.4.ME.
Assisted Suicide
"Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the life of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.” *Catechism of the Catholic Church #2276
Hospice of Michigan - Offers a full rage of medical and support services for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Hospice Web. Frequently asked questions, hotlinks and more.
Capital Punishment
Quoting the Bishop’s 1998 document, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, it states: Our witness to respect for life shines most brightly when we demand respect for each and every human life, including the lives of those who fail to show that respect for others. Thus, we are called to extend God’s love.
Amnesty International - Website against the dealth penalty.
Amnesty International - Working to protect human rights world wide.
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a national initiative to have religious organizations throughout the country toll their bells whenever there is an execution.
Domestic Violence
"As pastors of the Catholic Church in the U.S., we state as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form - physical, sexual, psychological or verbal - is sinful; often it is a crime as well.” A Pastoral Message of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1994.
Michigan Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
River House Shelter - A safe place for victims of domestic violence in Grayling, Michigan
Safe Horizon - Domestic Violence Shelter Tour
Fair Trade
Fair Trade creates relationships between producers, traders and consumers that ensure that producers work in safe conditions, are paid fair wages and are mindful of the environment.
The mission of Global Marketplace is to help craft producers in developing nations sell their crafts to consumers around the world and in doing so to increase their standard of living above the poverty line.
Equal Exchange was founded in 1986 to create a new approach to trade, one that includes informed consumers, honest and fair trade relationships and cooperative principles. Offers a line of fairly traded gourmet & organic coffees from small scale farmers in Latin America & Africa.
No Sweat - 100% union-made apparel from around the world
Farming
"At its core the environment crisis is a moral challenge. It calls us to examine how we use and share the good of the earth, what we pass on to future generations and how we live in harmony with God’s creation.” (U.S. Bishops, Renewing the Earth, 1991)
MI Catholic Rural Life Coalition serves the Catholic Dioceses of Michigan in the primary focus areas of agricultural/farmer support, land use/urban sprawl, and environmental issues.
Health Care
"Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity; food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment and social assistance. Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.” *Catechism of the Catholic Church #2288
The National Catholic Bioethics Center considers authentic Catholic education to be at the very heart of its mission. Speakers from the center are available on a variety of today’s major medical and ethical issues to both parish and professional groups.
The Catholic Health Association of the United States strengthens the Church’s healing ministry in the U.S. by advocating for a just health care system, convening leaders to share ideas and foster collaboration, and uniting the ministry voice on critical issues.
National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the National Coalition for the Homeless have jointly adopted Policy Statements to address several public policy issues that are viewed as critical to the resolution of homelessness.
Housing
"Any person or family that, without any direct fault on his or her part, does not have suitable housing is the victim of an injustice.” Pontifical Commission Justice & Peace: The Church and Homelessness, III, 2.
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Our foundation is set in Jesus Christ whose church is our cornerstone. Over and over persons discover that Habitat affiliates with the strongest church ties have the most successful projects.
National Coalition for the Homeless whose mission is to end homelessness. They focus their work on housing justice, economic justice, health care justice, and civil rights.
Hunger/Poverty
In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. The Church appeals to everyone to recognize a special obligation to the poor and vulnerable, to defend and to promote their dignity and to ensure that they can participate fully in society.
America’s Second Harvest - Ending Hunger is the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue programs.
Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying our nation’s decision makers.
Campaign for Human Development breaking the cycle of poverty for a lifetime!
Catholic Relief Services implements programs in dioceses, parishes, schools and homes to educate people in the U.S. about CRS’ work and to foster solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need around the world.
Food For The Poor (FFP) ministers to spiritually renew impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Their goal is to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children we serve.
Immigration
Since its founding, the
Our common faith in Jesus Christ moves us to search for ways that favor a spirit of solidarity. It is a faith that transcends borders and bids us to overcome all forms of discrimination and violence so that we may build relationships that are just and loving
For more information visit the USCCB website Justice for Immigrants
Just Wage
A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family.The National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize and mobilize the religious community in the U.S. on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers.
Just War Doctrine
The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
- The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
- All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
- There must be serious prospects of success;
- The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.
- The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church #2309
For more information on this issue go to the United Staes Conference of Catholic Bishop's website U.S.C.C.B. and click on Social Justice Issues.
Land Mines
With Pope John Paul II and the Church around the world, the USCCB strongly supports efforts to secure a U. S. commitment to sign the Mine Ban Treaty, which would eliminate the scourge of these morally unacceptable weapons that do not distinguish between soldiers and civilians or between times of war and times of peace. U. S. leadership is essential for the success of the treaty.
For more information go to United States Catholic Conference and search for Land Mines.
Nuclear Arms
The end of the Cold War has led to some progress in reducing nuclear weapons, but these efforts have not been commensurate with the dramatic changes in world politics. The U.S., and other nuclear powers must move away from reliance on nuclear weapons for their security. A global ban is more than a moral ideal; it should be a policy goal.
For more information go the United States Catholic Conference web-site and search for Nuclear Arms.
Peace
Blessed are the Peacemakers. Those who renounce violence and bloodshed and, in order to safeguard human rights, make use of those means of defense available to the weakest, bear witness to evangelical charity, provided they do so without harming the rights and obligations of other men and societies.
Peaceful Tomorrows is an advocacy organization founded by family members of September Eleventh victims. Its mission is to seek effective nonviolent responses to terrorism.
The Peace Pulpit - Homilies by Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton (for the National Catholic Register)
Pax Christi USA is the national Catholic Peace Movement. They work for the transformation of society through nonviolence and advocate peace making as a priority in the Catholic Church in the U.S.
The Michigan Peace Team empowers people to engage in active nonviolent peacemaking. It offers nonviolence training workshops and provides opportunities to join peace teams.
Welfare Reform
In 1995, in anticipation of the national debate about welfare reform, the Administrative Board of U.S. Catholic Bishops issued the statement, Moral Principles and Policy Priorities for Welfare Reform. The statement outlined six criteria for reform: 1. Protection of human life and dignity 2. Strengthens family life 3. Encourages and rewards work 4. Preserves a safety net for the vulnerable 5. Builds Public/Private Partnerships to overcome poverty 6. Invests in human dignity
Department of Human Services (DHS) is Michigan’s public assistance, child and family welfare agency. FIA directs the operation of public assistance and service programs through a network of over 100 county family independence agencies in every county in Michigan.
Welfare Information Network is a project of The Finance Project and is a clearinghouse for information, policy analysis and technical assistance related to welfare, workforce development and other human and community services.
Other Issues
Spring Hill College, the Jesuit College of the South, has a Theology Library on-line for looking up any subject related to social justice, morality, spirituality, and much much more. They offer over 8,000 links to valuable informational web-sites for the Catholic Church. Check it out!GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Click on the links below and read the latest Catholic Relief Services ACTION ALERTS and read what you can do to help.