Building Peace with Justice

Building Peace with Justice is a brief, weekly bulletin reflection on Catholic social teaching written by members of a Rochester Diocese Public Policy sub-committee. This is the reflection for May 3.

Acts of the Apostles this week refers to Jesus as the “stone rejected by you, the builders which has become the cornerstone.” Thinking along the line of buildings and housing, we are challenged by Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity (1935-2009) who stated that “substandard housing must be socially, religiously, morally, and politically unacceptable.”

Reflection and Action: When any individual is denied basic shelter, the fabric of society is torn. Pray for those affected by the housing crisis. Pray for those in power, that they may be inspired to find just solutions. Find out how you can help. Are you able to volunteer for a group such as Habitat or make a donation?

The Bishops and Cuba

A news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:


U.S. BISHOPS WELCOME CHANGES TO U.S.-CUBA POLICY,
URGE FURTHER ACTION

WASHINGTON—Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed the Obama Administration’s decision to relax restrictions on Cuban-American travel and regulation in remittances to Cuba, calling the move “long overdue” and “an important change in U.S. policy towards Cuba.”

In an April 15 letter to Daniel Restrepo, Senior Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs for the National Security Council, Bishop Hubbard wrote, “The USCCB has for many years called for relaxing the sanctions against Cuba. These policies have largely failed to promote greater freedom, democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba.”

He added, “Improving the lives of the Cuban people and encouraging human rights in Cuba will best be advanced through more rather than less contact between the Cuban and American people.”

Bishop Hubbard also urged the Administration to build on the President’s action and work with Congress to remove travel restrictions to Cuba for all Americans, citing the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act” (H.R. 874 and S. 428) as welcome legislation.

The full text of Bishop Hubbard’s letter can be found online at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/2009-04-15-hubbard-cuba-travel-ltr-nsc.pdf

Stewardship of the Earth

From the National Catholic Rural Life Council:

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay has created a stewardship of creation resource packet designed for pastors, parish directors, and parish committees as they prepare to celebrate Earth Day (April 22) with the Pledge of St. Francis to Protect Creation and the Poor.

The resource "Blessed Are you, Lord, God of All Creation" was created to honor Earth Day and to empower parishes to get involve in the Catholic Climate Covenant. The Stewardship of Creation resource "focuses on providing information and opportunities for parish communities and individual households to evaluate their use of God's gifts and to encourage them to become better stewards of creation," according to Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem., director of social concerns. Visit http://sites.google.com/site/stewcreationpacket/

Building Peace with Justice

Building Peace with Justice is a brief, weekly bulletin reflection on Catholic social teaching written by members of a Rochester Diocese Public Policy sub-committee. This is the reflection for April 5:

Headlines scream that we are in dark times; they tell us what we have lost or could be losing - security, job, health, wealth, home. The Scriptures tell us what we have and cannot lose. Isaiah praises God who is our stronghold. Paul to the Philippians assures us that Jesus, as fully human, understands our situation completely and embraces us in our struggles. Mark points the way through the darkest times to the enlightened time of resurrection and the irrevocable gift of eternal life with our God.

REFLECT: Can we embrace these familiar scriptures as assurances of hope and light? In these difficult economic times can we rejoice that our faith promises unconditional love and eternal life? Can each of us be a source of hope and light, generosity and love, understanding and companionship for our friends and neighbors in hard times? What do we really have to lose?