Catholics lead the way

A new column from the Association of Religious Data Archives (ARDA) reports Catholics are among the leaders in efforts to change public policy:

When religious groups move from the noise of denominational battles to enlisting congregational foot soldiers for moral agendas, no group is more successful than the Catholic Church . . .

In a column headlined “Catholic churches most likely to be on the front lines of issues from abortion to poverty, ” author David Briggs writes:

When religious groups move from the noise of denominational battles to enlisting congregational foot soldiers for moral agendas, no group is more successful than the Catholic Church, the 2012 National Congregations Study finds. 

A quarter of Catholic congregations reported that they had lobbied officials in the last 12 months, and more than half of Catholic congregations said they had organized or participated in a demonstration or march on a public issue or policy. 

In contrast, just 10 percent of Protestant congregations reported taking either action, the study found. 

And while Catholics were most active on the abortion issue, they also were more likely than other groups to lobby and demonstrate on a wide range of issues, from combating poverty to advocating for immigration reform.

The rest of the column is here.

Does this sound like your parish? If not, perhaps you should contact the diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice to learn how you can engage people in the effort to influence public policy.  The Commission can provide you with speakers and resources to educate parishioners about Catholic social teaching and help you create a social justice ministry that follows Pope Francis’ advice to engage the world. As the Pope wrote in The Joy of the Gospel, [220.] "People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens, not as a mob swayed by the powers that be. Let us not forget that 'responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation'."

You can call the Commission at 518-453-6695 or send an e-mail to Deacon Walter Ayres, Director of the Commission, at Walter.Ayres@rcda.org

Update on Meriam Ibrahim

Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese Catholic woman whose death sentence for renouncing Islam was overturned, was been released from jail again, after she was detained at Khartoum airport on Tuesday.

According to news reports, Mrs. Ibrahim was released yesterday on the condition that she remains in Sudan. The lawyer said that she was currently in the US embassy with her family.

In Washington, a State Department spokeswoman said Mrs. Ibrahim and her family were "in a safe location" and Sudan's government "has assured us of the family's continued safety." Citing privacy considerations, she declined to specify that location.

Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Authority is reported to have lodged a complaint against Mrs. Ibrahim. Reports say now that Sudan's intelligence agency is involved, Mrs. Ibrahim's case is likely to be more difficult and complicated to resolve.


Mrs. Ibrahim was sentenced to death and to 100 lashes after refusing to renounce her Christian faith. She has been convicted by a court in Khartoum on charges of apostasy and adultery. Last month, she gave birth to a baby girl while shackled to the floor in a Khartoum prison where she is being held with her newborn daughter and 20-month-old son.

Meriam Ibrahim released

When Father Thomas Konopka asked me to write a blog post about Meriam Ibrahim last week, I had no idea that the end result would come so quickly. However, I am happy to inform you that she has been released from prison.

If you were one of the people who signed the petition, or called a legislator, or prayed for her release, “Thank you!” (And if you were not, may this encourage you to do something the next time a situation arises.)

This is just one example of the power that we have when we add our voices to those of others, and even when we pray in the silence of our own rooms.

You can read more here.

Catholic mother condemned

The case of Meriam Ibrahim has gained world-wide attention.

She is the 27-year-old Catholic woman in Sudan who was sentenced to death and to 100 lashes after refusing to renounce her Christian faith. She has been convicted by a court in Khartoum on charges of apostasy and adultery. Last month, she gave birth to a baby girl while shackled to the floor in a Khartoum prison where she is being held with her newborn daughter and 20-month-old son.

Her husband, Daniel Wani, a US citizen, told the Guardian newspaper that his wife and children were being held in inhumane conditions, and the prison authorities were "extremely tough" with her. He said that she spent two days in her labor blood after she gave birth and was prevented from having a shower until the human rights committee visited. 

According to newspaper reports, Ibrahim had told the court she was the daughter of a Sudanese Muslim father and an Ethiopian Christian mother. She said that her father left when she was six, and she was brought up as a Christian by her mother. She met Wani, who moved to the US in 1998 and became an American citizen, in 2005. They were married at Khartoum Catholic church on December 19, 2011.

CNA/EWTN News reports that the Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum has urged Sudanese authorities to review the legal case. 

“The fact of the matter is that Meriam did not abandon the Islamic faith but rather she, in the first place, did not follow the Islamic religion since her childhood,” Father Mussa Timothy Kacho, episcopal vicar for the archdiocese’s Khartoum region, said June 11.

He said the archdiocese has “deep regret” over the way the case was handled “in disregard to Meriam’s moral and religious belief.” He noted that Sudan’s interim constitution guarantees religious freedom.

Vatican Radio reports that a gathering of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and representatives of other denominations from across the European Union earlier this month called for her immediate release.

A petition has been started urging the Obama administration to “pressure the Sudanese government to release Meriam and her children so she can escape execution and possible death of her children and be rejoined with her husband in the U.S. Please grant her expedited safe haven in the U.S., where she could seek asylum.”

You can sign the petition here.

Rosary Walk for Life

On Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 Bishop Edward Scharfenberger will be leading a Rosary Walk for Life sponsored by the New York State Council of the Knights of Columbus. 

The walk will start at 6pm at Historic St. Mary's Church on Capitol Hill in Albany where Bishop Scharfenberger will begin the event by giving a talk about creating a Culture of Life in our community and world.  Then the Bishop along with the faithful will walk up to the New York State Capitol where we will process around the Capitol on the public sidewalk while reciting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.  

After the rosary there will be light refreshments back at St. Mary's giving participants an opportunity to fellowship.  Come one, come all for this peaceful evening of prayer. 

Holy Hour for Religious Liberty & Freedom

Please join us in a Holy Hour for Religious Liberty & Freedom with Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 7 p.m. 

 

The Catholic Bishops of the United States have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer, study and action to address many current challenges to religious liberty both here and abroad. Taking place from June 21 – July 4, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political powers, this year’s theme, “Freedom to Serve” focuses on the freedom to serve the poor and vulnerable in accord with human dignity and the Church’s teaching.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, NY, is truly located on holy ground, being the site of the martyrdom of Sts. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil and John Lalande (1642-46) and the birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656). The Shrine’s Coliseum Church, built in 1930, was one of the first circular churches built in the United States and overlooks the historic Mohawk Valley which played such a vital role during the Revolutionary War.

Given its history the Shrine is a fitting location for the Albany Diocese’s celebration of this year’s Fortnight for Freedom and being near the geographic center of our fourteen counties it is a wonderful place to join Bishop Scharfenberger for a special Holy Hour for Religious Liberty and Freedom of Conscience.

 

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs (also known as the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs) is located on Route 5S, 4 miles east of Fultonville and 6 miles west of Amsterdam in Auriesville (136 Shrine Rd, Fultonville, NY 12072). 

On Fire for Immigration Reform

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking Catholics across the country to join together for seven days of prayer, reflection, and action to heal our broken immigration system.

Starting on Monday, June 2 and continuing through Sunday, June 8 (Pentecost Sunday), each day will be centered on one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Participants will be asked to pray the Prayer of the Holy Spirit, the daily reflection, and the closing prayer.

In addition, the Bishops provide educational resources and suggest actions for individuals and groups. You can learn more at On Fire for Immigration Reform.