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June 11, 2015

WEEKLY WISDOM

"Brothers and sisters: creation is not a property, which we can dispose of at will; much less so is it the property of a some, of a few; creation is a gift, it is a present, a wonderful gift that God has given us to take care of and to use for the benefit of all, always with respect and gratitude."

- Pope Francis, October 28, 2014



FRANCIS AND FARMING
Cardinal Turkson to Connect Encyclical with Ag

What does Pope Francis' forthcoming eco-encyclical have to do with farming? Peter Cardinal Turkson will help answer that question at the international leg of CRL's Faith, Food & the Environment project, which will take place in Milan on June 27-28. 

The cardinal, who is the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will provide a keynote address exploring the agricultural implications of the pope's soon-to-be-published encyclical, which is titled Laudato Sii.  If the pope's recent remarks to delegates from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization are any indication, the connection between food security, solidarity, and sustainability will be made.

If you can't make it to Italy, we will have a lot more to say in the coming days about how you can follow along through social media and the dedicated symposium website.

PROTECT OUR CLEAN WATER
Sign Petition in Support of EPA Rule

The EPA recently expanded protections for freshwater sources in the Clean Water Act, a move that closed loopholes in the law that have left more than half of America's streams and millions of wetland acres inadequately protected from pollution. 

There's been a lot of misinformation about this rule, and our friends at the Center for Rural Affairs are leading the charge of setting the record straight. They've identified senators in five key states who need to be reminded why clean water is important. If you're a resident, click on your state below to sign-on to the letter being delivered to your senator: Colorado,  Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, and Oregon.  
FEATURED PROGRAM
STUDY GUIDE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Faith-Based Resource Combines Education and Action

CRL produces a faith-based study guide on Global Climate Change, which uses a reflection/action methodology called Shared Christian Praxis. The guide contains five progressive movements; the end result is meant not only to change attitudes, but to change behaviors on behalf of solidarity with the world and care of God' creation. View the web-based guide or download a PDF version for free today.

KEEP ANTIBIOTICS WORKING
By Keeping Them Out of Food Animals

Keep Antibiotics Working is a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, and other advocacy groups dedicated to eliminating a major cause of antibiotic resistance: inappropriate use of antibiotics in food animals. CRL has been a long-time member of this campaign, including recent sign-on letters.

The first is a letter to the USDA asking them to prioritize funding of research aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics on farms. The other one is a letter to the CEO of Subway asking the chain to adopt a policy for antibiotic use in the animals supplying its meat.  We are heartened by the fact that corporations and the federal government have been acting on our concerns. Last week, there was a Whitehouse Summit on antibiotics and McDonalds recently announced they would use antibiotic-free chicken in their products.


NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK
BEE BOLD Campaign, June 15-21

To keep the bees working for our food systems, we need to first keep them alive.

National Polinator Week begins Monday, June 15, and Catholic Rural Life is joining with many others to urge leading garden retailers to stop selling bee-killing pesticides. Without bee to pollinate our crops and flowering plants, our entire food system--and our fragile ecosystem itself--is at risk.

On Tuesday, June 16, the BEE BOLD campaign is calling for a day of action. You can listen to a radio conversation on the connection between the dying bee population and Catholic social teaching with Jim Ennis and Dr. Christopher Thompson on the Drew Mariani Show.
     CATHOLIC RURAL LIFE
     Applying the teachings of Jesus Christ 
     for the betterment of rural America
 
We're the only national Catholic non-profit dedicated to  addressing and overcoming the challenges facing rural America, be they social, economical, or spiritual.   Please consider supporting our work by becoming a member or donating today.

Have a question about our e-bulletin? Have an item you want to share?

Contact Jonathan Liedl, CRL Communications Coordinator.