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New Diocesan Offices List!
We've added a new tab to our website that has a list of Catholic diocesan offices across the country. There are over
130
links organized by state to make it easier to find & connect with local church offices that offer social justice resources and services.
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This month we have some highlights of the annual survey conducted by the Institute for Social Policy & Understanding. Their mission is to conduct
objective, solution-seeking research that empowers American Muslims to develop their community and fully contribute to democracy and pluralism in the United States. Some key findings of the 2018 survey include:
86%
of Americans say they “want to live in a country where no one is targeted for their religious identity.” Agreement across faith communities ranged from
95%
of Jews to
78%
of white Evangelicals.
66%
of Americans agree that “the negative things politicians say regarding Muslims is harmful to our country.”
80%
of Muslims reject violence carried out by an individual or small group
79%
of all Americans oppose the banning of building mosques
76%
of Muslims say violence against civilians can never
be justified, compared to
59%
of the general public
77%
of Americans
oppose the surveillance of U.S. mosques
55%
of Americans say that most Muslims living in the United States are committed to the well-being of America.
36%
of white Evangelicals agree -- the only group lacking a majority agreeing with this statement.
Someone perceived to be Muslim accused of a terror plot received
7
times the media coverage as someone not perceived to be Muslim.
Attacks by Muslim perpetrators received, on average,
357%
more coverage than other attacks.
46%
of Muslims agree that wearing a visible symbol
such as a head cover or hijab,
makes their faith identity known to others.
Of Muslim women who wear a hijab,
- 54% say they do so to indicate piety or to please God
- 21% say they do so to be identified as a Muslim
- 12% say they do so for modesty
- 1% say it is because a family member or a spouse required it of them
Check out the full survey
here
.
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The American River Ganges
In the not too distant past, other groups were feared and discriminated against in this country -- including Catholics. This famous cartoon by Thomas Nast appeared in 1871 in Harpers Weekly to warn the country about the dangers of Catholic immigrants -- depicted as crocodiles.
For more information and resources on
Religious Intolerance
,
click here
.
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Being Muslim in America
A resource from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, this 18 minute video offers a look inside the beliefs and attitudes of Muslims in America; featuring data from the Pew Center as well as the personal stories of Muslims from across the United States.
Watch now.
For information and resources on
Religious Intolerance
,
click here
.
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I Am a Refugee
A short video that features Ifrah Mansour’s reading of her poem “I Am a Refugee” at the Twin Cities World Refugee Day, where the portraits were taken. In it she calls for greater acceptance and understanding, “Won’t you just let me find my humanity right here next to you?”
Watch now.
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Trafficked in the U.S.
This documentary uncovers the hidden crime of human trafficking. It is told by victims, their parents, law enforcement officials, and social workers. Filmed by Fr. Charles Vijay Kumar, CSsR, this educational tool is for adolescents and teens so they can identify signs of potential exploitation, and know who can help them if exploitation occurs. It has
3
parts totaling
36
minutes:
True Stories of Human Trafficking in the U.S.
What Parents Need to Know about Human Trafficking
Faith Community against Human Trafficking
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Breaking White Supremacy: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Social Gospel
By Gary Dorrien. Looks at the legacy of the black social gospel and its relevance today. Tells the story about Martin Luther King and the mid-twentieth-century black church leaders who embraced the progressive, justice-oriented, internationalist social gospel from the beginning of their careers and fulfilled it, inspiring and leading one of America’s greatest liberation movements.
Read more.
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Love Undocumented:
Risking Trust in a Fearful World
By Sarah Quezada. Takes readers on a journey deep into the world of the U.S. immigration system as the author meets with lawyers, stands at the U.S. Mexico border, and visits immigrants in detention centers. With wisdom from Scripture, research, and these experiences, the book explores God's call to welcome the stranger and invites Christians to consider how to live faithfully in the world of closed doors and high fences.
Read more.
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Peace in the Post-Christian Era
By Thomas Merton. At the height of the Cold War, Merton issued this challenge to the idea that unthinkable violence can be squared with the Gospel of Christ. Censors of Merton's order blocked publication of this work, but forty years later it is still current when the words 'war on terrorism' replace 'war on communism.'
Read more.
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The Graybar Hotel: Stories
By Curtis Dawkins. A collection of short stories from a Master of Fine Arts graduate and convicted murder serving life without parole, long-listed for the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal; provides a window into prison life through the eyes of narrators and their cellmates. Reveals the idiosyncrasies, tedium, and desperation of long-term incarceration—and describes men who struggle to keep their souls alive despite the challenges they face.
Read more
.
For more on the
Criminal Justice System
,
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Now I Walk on Death Row:
A Wall Street Finance Lawyer Stumbles Into the Arms of a Living God
By Dale Recinella. A personal reflection of experiences on death row and ministering to those who are condemned.
Read more
.
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Mend the Gaps Study Guides
A 2 part resource from the Network Lobby,
Mind the Gap! Economic Inequality
and
We Can Mend the Gaps!
provides data, stories, quotes, prayers, reflection questions, church teaching and suggested actions for individual and group use.
Learn more
.
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Healing the Earth
A free environmental science e-textbook from Loyola University of Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability. It’s designed for all students interested in environmental science, particularly first year university students, fourth-year secondary school students, adult learners and those most marginalized worldwide. The textbook is aimed at heightening awareness of our planet’s environmental issues through Ignatian Pedagogy—a method that challenges students to see scientifically, evaluate ethically, reflect spiritually and act effectively.
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Journeys to Justice:
Reflections on Canadian Christian Activism
By Joe Gunn. Features interviews with ten people who have been active in social justice struggles across Canada for many years. Looks at how Christians from varied ecumenical backgrounds worked together to help end apartheid, admit refugees from Chile and Indochina, defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights and promote economic justice.
Read more
.
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Visionaries
A nonprofit educational organization dedicated to producing and distributing media that inspires individuals and communities to take action for positive social change. Seeks to inspire audiences, promote philanthropy on a global level, and serve as a catalyst for positive social change both locally and beyond.
Learn more.
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Unidos US:
Stonger Communities, Stronger America
Formerly known as NCLR—Unidos is a nonpartisan voice for Latinos. It serves the Hispanic community through research, policy analysis, and state and national advocacy efforts, as well as in their program work in communities nationwide. Unidos also partners with a national network of nearly
300
affiliates across the country to serve millions of Latinos in the areas of civic engagement, civil rights and immigration, education, workforce and the economy, health, and housing.
Learn more
.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events.
Learn more.
For more
Volunteer & Service
resources,
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Important Dates This Month
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Individuals Honored This Month
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August 9th
Consider two things: from where, to where.
Then your life will have its true meaning.
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The most deadly poison of our times is indifference.
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The life of "peace" is both an inner journey toward a disarmed heart and a public journey toward a disarmed world. This difficult but beautiful journey gives infinte meaning and fulfillment to life itself because our lives become a gift for the whole human race. With peace as the beginning, middle, and end of life, life makes sense.
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August 21st
What is a pilgrimage? Isn't it a group of people, in the company of one another, who are travelling together for a holy purpose? Our journey is a pilgrimage that has Jesus Christ as both its origin and its destination.
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Since we launched our website
17
months ago, we've had over
17,000
visitors from
123
countries.
with over
2,000
Resources including:
Films, Publications, Websites
Facts & Figures, Prayers, Quotes
&
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Social Justice Resource Center Newsletter
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Each month we email our newsletter to over
3,900
contacts around the country.
Each issue focuses on a social justice topic and has resources that have been recently added to our website. If you know of other
s who might be interested in receiving our newsletter,
please forward this email on to them or let us know and we'll add them to our mailing list. For past
Newsletters
,
click here
.
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contact@socialjusticeresourcecenter.org
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