December 19, 2024

“Each of us must feel in some way responsible for the devastation to which the earth, our common home, has been subjected, beginning with those actions that, albeit only indirectly, fuel the conflicts that presently plague our human family.”

—Pope Francis, Message for the 58th World Day of Peace

Pope Francis: May sentences of US federal death row inmates be commuted

Pope Francis called for prayers during his Angelus address, urging the commutation of sentences for inmates on federal death row in the U.S. 

“Today, I feel compelled to ask all of you to pray for the inmates on death row in the United States. Let us pray that their sentences may be commuted or changed. Let us think of these brothers and sisters of ours and ask the Lord for the grace to save them from death.”

Read the Vatican News article here. Read the Angelus message here.

World Day of Peace | January 1, 2025

Pope Francis released the message for the World Day of Peace, which will be commemorated on January 1, 2025. The theme of the 2025 message is “forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace.” In the message (section 11), Pope Francis offers three proposals capable of restoring dignity to the lives of many and enabling them to set out anew on the journey of hope: reducing or canceling international debt, a commitment to protecting life from conception to natural death, and setting aside a percentage of military expenditures to create a fund to combat hunger and help educate. The Holy Father states, “Those who take up these proposals and set out on the journey of hope will surely glimpse the dawn of the greatly desired goal of peace.” 

Read the full message here.

Pope says there's no religious justification for Russia's war on Ukraine

In a letter to the nuncio in Russia, Pope Francis wrote that there is no spiritual justification for Russia’s war on Ukraine. The Holy Father said that he wanted to speak on behalf of the war's victims, "their cry rises to God, invoking peace instead of war, dialogue instead of the din of weapons, solidarity instead of partisan interests, because one cannot kill in the name of God."

Read more here.

CMSM has a compilation of JPIC resources available for JPIC coordinators or leaders of communities in the Member Content area of our website. If you are interested in gaining access to these resources, please email David Rohrer Budiash (drohrerbudiash@cmsm.org) for instructions on how to sign up.

Policy Notes

Letter to Congress Regarding Disaster Supplemental Funding Request, December 9, 2024

Catholic Charities USA, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Catholic Rural Life sent a letter to Congress urging them to approve the disaster supplemental funding request that President Biden recently submitted to Congress. The letter states that without significant supplemental funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS FEMA) and other agencies, the effectiveness of disaster assistance to the affected populations will be limited, an area Catholic agencies have significant on-the-ground experience distributing. 

Read more here.

Joint Committee Letter on the National Defense Authorization Act

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sent a letter to government leaders about the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act. The USCCB asked for their consideration of four key issues: overturning the rule allowing abortion in Veterans Affairs programs, opposition to TriCare coverage of assisted reproductive technologies, support for further aid for Afghan families, and opposition to the mandatory military conscription for women via Selective Service.

Read more here.

Texas sues New York doctor for mailing abortion pills

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Dr. Margaret Carpenter for allegedly mailing abortion pills to a woman in Texas, a violation of state law banning such practices. The lawsuit also claims the medication led to severe health complications for the woman. Texas law prohibits mailing abortion drugs and limits abortions to medical emergencies. Carpenter's group provides telemedicine abortions nationwide, including in states with restrictive laws.

Learn more here.

Refugees & Migrants in our Common Home: Mobilizing Academic Communities for Action 

Pope Francis addressed the International Refugee and Migrant Education Network’s conference on migrant and refugee education, and he called on the academic community to contribute to the understanding and promotion of migrants and refugees. Villanova University’s Strategic Initiative for Migrants + Refugees and its partners are embarking on a three-year project engaging key Catholic institutions from around the world to co-create a college and university-focused joint Action Plan that mobilizes academics and their community partners in a worldwide response to critical issues impacting migrants and refugees. 

Learn more here.

• Eco-Film Screening (Virtual)
• Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:30 pm CT
• Register here. Additional details here.
• Pilgrims of Hope: Tools for the Synodal Journey (Virtual)
• Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET
• Register here.
• Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
• January 25-28, 2024 | Washington, DC
• Register here.

Contact CMSM JPIC

Dr. David Rohrer Budiash, Director of Programs & Managing Editor, Review for Religious

Visit us online: cmsm.org/justiceandpeace