Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

FELICIAN SISTERS OF NORTH AMERICA

Thursday, September 16, 2021

International Day of Peace

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the unanimous adoption by United Nations member states of the Resolution establishing an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on the United Nations International Day of Peace, fixing the day in the global calendar on September 21. The 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”.

Observe the Global “Minute of Silence”

In 1984, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Pathways to Peace inaugurated the Minute of Silence. At noon in each time zone, this observance of silence creates a “Peace Wave” around the world. Individuals, organizations, communities, and nations are invited to participate in this shared and practical act of peacebuilding.

USCSAHT Conference on Human Trafficking

All Felician Sisters and Associates are members.

Registration is now open for this free, two-day, virtual conference which will feature dynamic speakers who are experts in the field of human trafficking, panel presentations, opportunities for networking, and even a virtual happy hour! This conference contains crucial insight and knowledge on how to fight human trafficking by building capacity to effectively create change.

October 1 and 2, 2021

Please click below to view schedule and to register.

Abuses by Customs and Border Patrol

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and Kino Border Initiative (KBI) have released a joint report “Due Process Denied” documenting a pattern of abuse by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Nogales sector.

The report details thirty-five cases of violations by CBP agents documented by KBI from October 2020 to mid-August 2021. All of the immigrants were interviewed by KBI. The abuses range from migrants being denied due process, such as not given an opportunity to seek asylum or destruction of documentation, to outright physical violence. The victims are men, women, and children and all from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Increase Refugee Admissions

Under President Reagan, the refugee cap was set at 231,700. Unfortunately, it’s been shrinking ever since, dropping to an unconscionable 15,000 under President Trump. In this first year of the Biden administration, the U.S. is on track to admit the fewest refugees ever recorded. Please click here to tell President Biden to increase the refugee admission cap to at least 200,000 in 2022.

Update on How to Help Afghanistan Refugees

A page has been added to the USCCB/MRS Justice For Immigrants website with information and resources relevant to Afghanistan and the relocation of Afghans to the United States. It is a good source of information for those who wish to assist and will be updated regularly.

“Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism. If prayer leads us into a deeper unity with the compassionate Christ, it will always give rise to concrete acts of service. And if concrete acts of service do indeed lead us to a deeper solidarity with the poor, the hungry, the sick, the dying, and the oppressed, they will always give rise to prayer. In prayer we meet Christ, and in him all human suffering. In service we meet people, and in them the suffering Christ.” (Henri Nouwen)

All Citizens Should Have the Right To Vote

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to reconvene today after its August recess, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has committed to making voting rights and democracy reforms the first order of business. We now need to make sure that our senators know that protecting voting rights, especially for Black and brown communities most harmed by restrictive voting laws, is a priority for us. You may email your senators here with a template message in support of both the For the People Act (S1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Please add your personal experiences of voter suppression or concerns about restrictions on voting rights to give your message greater weight.