Office for Social Ministry e-link  ---  Diocese of San Diego  -  858-490-8323

 

Dear OSM e-link member,

We keep growing.   E-link membership reached 312 this afternoon.  Don't forget to share www.osmelink.org with your local friends!  Remember, too, all past e-link bulletins can now be found on www.osmelink.org.  Thank you and God Bless!

 

Friday, May 16, 2003

OSM e-link  -  Bulletin # 5

 

Table of Contents:

 

- Comments from Kent Peters, Linda Arreola, Jim Walsh, and Jo Brower

 

- Key Upcoming Gatherings (please join us if at all possible)

            Major housing meeting on June 6 at St. Jude Shrine in San Diego

                     

- Updates from the Office for Social Ministry

             Prayer and rosary procession with Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Poway

             Parish Disability Facilitator quarterly meeting at the Pastoral Center

             Janitors settle contract dispute (good and bad news here)

                

- Advocacy Feedback

             Kent reports on call to Assy. Mem. Kehoe's office on AB 477, Specialty License Plates

 

- Advocacy Request

            Make a call in support of SCA 8, California prisons to evaluate new arrivals

      

- Web and e-mail-based resources and opportunities

             Link to article on principles of restorative justice

          

- Article/Statement for May 16, 2003

              Jim Walsh, Assistant Director of the OSM, comments on restorative justice 

 

 

Remarks from Kent Peters, Linda Arreola, Jim Walsh, and Jo Brower

 
Most if not all of us have at least one addiction.  Alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, the Internet, chronic selfishness – are none of those your addictions?  How about… the past?  In some way we all are addicted to the past.  We hold on to ideals, beliefs, convictions, and patterns of thinking and behavior that were learned in the past.  How often do we give as a reason for a certain behavior, “that’s just the way it is” or “isn't that the way we’ve always done it?"

 Some beliefs that many people hold on to are that:

-  criminals are convicted of the actual violations they commit
             against people or the community,

-         victims receive justice through the judicial process,

-         somehow, while the offender is being punished, he or she “learns” their lesson or learns from their mistakes, and

-    offenders will be able to reenter society on their own.

Most of us believe that offenders will emerge from their sentence more respectful, empowered to do good, and more in tune with society.  Nothing could be further from the… Truth. 

On Tuesday we received a phone call directly from a released inmate in the South Bay who was looking for help – in the form of cash, food, shelter, and a shower.  Our system’s response to his cry for help (including our parishes’ response) was, “Sorry, we can’t help.”  So we spread the word and people scrambled to find phone numbers of agencies and organizations that could help provide for his needs. As a result, a parish and another organization took care of the food and shower temporarily, but shelter wasn’t available without the cash which he had already spent, perhaps not wisely.

Maybe he was just really looking for cash.  Maybe he was an angel sent to help open our eyes and help us in our ministries.  Maybe we all need to be ready to help “the least of these” at a time when they are the most willing and the least able to help themselves. Woe to us for saying, “Sorry, but I can’t help you,……………………..Jesus."

Should we let the past dictate the future?  We must be open to reevaluating our beliefs if we are to let the Spirit do his work and to allow the Father's will to be done.  A portion of this e-link bulletin is about restoring justice - real moral justice in a system that has no moral compass. 

San Diego, pray for us.

Our Lady of Refuge, pray for us.

 

Key Culture-of-Life Gathering

 

Please join Fr. Henry Rodriguez, Pastor of St. Jude, the San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), and San Diego's faith community in a citywide "Call for Housing" event on Monday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Jude Shrine of the West located at 38th St. and Boston in the Southcrest neighborhood.  Over 1,500 people are expected to attend, along with City Council members, business leaders and labor representatives. Please RSVP to Danyrea Hassan at the SDOP office at 619-285-0797.   

 

As a result of many months of work and last year's meeting, the City of San Diego did three things, 1) declared a state of housing emergency, 2) created a $55 million pool of new funds for affordable housing, and 3) established an Affordable Housing Task Force.  The Task Force has completed its recommendations and will report back to the community at our June 9th meeting.  Now is the time for the faith community to join together to create the political will to advance the Task Force's recommendations which, if adopted, could result in a significant increase in affordable rental housing and home ownership opportunities for the families of our community. 

 

With the ever spiraling cost of housing in San Diego, we can legitimately ask, "Where will our grown children live?"  If we don't do something to bring down the cost of housing, the answer will surely be, "Not in our community."

 

Join us at St. Jude Shrine of the West on June 9th at 7:00 p.m.

 

This photo was taken at last year's meeting where over 1200 people of faith came together to spotlight the housing crisis in San Diego.  Results included a promise from city officials to make affordable housing a reality.  This year we expect to have over 1,500 in attendance.   

 

 

Short Reports

 

Prayer Walk with Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe -  A group of about 50 from all parts of the Diocese participated in a Mass and rosary procession past three abortion-providing facilities, including Pomerado Hospital, in Poway, on May 10, 2003.  Following Mass at St. Michael's Church, the group prayed fifteen decades of the rosary as they processed a little under a mile with one of the images commissioned by the Cardinals of Mexico that is touring the U.S.  As promised, the morning was prayerful, peaceful and meaningful.   

 

 

Some of those attending the walk posed for a moment outside of St. Michael's church after Mass for a photo with the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 

 

 

The group moves North on Pomerado Road with the Our Lady of Guadalupe "Image on Wheels."  All agreed that events like these: public, prayerful, and peaceful gatherings should happen more regularly in the Diocese.  Truth is, they do.  Just check the Bulletin Board section of the Southern Cross http://www.thesoutherncross.org for more information and periodic announcements.  We would like to extend a special note of gratitude to Pat Sullivan who coordinated this and other events with the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 

 

On May 6, 2003, Parish Disability Facilitators met at the Pastoral Center to further disability ministry in the Diocese of San Diego.  As parish leaders in the area of disability, their mission is to "facilitate full inclusion of all persons in the life of the parish family."  Parish  facilitators' goals include, 1) education, motivation and awareness on disability issues, 2) identification, outreach and invitation to people with disabilities, 3) creating an accessible environment within the parish, and 4) bringing together those with disabilities and those who do not have visible disabilities.

 

About 35 of the 100 parishes in our diocese have designated disability facilitators.  That means we are still seeking 65 facilitators who will function as liaisons to the Office for Social Ministry in the area of disability.  If you have an interest in exploring this parish leadership position, please call the OSM at 858-490-8323.

 

Quarterly meetings include dinner, a guest speaker, and frank and cordial conversations about furthering disability ministry at the parish and diocesan levels.  Following are a few photographs taken at the dinner portion of the May 6th meeting.

 

Sr. Carlotta DiLorenzo, Director of the Permanent Diaconate Office, was the guest speaker at the May 6th meeting.  She visits at dinner with Susan Caliendo and Margaret Gurney of Our Mother of Confidence, Laura Ortiz of Guardian Angel, and Liz Ravenis of St. Therese.

 

Paul Stemple of San Rafael visits with Laura Clark of St. Luke in El Cajon, Jackie Camp of Mission San Luis Rey, and Evie Taylor of St. John of the Cross.

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie visits with Evie, Connie Peters of St. Vincent De Paul, and Daren Cecil of  St. Mary Magdalene, our newest parish facilitator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like fun, doesn't it?  How would you like to become a member of this non-exclusive (inclusive) club?  Call 858-490-8323.

 

 

Contract Dispute between San Diego Janitors and Contractors Settled  On May 12, the janitors of San Diego accepted  two new contracts. 

 

The downtown contract (300 janitors) includes a 13% raise over the five-year contract period.  That amounts to a 2.6% raise each year - not a real raise in salaries, given inflation has been between 2% and 3% yearly. Better news is that family health insurance coverage will be extended to their families in April of 2005.  Perhaps the best news of all is that a strike was averted.

 

The suburban contract (1,200 janitors) includes 4.8% in raises over the two-year contract period.  That amounts to a 2.4% increase each year.  Some would say that income was lost, given the rate of inflation.  Also, there is no provision for health-care coverage for workers or their families in this contract. 

 

No one is really celebrating this time around, and much work needs to be done over the coming two years to convince building owners and contractors that the janitors who serve outside the downtown area are just as valuable as those who serve downtown.  They do the same work, and they are also raising families. 

 

We will keep you posted as to whether there will be a celebration that would include both the faith community and the janitors.  Thanks for your help with this ongoing struggle.   

 

 

Web and E-mail-based Resources and Opportunities

 

1) To view a fairly comprehensive description of restorative justice principles, go to: http://www.fresno.edu/pacs/docs/rjprinc2.html.  We recommend this article to those who want to learn more about restorative justice.  We do not necessarily endorse the organization providing this web site nor do we endorse other material on the site.

 

 

E-link Advocacy - Report

 

Kent's Report on AB 477, Moving the decision on Specialty License Plates from the Legislature to the Department of Motor Vehicles, thus depoliticising the process  

 

Kent called Assembly Member Christine Kehoe's office and had a couple of conversations with Gil Topete, the aid who handles this issue for the Kehoe office.  Kent shared his strong support for this reasonable measure.  There is hope.  Gil indicated that members of the Transportation Committee are not as opposed to this bill as they were to past "Choose Life" bills.  We will keep you posted as to when AB 477 will be heard again by the Assembly Transportation Committee and ask for calls again at that time.  Thanks to those who made calls on AB 477 this week.

 

 

E-link Advocacy - Request

We ask all e-link members to call their California State Assemby and Senate members in Support of SCA 8.  This bill will place on the ballot a measure that would require the California Department of Corrections to conduct an evaluation of each prisoner within 90 days of entry into prison with respect to his/her educational and vocational level of development and capacity to lead a constructive life upon release from prison.  Please make this call today!

 

California has all but abandoned rehabilitation efforts in its State prisons.  This policy can be seen as a first good step in the direction of providing skills that will benefit those leaving the system, their families and the larger community.  At present, only a small percentage of prisoners are enrolled in educational or vocational training.  This statistic is one reason why so many of those released from prison will eventually return to prison.  Let's begin moving in the right direction!

 

To determine who your California Assembly and Senate members are, go to http://www.vote-smart.org and insert your 9 digit zip-code where indicated.

 

 

Watch for a new OSM e-link bulletin sometime around June 3rd, 2003.  God Bless!

 

Article/Statement for Bulletin #5:

 


An INTRO to Restorative Justice - Jim Walsh


Restorative Justice... what is it?  It starts with the principle that crime is primarily an offense against human relationships (a moral issue) and secondarily a violation of a law (a statutory issue, since laws are written to protect safety and fairness in human relationships).
 

In civilized society, laws are important. Statutes are written to cover foreseeable violations of people or relationships between people.  However, statutorily it's not practical to anticipate every possible violation and all the consequences of every violation.  But even more importantly, the design of our judicial process can allow a violator to be fully prosecuted and never realize the full human consequences or impact of the violation.
 

 

We place emphasis on violation of statutes instead of the moral issue of violation of the human relationship.
 

Here's a straightforward example... a purse snatching.  The offender may admit guilt or be found guilty and punished. What he doesn't know or take responsibility for is that the victim had to get a new driver's license, credit cards, and perhaps change locks on the doors out of fear that the offender knew the address, and the list goes on and on.
 

 

This significant human violation is most likely never dealt with. And the needs of the victim created by the offense will most likely be completely ignored.  And purse snatching, as traumatic as it can be to the victim, is not even seen as a major crime given the pecking order of criminal activity today.
 

The violation of the human relationship is ignored and the real moral issue is hidden.  When the primary focus is on the violation of statutes and the imposition of statutorily mandated punishments, we unintentionally encourage denial of responsibility!
 

The U.S. Catholic Bishops' recent statement on criminal justice Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice has received a very positive reaction from a wide range of people.  The central theme of the document -- that people who commit crimes need to be held accountable, but as a Church, we should never give up on them --seems to resonate with most everyone.  After a unanimous vote by the bishops in November, the press was very encouraging.
 

The statement offers a variety of policy prescriptions consistent with our teaching and tradition as well as a list of suggestions for Catholic action.  Over 14,000 copies of Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice have already been purchased. The USCC Office of Publishing and Promotion Services still has plenty on hand if you wish to order additional copies. Call 800-235-8722. The statement is also available at:


http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/criminal.htm

 

In future issues of e-link, we will break open more examples of Restorative Justice, offer discussion on victims' rights and victim ministry, and present examples of mediation, reconciliation, reparation and healing.  "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:20