Office for Social Ministry e

Office for Social Ministry

e-link

The Diocese of San Diego

858-490-8323

#11 9/12/03

Dear OSM e-link Member,

Welcome members, both old (former) and new! E-link membership reached 482 this afternoon. We are rapidly moving toward the 500 mark, so let's continue to share information about e-link with those interested in furthering a Culture of Life in the Diocese of San Diego. Anyone can register for e-link at www.osmelink.org. Our goal for the first year (by April of 2004) is 1000. We are almost half way there. Keep up the good work.

We are adding a new and permanent feature to e-link in this issue. It's called reportback: reportback@diocese-sdiego.org. Reportback will allow members (via an e-mail to the Office for Social Ministry) to do two things: 1) to simply inform the Office for Social Ministry that a member has made the legislative call asked for in the Advocacy Request section of the immediate past bulletin and, for those who want to go a step further, 2) to give a few details about the call for possible publication in the next bulletin. You will find more on "Reportback" in the Remarks section of this bulletin.

As always, those who receive e-link bulletins via AOL and plain text may want to view e-link bulletins at the OSM web site. This will give them the ability to view photos, graphics, links, colors, etc. Upon receiving a plain text e-link bulletin, those subscribers can go to www.osmelink.org and view that same bulletin as a web page.

Thanks, and God Bless!

Friday, September 12, 2003

OSM e-link - Bulletin #11

Table of Contents:

Comments by Kent Peters (important new e-link feature: Reportback)

Key Upcoming Gatherings (please join us if at all possible)
          - Last Call - Detention Ministry Conference, tomorrow, Saturday, September 13, 2003
          - Forum on the death penalty, Justice or Revenge? set for Saturday, October 4, 2003
          - Church Ministers' Conference, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, Janet Smith, presenter
          - Life Resource Network Life Walks set for Saturday, October 18, 2003
          - AIDS Quilt Blessing set for Sunday, September 21, 2003 at the Pastoral Center
          - Banquet at the Pastoral Center with Bud Welch set for Thursday, November 6, 2003
          - Registration info for AIDS Walk, set for Sunday, October 5, 2003, at Balboa Park

Updates from the Office for Social Ministry
          - Claire DiSalvo, Jesuit Volunteer, joins Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice staff
          -  Farewell to Brother Ed Dunn, who leaves San Diego for ministry in Mexico
          - Talks on domestic violence available for parish men's groups from the OSM

Advocacy Feedback
- Kent reports on H.R. 1684, the Student Adjustment Act of 2003

Advocacy Request
- Calls to Senators Feinstein and Boxer on Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act

Web and e-mail-based Resources
- Link to the new Catholic Social Teaching "Catechism" from the Vatican

*****Article/Statement for September 12, 2003*****
- You won't want to miss this short note from a pregnancy care center volunteer

Remarks from Kent Peters

Reportback... It's new, but what's it all about?

In an effort to determine the effectiveness of the advocacy side of e-link, we are asking those who make advocacy calls to simply let us know they did. We are looking for an accurate count of the number of calls made to legislators and policy makers. A message in a reportback e-mail like, "I made the call," or "I called," is all we ask. That message can even be in the subject line of the e-mail with no text in the message section. To let us know that you made the call, just send an e-mail to reportback@diocese-sdiego.org. It's that simple.

On the other hand, those of you who would like to give a more complete report on how the call went, e.g., what you heard from the legislator or the aide in response to your request, can send a short message (the "story" of the call if you will) to Reportback. In the first ten e-link bulletins, e-link advocacy reports came from Office for Social Ministry staff. We want to expand that option to the entire e-link membership. So, we will regularly publish advocacy reports from general e-link members. We will also continue the pledge to include only one report per bulletin, keeping the text in that report to a minimum.

Please do all you can to continue making the proposed legislative calls. This bulletin, #11, asks that you call our California U.S. Senators to move the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act forward, a very important call.

In the U.S. Bishops' document Faithful Citizenship, they made clear that participation in public life (legislative advocacy is a profound way to participate) is constitutive of our Christian makeup by saying,

For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active, and responsible participant in the political process. We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity [more fully] to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power.

What an honor it is to live in a democracy where we are free to lift up our voices on behalf of those who are threatened or marginalized, free to inform our political values with those of the Gospel of Life, free to make a "great noise" about human life and dignity. God Bless America!

San Diego, Pray for us.

Our Lady of Refuge, Pray for us.

7 Key Culture-of-Life Gatherings (a very busy time)

Number 1:

Reminder... Detention Ministry Conference Day, Tomorrow, Saturday, September 13, 2003, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Join us for a DETENTION MINISTRY CONFERENCE DAY on Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Mary Magdalene Church Hall, 1945 Illion St., San Diego, 92110. Conservative estimates are that over 20,000 of those incarcerated in detention facilities in our diocese are Roman Catholic. They are members of the Diocese of San Diego and deserve our care and attention. Please consider serving in a detention ministry near your parish. Join us on the 13th!

- Special guest speakers
      Fr. John Auther, Assoc. Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Diego
      Rev. Chuck Workman, Chaplain Coord. SD County Probation Dept.
      Fr. Justin Langille and David Herrera (Spanish)
      Cliff Sumrall, Vista Detention Facility Volunteer Coord.
      Yvette Klepin, Superintendent, Juvenile Ranch Facility
      Gill Hernandez, Senior Probation Officer
      Pete Flores, Com. Resources Manager, R.J. Donovan State Prison

- Espanol and English
- Introduction to volunteer ministry for the curious
- Formation for lay ministers, priests, and chaplains
- The Do's and Don'ts of prison ministry
- Using music, books, and sacramentals
- Learn about contemplative/centering prayer for yourself
and for sharing with inmates
- Lite-lunch snack at 11:20 a.m.

If you would like further details, such as the agenda, or want future notices of Detention Ministry events or information, e-mail your name, address and phone number to jwalsh@diocese-sdiego.org or call the OSM at 858-490-8323.

Number 2:

Justice or Revenge? A Forum on the Death Penalty, set for Saturday, October 4, 2003, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This forum has been created to provide an opportunity for participants to challenge speakers, to explore attitudes, to process feelings, and to ask the hard questions associated with the death penalty. All are welcome.

Main speakers include:

Fr. Bruce R. Bramlett - As an Episcopal priest and pastor of 25 years, Fr. Bruce has spent time as a spiritual advisor and family support person to those on San Quentin's Condemned Row.

Carol Duncanson - Carol is a member of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation, an organization of people that opposes the death penalty in response to family members having been murdered. Carol has spoken nationally and internationally.

Jeff Ghelardi - A long-time activist in the criminal justice reform, in particular abolition of the death penalty, Jeff is currently co-coordinator of Death Penalty Focus of San Diego.

Click on this poster to see a large version with all details on the event or go to: http://www.osmelink.org/messages/091203%20Death%20Penalty%20Forum%20Poster.htm

Forum Location:

Bard Hall at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego

4190 Front Street in the Mission Hills area by the UCSD Medical Center.

Click (here) for map.

There is no pre-registration required for this free and open-to-the-public event.

Registration at the door and a free continental breakfast will begin 9:00 a.m. Join us for a day of reflection and growth.

For more information about the event, contact Pilar M. Placone, Ph.D. at 619-685-9564.

Number 3:

Reminder... Join us on Saturday, September 27, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for our Diocesan Annual Conference for Church Ministers at the San Diego Convention Center. This year's theme is Celebrating the Mystery of Christ. Janet Smith Ph.D., professor of life issues at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI, will present a workshop entitled, The Theology of the Body, Marriage, and the Eucharist. More below...

The Conference keynote address entitled, First Principles of Liturgy: What's it All About? will be provided by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Archbishop of Cincinati.

Janet Smith (see photo at left) is an internationally known speaker on issues of life and human sexuality.

Janet's Workshop Description: Both Marriage and the Eucharist are sacraments; both are signs; both are acts of total self-giving; both are sources of salvific grace. The world cannot understand or accept the Church's teaching that bread and wine become Christ's body and blood; it cannot accept that the Eucharist gives real nourishment; truly the Church's understanding of the nature of marriage is almost as mystifying to the modern mind. Pope John Paul II's theology of the body helps to clarify the connections and concepts.

To register online or to print a mail-in registration form go to:

http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/set.asp?link=ac2003.html&in=News,

or to receive a registration by mail, call the Diocese of San Diego at 858-490-8200.

Join us for this wonderful celebration of Life, Marriage, Family and Liturgy!

Number 4:

Reminder... Life Resource Network's LifeWalk 2003 has been scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2003. Walks will take place simultaneously at Kit Carson Park in Escondido and at Midway Baptist Church in the South Bay. Join thousands from across the diocese in support or LRN!

Your participation enables LRN to 1) educate youth and adults to value human life and make healthy lifestyle choices, 2) empower pregnant women to choose life, and 3) encourage post-abortion healing for both women and men.

How to Register:

Contact your parish LifeWalk representative, call LRN to find out who your representative is, or call LRN for registration materials.

LRN Phone Number: 619-516-1236

Number 5:

AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel Blessing set for Sunday, September 21, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pastoral Center, 3888 Paducah Drive in San Diego.

Ten quilt panels were created this past spring by family members and friends of those who have died of AIDS. Bishop Salvatore Cordileone will preside at the prayer service and bless the ten quilts. Those who have made past panels (1996 to the present) and the general public are welcome to join Bishop Cordileone for this special event, as it will likely be the final quilt blessing.

For further information call the OSM at 858-490-8323.

Number 6:

Bud Welch Banquet.... Save the Date: The Office for Social Ministry and California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty invite you to a Banquet at the Pastoral Center to honor Bud Welch, Thursday, November 6, 2003, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. More to follow in the next e-link, but don't forget to save that date.

Number 7:

The Diocesan HIV/AIDS Commission invites you to walk or run to raise funds for services to community members with AIDS. AIDS Walk/Run 2003 will take place on Sunday, October 5, 2003, starting at 8:00 a.m. Click on the photo below or follow the link below to learn more and to register to walk or run. Please stop by the HIV/AIDS Commission booth to say hello if you attend.

http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/

Short Reports on OSM Related Issues/Events

Clare DiSalvo, a Jesuit Volunteer, begins a year of full-time volunteer service for the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.

Clare DiSalvo, seen here between Linda Arreola and Kent Peters, takes time for a quick photo following September's monthly ICWJ general membership meeting.

Clare graduated recently from Yale University with a degree in Religious Studies. Clare spent her summers as a member of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker community; a researcher in the national office of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a social justice program of the US Catholic Bishops; and an organizer for the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, HERE Local 12, in Cincinnati, respectively.

Clare will spend her Jesuit Volunteer year supporting the San Diego Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice in its work to educate and mobilize the faith community around campaigns that will sustain lives with dignity for workers and their families by such means as improving wages, benefits, and working conditions. This year, the ICWJ will particularly focus on passing and implementing a living wage ordinance in the city of San Diego.

We welcome Clare to the Diocese of San Diego and ask Our Lord's blessings on her work!

To contact Clare, call the ICWJ at 619-584-5740.

Brother Ed Dunn leaves to serve in Mexico - Farewell our faithful Brother! We will miss you immensely!

On August 1, friends gathered for prayer, music and celebration to say farewell to Br. Ed Dunn, OFM, as he concluded his ministry with the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights. We thank Br. Ed for all his work and passion in advocating for immigrants here in the diocese. Br. Ed will be working in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, assisting his fellow Franciscans in a migration immersion program.

In the picture are Linda, Br. Ed and Angelina Sampo, Director of Catechetical Ministry of St. Anthony of Padua.

Kent Peters is available to diocesan men's groups/associations for presentation on domestic abuse from September 2003 until February 2004

Kent Peters (right), Director of the OSM, paused for a photo with members of the St. James Parish Men's Breakfast Fellowship following his September 5th presentation on domestic abuse.

The talk includes two 30-second video presentations from Front Line in Calgary, Canada, audio from a 6-year-old's call to 911, and material on the causes and consequences of domestic abuse. Discussion in the presentation includes, 1)men's roles in preventing domestic abuse, 2) handling domestic abuse at the parish level, and 3) creating parish outreach to families experiencing domestic abuse. The length of his presentation varies from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the format of the men's gathering.

To schedule a presentation call the OSM at 858-490-8323 or e-mail Jo Brower at jbrower@diocese-sdiego.org.

Web and Resources and Opportunities

In early 2003 the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace released a document that has been called, "the Catechism of Catholic Social Teaching." Consolidating material from all social encyclicals from Rerum Novarum to the present, The Social Agenda, can be found in its entirety at a web site dedicated to making this document available to the world.

Go to www.thesocialagenda.com to access this vital Vatican resource.

E-link Advocacy Report

Kent called the offices of Representatives Hunter and Cunningham, asking that they become sponsors of H.R. 1684, The Student Adjustment Act of 2003, giving certain long-term immigrant students brought to the U.S. by their parents years earlier the ability to apply for legal residence.

Aides in both offices indicated that neither representative had made clear their intentions on H.R. 1684. Kent asked that the aides speak with the Representatives, that they share his perspective on the issue, and that they also pass on a request that they become co-sponsors of the bill.

The aides indicated that they would get back to Kent by phone in a day or two. We will keep you posted on H.R. 1684. To learn a bit more on H.R. 1684, see the advocacy request section of e-link #10 at www.osmelink.org.

E-link Advocacy Request ---- Please don't forget to report back to the OSM on your call at reportback@diocese-sdiego.org.

Back on June 17, in e-link bulletin 7, we asked you to call your U.S. Representatives to thank them for passing H.R. 760, the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act. H.R. 760 was then sent directly to a House/Senate conference committee to work out common language. In an effort to block this landmark piece of legislation, Senate Democrats are refusing to appoint their conferees to that committee. Also, the Senate version of the bill contains a non-binding amendment sponsored by pro-abortion Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) backing Roe v. Wade.

It is true. Both houses of Congress have passed the ban. However, the Senate version contains a non-binding amendment sponsored by pro-abortion Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) backing Roe v. Wade. Pro-life groups expected a conference committee to strike the Harkin language and send the ban to President Bush to sign.

However, Senate Democrats refused to appoint their conferees and the process stalled. On September 15, the Senate is expected to consider a motion to go to conference. Though Senate Democrats wanted a week to debate what is usually a noncontroversial motion, both sides agreed to 8 hours of debate. Led by pro-abortion Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), pro-abortion lawmakers will spend four hours bashing the bill. The motion will instruct members of the conference to keep the Harkin amendment in the bill. However, a majority of conferees will likely remove.

President Bush has confirmed he will sign the bill as soon as Congress sends it to him.

Please call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and ask them to "Drop the Harkin Amendment and send the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act to President Bush for his signature."

Senator Feinstien's DC office phone number is 202-224-3841.

Senator Boxer's DC office phone number is 202-224-3553.

Watch for a new OSM e-link bulletin around September 30, 2003

Article or Statement for Bulletin #11

Normally we reserve this space for official documents and articles we believe will aid those promoting a culture of life. Not in this issue. What follows is a short note from a pregnancy care center volunteer serving in Duluth, Minnesota. It was originally published in the Lake Superior Life Care Center's monthly fundraising thank-you note that is part of their Adopt the Lake Superior Life Care Center program. The note was slightly edited for privacy and content by the OSM.

Stories like the following happen regularly at pregnancy care centers throughout the country. Our God, in diverse ways, is bringing grace to people and situations that on the surface seem hopeless. May we be instruments of that grace. Please enjoy this simple yet profound story.

It was about 4 p.m. on a stormy fall afternoon, when a young lady came in to the Pregnancy Care Center office. She was visibly upset and said that she wanted to watch videos on abortion. I had a real sense, a prompting from the Holy Spirit, that I should sit with her and help her through the video.

We started talking, and she told me that she was 3 months pregnant, that her boyfriend had just found her at the abortion clinic, that he was extremely upset, and that they had been arguing prior to her going to the abortion clinic. She told me that she had scheduled an appointment for an abortion the following week and wanted to watch videos on abortion so she knew what to expect. We had just started watching the video when her boyfriend came in to the room. He was also visibly upset. The second he entered the room they started screaming at one another. At one point I had to tell them so sit down, be quiet, and act like mature adults. He yelled at her saying "you have no right to kill my baby." "I'm not going to kill the baby. I'm just having an abortion" she replied. I nearly fell over when I heard that statement. It was obvious to me at that moment this young lady had absolutely no idea what an abortion was. She needed prayer and counseling.

After they both calmed down, we began to talk. She told me that she had a two year old daughter in foster care. When asked why, she admitted that she and her boyfriend were addicted to drugs and alcohol. The reason she wanted the abortion was because she couldn't imagine losing another child due to her addictions. I provided the couple with infomation on various helping agencies in the community and shared from my heart a conviction that God would not abandon them, that he would help them through anything. There is no greater power to heal those who have experienced true brokenness than that which comes from Our Lord Jesus Christ. After an hour and a half of talking, they left the office. I was uncertain whether or not she would go through with the abortion. I prayed daily that she would not have that abortion.

About a month ago this lovely young couple with a 3-year-old little girl and a 7-month-old baby boy came in to the office. I didn't even recognize them at first, as they had cleaned themselves up so much. They came in only to thank the center staff for being there for them and to tell me that without the Lake Superior Life Care Center they probably would have ended up in jail, or worse, dead. Since that first visit they had accomplished so much. They had gone through drug and alcohol counseling, secured good jobs, gotten their daughter back from foster care, delivered a BEAUTIFUL baby boy, and discovered new faith in Jesus, Our Lord.

Sometimes when I'm serving here at the Life Care Center, I wonder "Why am I here? Am I really helping anyone?" and then a miracle like this happens. It is the answer to prayer and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I know for sure that this is where I belong.

If you would like to learn more about how the Diocese of San Diego is supporting pregnancy care centers in San Diego and Imperial Counties, take a look at the "Life Options" brochure at http://www.osmelink.org/messages/060403%20Life%20Options%20Brochure.htm or click on the Life Options Logo below. For more information about Life Options contact Jo Brower at 858-490-8323.