Office
for Social
Ministry
e-link
The Diocese of
San Diego
Happy New Year!
858-490-8323
#17 01/21/04
Dear e-link Member,
May your New Year be filled with a holiness that radiates a culture of life.
January, like October, is recognized by the U.S. Catholic Church as
a special time to reflect on the loss of respect for human life and to pray
for the reestablishment of a true Culture of Life. We especially pray
to end the infamous January 22, 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision
that legalized abortion on demand throughout the entire nine months of
pregnancy across the United States.
Here in California it seems as if there is no slowing the slide into a
culture of death, or is there? Truth is, we now have an opportunity to
bring a modicum of sanity back into California law. It's the Parental
Notification Initiative (PNI). The PNI will return rights to parents and
create a positive influence in our culture by fostering family
communication.
Please make supporting the PNI a priority, starting in January
2004 and continuing throughout the year right up to the November elections
where we hope the PNI will be on the ballot. We have dedicated the
following e-link sections below to the PNI: Gatherings/Projects, Updates,
Advocacy Request, Web and e-mail Resources, and the #17 Article.
Thanks for being a member of e-link.
We reached 589 in membership this morning.
God Bless!
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
OSM e-link - Bulletin #17
Table of Contents:
Reflection on Domestic Abuse, Men, and a Prayer - by Kent Peters
Key Upcoming Gatherings/Projects (please join us if at all
possible)
- Home-based and parish-based ways to support the Parental
Notification Initiative
- Men's Leadership Forum (ending domestic abuse) set for Friday,
February 13, 2004
- Join Bishop Cordileone and OSM staff for Catholic Lobby Day,
Tues., April 24, 2004
- Vigil on Feb. 9, in view of the Kevin Cooper execution on Feb.
10th at 12:01 a.m.
Updates from the Office for Social Ministry
- PNI efforts well under way
Advocacy Feedback
- Report from Kent, call to Duncan Hunter's
DC office on the Interfaith Mid East Initiative
- Short update on Abercrombie and Fitch
Advocacy Request
- Promote the PNI signature gathering drive
in your e-mail circle of family and friends
Web and e-mail-based Resources
- Visit the Parental Notification web site - view the
petition, learn the basics on PNI and
download an 8 1/2 by 11 official version of the petition for
circulation
Local and Regional Events/Gatherings/Projects
- Culture of Life Family Services Dinner at
Resurrection Parish, Escondido, Jan. 24.
- St. Brigid will sponsor a Rosary-for-Life after the Noon Mass
this Sunday, Jan. 24.
- Fitch Fertility Center is sponsoring a candlelight vigil to end
abortion on Jan. 22.
- Culture-of-Life Holy Hour at San Rafael on Friday, Jan. 23, from
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Our Lady of Grace to host Adoration with Benediction, Friday,
Jan. 23, 7:00 p.m.
Article/Statement for January 21, 2004
- Text of Bishop Brom's statement of support
for the Parental Notification Initiative
Remarks from Kent Peters
A Reflection on Domestic Abuse, Men, and a Prayer
I have been giving presentations on domestic abuse and gender-based
violence to men's prayer breakfast groups since early summer and had the
good fortune of speaking to nearly 60 members of the St. Therese Parish
Men's Group this past Saturday, January 10. As elsewhere, I arrived early
to set up (test AV equipment, cue audio spots, put materials at place
settings, etc.), giving myself time to attend Mass and eat breakfast (you
wouldn't believe the fare... steak, bacon, sausage, eggs, fruit, juice,
coffee) undisturbed with the men's group before the presentation.
As I was setting handouts at each place, I noticed prayer cards already on
the tables. Before I share the prayer, I must tell you that this
presentation on domestic violence, in particular, creates more nervousness
on my part than any of the other talks I give. Recognizing that profound
physical, sexual, and emotional violence occurrs in every community,
including the Catholic community, prompted me to recall that I might be
speaking to someone who has experienced or witnessed violence as a child or
as an adult, or that I might be speaking to someone who has been a
perpetrator of violence. I was thinking about the men I would be speaking
to in less than an hour as I stopped to read the prayer:
Good Morning Dear Lord,
Thank you for the precious gift you have given me this morning, my life -- to live fully and joyfully, one more day. Please give me the grace to be kind and patient today, that I may see beyond worldly appearances, so that I may encounter your Holy presence in each person I meet.
Close my ears, Dear Father, to all gossip, seal my lips to all judgments and criticisms that my words will only bless all about me and warm the coldest heart.
Let my actions be so just, my feelings be so tender, my conduct be so humble and true to Your will that throughout this day I will be a reflection of Your heavenly mercy and love.
Amen.
The Office for Social Ministry plans to offer this presentation to men's groups (via Kent) as well as presentations to women's or mixed groups (via Linda) throughout 2004. Just call the office if your parish has an interest.
Also, please see the Upcoming Gatherings/Projects section of e-link for information on the fourth annual Men's Leadership Forum, a one-day conference for male leaders on domestic violence on Friday, February 13.
May all women, men, and children become peace bearers in our midst.
San Diego, Pray for us.
Our Lady of Refuge, Pray for us.
Key Culture-of-Life Gatherings/Projects
Number 1:
The Parental Notification Initiative (PNI) is on the move. Go to the PNI web site (click photo below or go to www.parentalnotification.org) for detailed information on the initiative. We need to gather nearly one million signatures state-wide by mid-April to qualify the initiative for the November 2004 ballot. The PNI effort is counting on individuals and Parishes in the Diocese of San Diego to gather nearly 20,000 signatures. We can do it!
The initiative mandates that except for medical emergency, no abortion could
be performed on an un-emancipated minor until the physician notifies the
minor’s parent or legal guardian.
Watch for signature tables at your parish during the months of February and
March. One important way to assist the effort is to encourage fellow
parishioners to sign the petition.
See the Advocacy section below to join the person-to-person e-mail phase of
signature gathering. Each of us now has the capability to attach a PDF file
of the petition we obtain from PNI to an e-mail that we send to family and
friends in California. Those who receive our e-mail simply open the PDF
file and then print the petition out, right at home. These petitions have
four signature spots, just enough for a typical household. Don't forget,
however, that only registered voters may sign. From person to person to
person, this could spread like wildfire.
Please remember, however, that an individual may only sign the petition
once. If you're like me, you might forget you signed at home and sign again
at a retail outlet or at the parish. Do something a little different when
you first sign the petition to help boost the memory process. Perhaps take
your husband, wife, best friend, etc. out for coffee as a way to celebrate
the signing. I know that would help me remember, and it will spread the joy
of moving this project forward.
May God bless our efforts to involve parents in their children's lives in
matters of life!
Number 2:
Fourth Annual Men's Leadership
Forum - Join with more than 300 men from San Diego County on Friday,
February 13, 2004 to learn more about male solutions to domestic and
gender-based violence and how men can bring healing to individuals and the
community.
Here are a few simple facts about domestic violence. 1) More than 20,000 domestic violence calls were made to SD County law enforcement agencies in 2001. Of those calls, 5500 led to actual criminal cases with 18 involving fatalities. 2) Domestic violence costs about 67 billion dollars per year (costs for law enforcement, judicial, medical, social services, lost productivity, etc.). 3) More than 1.5 million women are physically and/or sexually abused by an intimate partner each year. 4) Between 90% and 95% of violent acts in personal relationships are male to female. It's clear, men need to be part of the solution, and so, we are calling all men to the 2004 Men's Leadership Forum. See the particulars below.
Photo to the left - At the 2003 MLF, Steve Allen (right),
Co-chair of the MLF with Sargeant Jim Arthur (not shown) of the SD Police
Domestic Violence Unit, presents the "Hometown Hero" award to Casey Gwinn
(left), City Attorney, for his work in creating the Family Justice Center.
San Diego is at the forefront in serving families that experience domestic
or sexual violence. Visit the Family Justice Center web site at
http://familyjusticecenter.org/main.htm or click on the photo of Steve
and Casey to learn more. The Family Justice Center is the most
comprehensive "one stop shop" in the nation for victims of family violence
and their children. Victims of domestic violence in the City of San Diego
can now come to one location to talk to an advocate, get a restraining
order, plan for their safety, talk to a police officer, meet with a
prosecutor, receive medical assistance, counsel with a chaplain, get help
with transportation, and obtain nutrition or pregnancy services counseling.
Men's Leadership Forum on Friday,
February 13, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Paradise Point Conference Center in Mission Bay,
1404 Vacation Road, SD
Cost: $25 pre-registration, $30 registration at the
door
To receive an invitation by e-mail or regular mail, call or e-mail to the
address below.
call 858-490-8323
or e-mail
jbrower@diocese-sdiego.org.
Number 3:
Catholic Lobby Day in Sacramento -
Join Bishop Cordileone, the OSM staff (Linda, Jim, Jo and Kent), and 35
other parishioners at the 6th annual Catholic Lobby Day on Tuesday, April 27, 2004,
at the Capitol in Sacramento.
Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone will lead our Catholic Lobby Day 2004
delegation to the State Capitol. With nearly 1000 other Catholics in
Sacramento, we will learn more about issues, celebrate our faith with a
morning Mass, rally to show legislators our seriousness, and lobby our own
state legislators. To receive a registration form or to register by phone
or e-mail:
call 858-490-8323
or e-mail
jbrower@diocese-sdiego.org.
Cost for the day,
including airfare to Sacramento, transportation between the airport and the
Capitol, and lunch is only $99. Your parish may have
an interest in subsidizing your trip if you commit to representing the
parish in Sacramento. Please inquire.
Schedule for Catholic Lobby Day
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Current Times are Approximate.
6:20 a.m. Depart from the San Diego Airport
7:30 a.m. Arrive at the Sacramento Airport
7:50 a.m. Bus from Airport Leaves for the Capitol
8:20 a.m. Arrive at the Capitol, Register at the Crest Theater
9:30 a.m. Welcome and Eucharistic Liturgy
10:45 a.m. March to the Capitol
11:15 a.m. Rally at the Capitol (North Entrance)
11:45 a.m. Lunch on the Capitol Lawn
1:00 p.m. Lobby Visits to Member Assembly and Senate Offices (small
groups by districts)
4:00 p.m. Bus Leaves for the Airport (Debriefing Meeting on the Bus),
Dinner at Airport
6:20 p.m. Depart from Sacramento Airport
7:30 p.m. Arrive back in San Diego
Mary Jo Gretsinger of the Diocesan Tribunal wrote, "I found that religion and politics do mix well. This trip is where values meet government, and it was an awesome opportunity to reach out to my elected representatives in faith."
Join us on Wednesday, April 27, 2004!
Number 4:
On February 10th at 12:01 a.m. Kevin
Cooper will be executed by the State of California at San Quentin State
Prison. From time to time innocense is claimed, but this time California is
likely to execute an innocent man. Join us on February 9th for a vigil
supporting Kevin Cooper. Also, you may want to join Kent for a trip to
Santa Monica on February 3rd to attend a faith-based press conference/rally
that will ask the Governor to grant a final review of Cooper's case.
Many questions remain about the guilt of Kevin Cooper, too many to mention
here. To view a PDF document that details the many factors that create this
doubt go to:
http://detention.la-archdiocese.org/Erics%20Stuff/Cooper/Kevin%20Cooper%2011x17%20Flyer2.pdf
or click on Kevin's photo to the left.
Join us for the Kevin Cooper vigil on February 9th in front of the Hall of
Justice at the corner of Broadway and Front St. in Downtown San Diego from
4:45 p.m. till 6:00 p.m.
For more information call 858-490-8323.
If you have the time, you may
want to join Kent for a trip to St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa
Monica, CA on February 3rd. At 10 a.m., an interfaith gathering of Bishops,
Reverends, Sisters, Pastors and Religious Leaders will make a personal
appeal to the Governor to grant clemency to Kevin Cooper. Similar rallies
will happen throughout California. They will share a message of mercy and
compassion instead of vengeance and violence.
Call the number above to reserve a place in Kent's vehicle.
Short Reports on OSM Related Issues/Events
PNI well underway in California
We have great news! As of yesterday (Tuesday, January 20, 2004), more than
65,000 signatures have been gathered with thousands more
being
gathered each day, and we are just beginning. Eight county coordinators
have stepped forward to volunteer at the regional level. Churches all
across California will begin gathering signatures in February and March.
The Diocese of San Diego will be part of that effort. Please see Bishop
Brom's statement in the article section of this bulletin.
We want to thank in advance the many Culture-of-Life and Life Options
coordinators who will be organizing signature gathering at the parish level,
as well as all those who contact
info@parentalnotification.org
to begin e-mail petition chains with their families, friends and
neighbors.
E-link Advocacy Feedback
Kent called U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter's DC office and talked to
Lorissa Bounds, the congressional aide who handles Mid-East matters for
Congressman Hunter. He shared our support for re-engaging in the
Administration's Road Map to Peace as well as informing Lorissa about the
expression of solidarity between Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders on
this issue.
Just a short note on Abercrombe & Fitch... The board
of directors of A&F has demanded that the company dump the hedonism-based
marketing campaign that has been in play for several years now. We have
been told that a new advertising campaign should become visible in
February. Let's all keep an eye on A&F and let them know we appreciate this
change by visiting one of their retail outlets in March or April to speak to
a manager. Tell him or her we like the change and want them to continue in
this direction. Believe it or not, the managers will pass this message up
the line to the corporate office. Please make every effort to share your
appreciation.
Are we not often criticized for complaining only and never pointing out the
good that happens in the community? Let's change that tendency! God Bless.
Please don't forget to report back on your advocacy experience to the OSM at reportback@diocese-sdiego.org.
Start your own e-mail chain in support of the Parental Notification Initiative (PNI). It's as easy as e-mailing a friend! And, your chain has the potential of generating thousands of signatures.
Important! Important! Important! Important! Important!
To receive an e-mail (you will then be able to forward this e-mail to friends in California) that will have, 1) a simple explanation of the PNI, 2) instructions on how to legally gather a few signatures, 3) a space for you to personalize the e-mail you will forward, and 4) a pdf file of the petition itself, send an e-mail with the message, "I would like a PNI petition e-package," in the subject line or in the body of the e-mail to:
info@parentalnotification.org
Let's help parents and their children turn this State around!
Go PNI.
Web
and Resources and Opportunities
Visit the Parental Notification (PNI) web site - view the petition, learn the basics on PNI, and download an 8 1/2 by 11 official version of the petition for circulation. You may also want to donate online to help get the PNI on the ballot and publicize the PNI between March and the November election. Go to www.parentalnotification.org. Or click on the logo below.
New Local/Regional Events and Gatherings
If you are planning an event that falls within the mission of social ministry, send the particulars four to five weeks in advance to the Office for Social Ministry via e-mail, osmelink@diocese-sdiego.org. The OSM reserves the right to publish or not to publish any proposed event information. We hope this will assist your efforts to re-build a culture of life.
1. Last call for Culture of Life Family Services Fundraising
Dinner at
Resurrection Parish, Escondido, 1445 Conway Drive
Join the community to support the COLFS on January 24, 2003, at 6:30pm at
Church of the Resurrection. Father Ken will be cooking his Famous Italian
Feast for the Annual Culture of Life Dinner. Hit
the following web site to order tickets:
http://www.colfs.org/calendar.htm#ad. Tickets are $10.00 each. Live
entertainment: Bob Murphy Band. The COLFS center is located at 430 North
Rose St., Escondido.
You can reach the COLFS Volunteer Coordinator, Lynne Pashaian, at
760-745-9663.
2.
St. Brigid Catholic Church will hold a Rosary-for-Life after the
Noon Mass this
Sunday, January 24th. St. Brigid is located at 4735 Cass Street in
Pacific Beach.
All are welcome!
3. Candlelight Vigil to End Abortion at Family Planning Associates on Jan.
22nd.
The Fitch Fertility Center is sponsoring a candlelight vigil on
Thursday, January 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Family Planning
Associates, (Dr. Allred Clinic), 2850 6th Ave. in San Diego,
across from Balboa Park. Please bring a candle or flashlight. Join fellow
Catholics as they pray the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet for the intention
of ending abortion.
4. Culture-of-Life Holy Hour at San Rafael Parish on Friday evening,
Jan 23.
San Rafael Parish will sponsor a
Pro-Life Holy Hour on Friday evening, January 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. to commemorate the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. San Rafael Parish is
located on 17252 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo.
5. Our Lady of Grace to host Adoration with
Benediction, Friday, Jan. 23, 7:00 p.m.
Our
Lady of Grace Parish will hold and Adoration/Benediction Hour on Friday,
January 23, at 7:00 p.m. OLG is located at 2766 Navajo Road in El Cajon.
All are welcome.
Watch
for OSM e-link bulletin #18 around February 12, 2003
Article or Statement for Bulletin #17
Following you will find a statement of support for the Parental Notification Initiative by Bishop Robert H. Brom.
Bishop Robert H. Brom - Diocese of San Diego
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO
TERMINATION OF MINOR'S PREGNANCY
The proposed initiative, Parental Notification Prior to Termination of Minor's Pregnancy, which has been called the Parental Responsibility and Family Communication Act by its sponsors, has received the support of the Catholic Bishops of California. While it has some deficiencies as far as we are concerned, the proposed law would require notification of the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a minor before she obtains an abortion, unless a judge determines that such notification places the minor in danger. The sponsors hope to qualify it for the November 2004 ballot.
As the initiative so accurately states, there is a "compelling... State interest in protecting minors, in fostering the family structure and preserving it as the primary social unit, and in protecting the rights of parents and children."
Catholics hold that both the young woman's welfare and society's common good are best served when family communication is promoted in public policy. A minor faced with a serious emotional, psychological and medical decision, like abortion, needs her parents-their love, their wisdom, and their counsel. In addition, society's common good is enhanced when family integrity is honored and parental responsibility is respected.
Our Catechism teaches that the family is the "privileged community" wherein children are meant to grow in wisdom, stature and grace. It also counsels us that public authorities should not usurp the family's prerogatives or interfere in its life.1
There can be no question that "the Church must be committed to the task of educating and supporting...people involved in law-making, government and the administration of justice, so that legislation will always reflect those principles and moral values which...advance the common good.2 "As Catholics, the election and the policy choices that follow it call us to recommit ourselves to carry the values of the Gospel and Church teaching into the public square."3
Consequently, I strongly encourage Catholics in the Diocese of San Diego to participate in the signature-gathering for this initiative, in sharing of their time and treasure in promoting it as good public policy, and in exercising faithful citizenship in voting for it when it appears on the ballot.
1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2206-2209.
2 "The Church in America," No. 19, quoting Synod for America, proposition
72, included in the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, 2001
3 "Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility," 2003