Who is sponsoring the Summer Institute?

The Social Action Summer Institute is a cooperative effort of five national social action organizations and two California organizations:

1) The ROUNDTABLE
The ROUNDTABLE is the Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors.

2) USCCB/Department of Social Development and World Peace

3) Catholic Charities USA

4) Catholic Campaign for Human Development
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was established in 1970 as the Bishops' domestic anti-poverty, social justice program.

5) Catholic Relief Services
Founded in 1943, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international relief and development agency of the Roman Catholic community in the United States. CRS serves people in over 94 of the poorest countries in the world. Over 90% of all support goes directly to programming to help the poor.

1) The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and

2) Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles

Follow the link above to learn more about the Social Action Summer Institute!
 
 

Reserve a seat by calling 858-490-8323

Need more information?  Call Jim Walsh at 858-490-8375

 

Short Reports on OSM Related Issues/Events

Number 1:   Catholic Lobby Day 2005 - Best Ever!

After winnowing down the nearly two thousand viable bills that were working their way through the California legislature to a workable ten, on April 26, 2005, 12 diocesan lay leaders and two diocesan priests, Fr. John Dolan of St. Rose of Lima in Chula Vista and Fr. Bud Kaicher of St. Peter in Fallbrook, traveled to Sacramento to lobby on behalf of those ten bills.  The group met up with nearly nine hundred other Catholics in Sacramento who attended Catholic Lobby Day 2005. 

Following a Eucharistic Liturgy at the Crest Theatre, a march to the Capitol, a rally and lunch, the San Diego Diocesan group divided up by legislative district and visited three California Senators and five California Assembly Members.  In private meetings, the groups shared their opposition to AB 654, a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in California and AB 19, the gender-neutral marriage bill.  They lobbied on behalf of AB 772, the Healthy Kids Program and AB 627, a bill allowing spiritual advisers the permission to work with inmates they have ministered to in California State prisons after their release from prison.   Other bills discussed included issues such as: CalWORKS funding, parental notification, human trafficking, support of parenting skills for departing female inmates, and the minimum wage. 

All meetings were reported to have been cordial and productive, even when there was disagreement as to the wisdom of the bills under consideration. 

Two groups asked their legislators whether constituent visits like these were appreciated and worthwhile.  The legislators responded without hesitation that the visits had a powerful impact.  Because of the visits and the faces they would remember, the legislators would now look more carefully at legislation they had heretofore avoided, they would be more open to the amendment process that might help create acceptable versions of legislation they had originally rejected, and they would gain confidence in speaking on behalf of or against legislation on the Assembly or Senate floor.  It seems that being in touch with constituents feeds the vision they have always had for public service, especially when visited by value-driven, sincere, and respectful constituents.

The concluding work of the day was an evaluation session at the Sacramento Airport preceding the 5:45 p.m. flight home.  Over burritos, burgers, and Chinese fast food, the group compared notes on visits, tallied up votes for and against legislation, and discussed the day’s meaning.  All but one participant eagerly said yes to attending Catholic Lobby Day in 2006.  Fr. John and Fr. Bud shared a desire to have additional clergy on the 2006 trip. 

 

Following are comments from a few of this year's Catholic Lobby Day participants:

I think the most valuable thing for me was realizing that I have a right and a responsibility to speak to my representatives, and that it isn't as intimidating as I thought.  It was fun to be with all those other people too!
Meg Long-Eastman, St. Peter, Fallbrook


The highlight of the day was when we talked with our Assembly member Juan Vargas and he told us that he was going to oppose the physician-assisted suicide bill and also, when asked, he also told us that he would oppose the "same-sex marriage" bill.  He also indicated that he would support any bill helping out the family, and helping the poor.
Shirley Henry, Most Precious Blood, Chula Vista

Life Request:

Finally, don't forget to ask that the Senators respond to you in writing on their plans for future judicial nominations.  This always has a greater impact.

And then, as always, please report back via e-mail reportback@diocese-sdiego.org on how the calls to your U.S. Senators went.
 

Dignity Request:

Please ask U.S. Senator Feinstein to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and to continue efforts to make the act more gender neutral

With the passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) the federal government acknowledged that domestic and sexual violence cause tremendous harm to our society, and put real resources into helping victims.  Millions of women, children and families are better off as a result.  In 2000, Congress reauthorized VAWA, continuing the essential work begun in 1994 and adding important services for immigrant, rural, disabled and older women.  VAWA is set to expire in September. 

Experiences over the past few years has raised questions about how well male victims, young and old, have been served by the resources provided through VAWA.  Language should be found that will insure that VAWA resources are not used in ways that discriminate against male victims and their children.

The bill is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee on which Senator Feinstein serves. Please call Senator Feinstein and ask her to invest resources into building healthy communities by supporting the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and by making sure men who need those services are not left out in the cold.

For more information on VAWA go to http://endabuse.org/vawa/ 

Call Senator Feinstein.  Her Washington D.C. office phone number
is 202-224-3841
 

Please support reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  We also ask that VAWA be amended to provide guaranteed services for male victims and their children.  It just makes sense to protect those who are victims of domestic violence whether they are female or male.  We ask that language like, "Nothing in this legislation shall be construed to prohibit funding for programs serving male victims of domestic violence" be added to the bill.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support.  Won't you support this legislation and amend it to serve families that are experiencing intimidation or violence? 

 

If you have any questions about VAWA, call Linda Arreola or Kent Peters at the OSM - 858-490-8323.

And then, as always, please report back via e-mail reportback@diocese-sdiego.org on how the call to Senator Feinstein went.

LIFE ISSUE

I received the following form letter from Senator Feinstein about 15 minutes after I contacted her regarding the practice of blocking nominees who are philosophically opposed to Roe v. Wade.  I asked her to not make the embracing of Roe v. Wade a litmus test for support.

Needless to say, she did not speak to the issue I raised.  It's uncanny how those who support abortion rights never want to engage in straight talk about the issue. 

Several days following the e-mail, I did receive another response that dealt more directly with the issue, but it still did not explain why reputable candidates who might oppose Roe V. Wade, as do several justices presently on the Supreme Court, would be rejected out of hand.

Blair Bailey, Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Lakeside


Dear Mrs. Bailey

Thank you for writing to me about the judicial nominees sent to the Senate by President Bush.  I appreciate learning of your views and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

The Constitution requires the President to nominate Federal judges by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.  As a member of the Senate who also serves on the Judiciary Committee, I consider my Constitutional role to review judicial nominees to be among my foremost and gravest responsibilities.

When I review a nominee, I look to find candidates who have the necessary intellect, analytical skills, and legal experience.  In addition, the candidate should be able to demonstrate a commitment to applying the law fairly and impartially.  You can be assured that I will do my due diligence in regard to any nominee that comes before the Judiciary Committee.

In recent months, I have been distressed over the acrimony surrounding the judicial nominations process.  I believe our country would be better served if Congress and the President could work cooperatively to get our best and brightest judicial minds onto the Federal bench.

As a model, I would point to the bipartisan Judicial Selection Committee Senator Boxer and I have created with the White House to select district judges for California.  This process has worked well, leading to the swift appointment of  good, moderate judges to the Federal bench.  So far, it has taken the Senate an average of just 114 days to confirm judges recommended by the Judicial Selection Committee; which is over 80 days faster than the pace at the end of the Clinton Administration.

Again, thank you so much for writing.  If you should have any other questions or comments, please feel free to visit my website at http://feinstein.senate.gov, or contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202)224-3841.

Sincerely yours,

DIGNITY ISSUE

1. St. John the Evangelist Parish in Encinitas Pro-Life Mass and Rosary held on Monday, June 6, 2005

The first Monday of every month is designated Pro-Life Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1001 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.  The 8:00 a.m. Mass will be followed by a Rosary for Life.  For more information, please call Helene McIlhon at 858-756-0622.
 

2. Most Precious Blood Parish Rosary Prayer Vigils held on Wednesdays and Saturdays each week

The Pro-Life Prayer Group from Most Precious Blood sponsors a Rosay Prayre Vigil in front of the Clinica Medica abortion facility at 1550 Broadway, Chula Vista every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:45 a.m.  For more information, please call Shirley Henry at 619-420-7096.


3. Prayerful witness for life at two locations (Sixth and Palm in San Diego and Pomerado in Poway) in San Diego County

1st and 3rd Saturday of the month:  20 decades of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are prayed at Sixth and Palm, San Diego, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.  For more information, call 858-748-2109.
 
2nd Saturday of the month:  20 decades of the Rosary are prayed in procession past 4 clinics following the 7:30 a.m. Mass, 15546 Pomerado Road, Poway.  For more information, call 858-748-2109.


4. St. Dismas Guild sponsors two weekly hours of prayer for the unborn in North County

Join members of St. Dismas Guild for a rosary picket at Womancare, 120 S. Craven Way, San Marcos, (across from Cal State San Marcos), Tuesdays, 9-10 a.m.

The Guild also sponsors prayer (the rosary) in front of PayLess at Mission Avenue and Escondido Blvd. 347 W. MISSION on Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.  For information on these prayer vigils, call 760-751-8541.