Justice At The Table

We must be willing to help Jesus carry the cross for peace and justice

Posted on March 25, 2013 by jatt79

Station 4: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross (Memorial Park)

Theme: We must be willing to help Jesus carry the cross for peace and justice

Tema: Debemos estar dispuestos a ayudar a Jesús a cargar la cruz por la paz y la justicia

Scripture: Mark 15:20-22

And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning ‘the place of the skull’.

Reflection by JUSTFAITH/JUSTPEACE Community:

Three-year-old Maria and four-year-old Zeerak were sleeping in their mud hut in Pakistan when a U.S. drone’s Hellfire missile pierced it and exploded. Villagers digging through the rubble found Zeerak’s legs were severed. Maria was badly scorched. Both were dead.

Today, killing is conducted by means that are technologically advanced (e.g., precision-guided missiles and drone aircraft), but the end result is the same for the victims. The U.S. uses drones. In Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, hundreds of civilians have been killed as “collateral damage” from U.S. drone missile attacks. In Pakistan alone, 176 children have been killed by U.S. drones between 2004 and 2012.

We are told that the use of drones minimizes the number of our soldiers in the battlefield. Some say we have to kill the “terrorists” no matter what. We would not send a Hellfire missile into a Beaverton school to kill a terrorist, sacrificing the lives of nearby children. Why do we continue to sacrifice the lives of their children to attack a “suspected” terrorist?

Our current use of drones denies those targeted a fair trial and likely violates the U.S. Constitution and international law. It violates God’s law by ignoring the sanctity and dignity of the lives of those in its path.

Prayer: We thank you for those who by choosing charitable service have endangered their lives to help others. WE THANK YOU, LORD

Petitions: We ask God to awaken our leaders and military to the pursuit of justice, and to respect the lives and rights of all people. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

We ask God’s blessing on the men, women, and children who have had their lives taken by war. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

We will seek peaceful, just ways to settle our disputes and will encourage our country and community to do the same. O LORD, WE WANT TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS

LET THE ST. PIUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TAKE UP THE CROSS

Song: Vengan a la Cruz, Adoremos (repeat as often as desired)

Posted in Human Dignity | Leave a comment

Jesus stands for Peace and nonviolence

Posted on March 25, 2013 by jatt79

Station 3: Jesus Falls for the First Time (Bethel UCC Peace Pole)

Theme: Jesus stands for Peace and nonviolence

Tema: Jesús está por la paz y no violencia

Scripture: Luke 6: 27

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you; pray for those who abuse you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who take your cloak, do not with hold even your tunic. “

Reflection by Patrick Berg of Holy Trinity Catholic Church: “Pray for those who abuse you.” There are times in our lives when we encounter particularly offensive people. These are traumatic times which we remember all our lives. When we pray for those who have abused us we change their lives and our own.

In 1970 I was first year lawyer working in a legal aid office in Harlem. The US Attorney General asked for volunteer lawyers to assist in monitoring the November election in Mississippi in keeping with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was the monitors’ duty to report on attempts by white sheriffs, poll workers, election clerks and others to impede black voters from voting in that election. (It was still the era of “Mississippi Burning”, when civil rights workers were harassed, beaten and killed in an effort to maintain white supremacy.) My assigned area was in Yazoo County, just north of Jackson, Mississippi. Five very large black men escorted me in a large old Buick to the polling places. They expected violence. At one polling place a white sheriff dressed in a Union suit and pork-pie hat stood in my path and refused to move out of the way as I entered the polling place.

He repeatedly spat in my face, spoke loudly and called me names including “Jew boy”, “carpetbagger” and worse, challenging my authority to be on the premises. Essentially he was attempting to intimidate, provoke and divert my attention from the on-going voting so that it would impossible for me to hear the clerks questioning the credentials of voters. He still is the quintessential abuser who calls for my prayers. Likely you have your own similar ghosts.

Prayers: We thank you for making us all your children; sisters and brothers in Christ:

WE THANK YOU, LORD

Petitions: We pray for forgiveness when we withdraw from the field leaving the disadvantaged to the oppressors. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

We pray for our elected leaders in their continued efforts to protect the disenfranchised.

O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

We pray for the grace to remember those who have abused us and those we try to protect: the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed. O LORD, WE WANT TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS

LET THE JUSTFAITH/JUSTPEACE COMMUNITY TAKE UP THE CROSS

Song: “Jesus Remember Me” Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. (Repeat as needed)

Posted in Solidarity | Leave a comment

Jesus’ passion for justice and peace calls us to pray and to serve

Posted on March 25, 2013 by jatt79

Station 2: Jesus takes up his cross (Bethel Congregational UCC Main Entrance)

Theme: Jesus’ passion for justice and peace calls us to pray and to serve

Tema: La pasion de Jesus por la justicia y la paz nos llama a orar y a servir

Scripture: Luke 6: 27, 35

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them. Don’t pick on people; jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless of course you want the same treatment. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back; but not just given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Generosity begets generosity.”

Reflection by The Reverend David Randall-Bodman, Bethel Congregational UCC: As we reenact Jesus walk to Gethsemane today, there is no greater, more radical teaching that binds all Christians together than Jesus’ call to “love your enemies. Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them.” Jesus was always turning the world upside down. Surprising us with a grace and love almost too huge and too divine to understand, let alone practice. And yet it is exactly this unbounded love, and the audacity to dare to live as Jesus taught us to live that keeps us walking in his shoes – serving as his hands and feet, as his heart and mind in the world in which we live now.

To walk the journey of faith we need to be fed. Over the centuries, we Christians have relied on prayer, worship, ritual, song, and sacrament to sustain us and to nurture our spiritual lives.

An ancient spiritual practice that has experienced a renaissance in recent years is called labyrinth walking. Labyrinths take many forms, but have one thing in common: they take us on a walk that symbolizes the journey of life. Labyrinths are pathways that circle about, go in many directions, but lead to one Center. Walking a labyrinth is a form of prayer that involves movement, thought and the senses.

Our labyrinth is unique. It is constructed out of canned goods and other food items. For us it combines our need to pray with the world’s need to be fed. An ancient spiritual discipline designed to strengthen our faith simultaneously stocks our food cupboard so that we can help those in our community who lack the basic human need for food. We have been gathering canned goods during the season of Lent. Today we walk the labyrinth. Tomorrow we stock the food cupboard. Prayer and service – the fruits of Jesus passion for justice and peace.

Prayer: Holy God, for the many ways you feed and nurture us: WE THANK YOU, LORD

Petitions: We pray for the courage to see our enemies and to respond to them as we would want them to respond to us. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

We ask for forgiveness from those whom we have ignored or looked past, hardened by our own sense of superiority or by our fear to be the change we long to see. O LORD, HELP US TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS

Bethel UCC Good Friday Labyrinth will be open from 12:00-1:30 if you would like to visit after the Walk of the Cross.

LET THE HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TAKE UP THE CROSS

Song: Vengan a la Cruz, Adoremos (repeat as often as desired)

Posted in Human Dignity | Leave a comment

We will carry his cross today!

Posted on March 24, 2013 by jatt79

Welcome: This is the second virtual annual Walk of the Cross at Justice At The Table. Each day during Holy Week you will find the scriptures, reflections and prayers used in the Good Friday Walk of the Cross taking in Beaveton Oregon. The Walk has been going on for a number of years and is an invitation to ‘reflect together on how we can better understand and carry out Christ’s mission of Peace and Justice in our day.’

John

Call to Worship and Petitions: Pastor Kathy Boyes, First United Methodist Church

Leader: Who is this man who carries his cross, whose steps falter and who is wounded to death?

People: It is our Lord. Let us follow him and carry his cross today!

Leader: Who is this man looking beaten and hopeless, carrying his cross of shame through the streets of Jerusalem for all to see?

People: It is Jesus, the Christ! He is beaten, but not broken and he carries the cross of hope, not of shame. We carry his cross, today, through the streets of our city – a symbol of hope to all who see.

Leader: Who is this man who saved others, but cannot save himself, who proclaimed a kingdom, but who hangs on a cross for his throne?

People: This man is Jesus! He proclaimed a kingdom of love and grace where hunger and homelessness, disease and oppression will cease. We are his hands and feet. We carry his cross today!

Leader: Who is this man who came in “Power and Glory?” Where is his kingdom now?

People: He is the Christ, the Messiah, the King! His kingdom is in every hungry person fed, every homeless person sheltered, every sick person healed, and everydespairing person given hope. We will take up his cross! We will follow him! We will carry his cross today

Leader: Who is this man? May I follow him, too?

People: The whole world may follow Jesus, to Golgotha, and beyond. Today is not the end. He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” We carry his cross today as a beacon of hope, into his streets, to his people

Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death

Scripture: John 19:14-18

Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon. He said to the people, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is Golgotha.

LET THE COMMUNITIES OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST AND BETHEL CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST TAKE UP THE CROSS

Processional Song: Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree

Posted in Solidarity | Leave a comment

Healthcare Passion and Commitment – Our Story and Yours

Posted on November 1, 2012 by jatt79

Catholics, Healthcare for All logo

A few weeks ago, I wrote the following about my involvement with Catholics, Healthcare for All https://sites.google.com/site/catholicshca. It is a national organization committed to education, support and advocacy regarding the full Catholic message on healthcare.

Thank you for acknowledging my passion and commitment. You and others I know have similar passion and commitment. I would like to share the roots of my passion and commitment.

My passion is rooted in love for those closest to me – Ann; the youth at Outside In I help, and those I meet every day. Ann is cancer survivor and copes daily with her loss of vision. The despondent youth who was grappling with his friend’s death. A man who has four jobs so he can pay for his girlfriend’s cancer treatments. Her insurance company had canceled her policy.

It was a year ago that Ann and I were faced with faced with hospital bills that would have wiped out our savings and a significant part of our retirement. Praying at my parish church on a late October Saturday morning in 2011, I committed to God I would work not only for Ann, but for others experiencing the injustice and inhumanity of our American healthcare system. A healthcare system that continues its double standard of providing service with a “caring difference” only to be followed by the persistence and indifference of the “money changers” – billing departments and insurance companies.

During the early months of 2011, Ann was fighting to retain her sight in her left eye. There were numerous surgeries by the doctors attempting to determine why she was losing her sight. Along with this fight, Ann was engaged on another front. She had to visit the emergency room twice due to seizures. Seizures where she left us for a brief time; Ann knew neither time nor place. My name she did not know, what was right or left. Along with the team of doctors and nurses, there was the smiling individual requesting we sign a few papers regarding billing.

That should be no problem. We have insurance and always pay our bills on time. Over time, I have learned that is not always true. Ann had insurance provided through the Oregon’s high risk pool. That insurance is administered by the state’s largest insurance provider. Her care took place at hospital run by one of largest in the state if not largest provider in the state.

After losing her sight in April 2011, a new battle began in October 2011. We believed our insurance would cover us. We have been sorrowfully and regretfully mistaken. Though we paid all of our bills on time and made sure of pre-authorization was obtained prior surgeries, we were told that was not correct. Twelve months of phone calls, letters and e-mails began.

In July of this summer, we thought all was behind us. The hospital’s billing department sent us a $6.66 bill for one of Ann’s emergency room visits in 2011. That is ironic given some believe that is the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the book Revelations. It has proven to be. I spoke with insurance and hospital representatives, we had met all of our financial responsibilities and no more money would be coming from Ann and me. The hospital representative remarked, “Well, who is going to pay?” Our meeting ended with an agreement all was paid. Remember that in today’s world, money and agreements are in many ways no longer tangible. They are as light and free as fluffy clouds in the sky.

The “money changers” returned this week with their indifference and shallowness. We received another important message that indicated a remaining balance of over $500 was due for one of Ann’s emergency room visits. It was back in the limbo of “awaiting replay from insurance”. I asked the healthcare provider’s representative, “I have been told numerous times this was taken care of. What has happened?” The reply was “It is a complicated case and our insurance reconciling department could not figure it out.”

I spoke with the health provider’s customer service manager in the billing department. He was having someone reviewing Ann’s accounts while we spoke. It came down to emphasizing we had bills when they had originally come due and were not liable for these additional billings. This Saturday, we received notification the remaining balance was written off and an apology.

These twelve months have been an ordeal. How many others go thru this ordeal? In 2009, the American Journal of Public Health reported nearly 45,000 deaths were caused by lack of insurance nationwide. Here in Oregon, there over 700,000 individuals lacking medical insurance according to Measure of America http://www.measureofamerica.org/ data.

There are good people who I talked with and met during this ordeal. Still, the system is broken and will stay broken. We must heed Jesus command to “heal the sick” and know that Pope John XXIII was correct when he wrote that health care is a human right. It is not about economic gain, but healing the suffering and pain.

Our struggle continues today as does the struggle of others in our country for access to affordable, quality healthcare regardless of status or wealth. Healthcare is a human right and we must continue to work for that day when it that right is truly recognized.

In Christ and Peace,

John

Posted in Rights and Responsibilities | Leave a comment

Louisville – The City of Beautiful Churches

Posted on October 29, 2012 by jatt79

It was a busy later July and early August experiencing the wonders of God’s creation, learning to be better advocate for others, helping those in need, grieving for the loss of my brother.

Last summer, I attended the Social Action Summer Institute. This year it was held at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. The state is known for its bluegrass, horse racing and bourbon. Louisville is the birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louise Brandies. Each fought and in Mohammed’s case continues to struggle for others. Ali’s views on the Vietnam War some consider lead Martin Luther King Jr. to speak out against that conflict. Justice Brandies was referred to as a “militant crusader for social justice whoever his opponent might be” by Chief Justice William O. Douglas. Bellarmine University, a Catholic university founded in 1950 was the first school open to all races in Kentucky. It is also home to the Thomas Merton Studies Center.

For me, the area is one of good and caring people – the couple who helped me to find a restaurant while I was wondering in the 100 degree heat, and Tony at the restaurant, who gave me directions and a bus ticket so I could go downtown. The good and caring also included the staff at Bellarmine University. I am grateful to have shared time with over two hundred people from the United States and Canada who are committed to bringing God’s message into being through working and living the message of Social Justice. I have created a short presentation about this inspiring conference. Click hear to view it as a pdf version –Called to Transformative Community

After the conference, I had the privilege of working with Br. Steve Hero and others from around in country on rebuilding efforts in Henryville, Indiana. The area was devastated by a tornado in March 2012. We learn and we must also serve.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the following individuals – Janet Donohue, Lisa Stiller, Matt Cato, Richard Coll, Theresa Orozco, John Barrett, Michael Diebold, Jeanine Freeman, Edward Huff, Glenn Leach, Meg Olson, Kirsten Schenk, Meg Olson, Sr, Precilla Takuh, Fran Rojette, Kathy Langer, Adam Brown, Janet Svelik, and Bro. Steven Hero. They helped make this a memorable and life changing experience. I am indebted to my family and friends who provided me encouragement and support.

Finally, thank you to my wife Ann for dealing with my nearly ten day absence from home and her love. Her compassion and concern for others amid her own suffering gives me strength.

In Christ and Peace,

John

Posted in Live | Leave a comment

The Spin Cycle – What was lost and Who was Forgotten.

Posted on October 24, 2012 by jatt79

The Spin Cycle – Election 2012

The last debate is over and with it the election season is winding down. As Americans and Catholics, we have been through a very long spin cycle. Our diversity have been turned into poisonous division by the political parties and professed believers. Key of principles of Catholic teaching, subsidiarity and solidarity have been misunderstood and misused. The poor and vulnerable have been for the most part ignored.

Subsidarity is not synonymous with state rights or rugged individualism – the cult of the individual. It is a reminder that we are to focus upon protecting and serving the needs of each human being. The Catholic Bishops in 2007 wrote

“The principle of subsidiarity reminds us that larger institutions in society should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions, yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when the more local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, and advance the common good. “– Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (no 48)

Solidarity does not mean socialism or promote an overreaching of government – the cult of the collective. It is a reminder we have responsibility for all brothers and sisters. When one of us is suffering, we all suffer.

Subsidarity and solidarity are complementary. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church states it well –

“Solidarity without subsidiarity, in fact, can easily degenerate into a ‘Welfare State’, while subsidiarity without solidarity runs the risk of encouraging forms of self-centered localism. In order to respect both of these fundamental principles, the State’s intervention in the economic environment must be neither invasive nor absent, but commensurate with society’s real needs” (no 351)

A true understanding of subsidarity and solidarity can help us to insure we and candidates do not ignore the most poor and vulnerable. Pope Benedict wrote in Deus Caritas Est –

“Catholics may choose different ways to respond to compelling social problems, but we cannot differ on our moral obligation to help build a more just and peaceful world through morally acceptable means, so that the weak and vulnerable are protected and human rights and dignity are defended” (no 20)

As you prepare to vote, consider the following questions.

Will this candidate serve all including the poor? As Proverbs states, “When the just flourish, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

Will this candidate most importantly be a servant? Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

How will this ballot measure affect all in your community and state?

Participate and vote.

In Christ and Peace,

John

Posted in Community, Family and Participation | Leave a comment

Assisi Pledge For Peace

Posted on September 13, 2012 by jatt79

Events over the past few days call all people to a commitment path of peace and not violence.

In 2007, I was over whelmed by the brutality taking place in Iraq. There seemed to be no way out. Prayer and searching led me to the Assisi Pledge for Peace which is also known as the Decalogue of Assisi for Peace from 2002.

In that 2002, Pope John Paul II called an historic meeting of religious leaders to pray for peace in the world in Assisi. Over 200 leaders from the Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other traditions answered the call. They prayed and lit symbolizing their shared commitment to peace. The shared commitment to peace was formalized in the Assisi Pledge for Peace which was read by Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Sikh, Muslim, Confucian, Buddhist and Jewish leaders.

ASSISI PLEDGE FOR PEACE

1. We commit ourselves to proclaiming our firm conviction that violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion, and, as we condemn every recourse to violence and war in the name of God or of religion, we commit ourselves to doing everything possible to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.

2. We commit ourselves to educating people to mutual respect and esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful and fraternal coexistence between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions.

3. We commit ourselves to fostering the culture of dialogue, so that there will be an increase of understanding and mutual trust between individuals and among peoples, for these are the premises of authentic peace.

4. We commit ourselves to defending the right of everyone to live a decent life in accordance with their own cultural identity, and to form freely a family of his own.

5. We commit ourselves to frank and patient dialogue, refusing to consider our differences as an insurmountable barrier, but recognizing instead that to encounter the diversity of others can become an opportunity for greater reciprocal understanding.

6. We commit ourselves to forgiving one another for past and present errors and prejudices, and to supporting one another in a common effort both to overcome selfishness and arrogance, hatred and violence, and to learn from the past that peace without justice is no true peace.

7. We commit ourselves to taking the side of the poor and the helpless, to speaking out for those who have no voice and to working effectively to change these situations, out of the conviction that no one can be happy alone.

8. We commit ourselves to taking up the cry of those who refuse to be resigned to violence and evil, and we are desire to make every effort possible to offer the men and women of our time real hope for justice and peace.

9. We commit ourselves to encouraging all efforts to promote friendship between peoples, for we are convinced that, in the absence of solidarity and understanding between peoples, technological progress exposes the world to a growing risk of destruction and death.

10. We commit ourselves to urging leaders of nations to make every effort to create and consolidate, on the national and international levels, a world of solidarity and peace based on justice.

May we read commit and live out this pledge in our families, communities, nation and the world. Urge all in positions of power and authority to do the same.

In Peace,

John

Additional information:

“Decalogue of Assisi for Peace” www.Vatican.va

“Assisi Diary” at www.AmercianCatholic.org

http://www.americancatholic.org/news/report.aspx?id=906

Posted in Solidarity | Leave a comment

Freedom to Love – Compassion and Judgment

Posted on June 24, 2012 by jatt79

“Be compassionate as you Father is compassionate. Do no judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon and you shall be pardoned. Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into the fold of you garment. For the measure you measure with will be given measured back to you.”

Luke 6:36-38

Nearly three years ago, I applied for my position with Outside In as data analyst/administrator. I had not worked for thirteen months, and our savings and Cobra health care benefits were nearly exhausted. A friend of mine had seen the job posting on Craigslist and suggested I apply. I would be using my technical skills in helping homeless youth and the poor. It was an intriguing opportunity for growth and transitions, plus income we desperately needed.

I received a phone call from Ann while attending a support group for the unemployed. Someone actually wanted to interview me! What would it be like working again? What was Outside In like? I visited the website www.outsidein.org. I was impressed reading about their extensive medical and youth services including a medical van, transitional housing, plus educational and employment services.

On the day of the interview, I walked down from the light rail station crossing over the freeway. I prayed God would help me to do well in the interview and show me if this was where I was called to be. Did this middle aged person from the suburbs fit in?

A week or so later, I was hired. Over time, I have become more comfortable and connected with our clients. My job is still in the back supporting our caring and innovative staff and volunteers. I have heard the joy in a client’s voice announcing he had received his graduated. Earlier this year, I was able to the excellent short films created by some of our clients. There have been tragedies such as client suicides. Events such as those deeply affect us.

My wife and I have not been blessed with children except for nieces and nephews. The Outside In clients are in a way an extended family. They are homeless for a variety of reasons – family, drugs, alcoholism, abuse and sexual orientation. As I see it, they are God’s children too and anything we can do to bring them from the outside in is something worth doing.

These young people and older poor we serve have helped me to be more compassionate, less judgmental. They and my co-workers have given much to me pressed down and running over!

In closing, I want share the following that was sent by a co-worker a few weeks ago.

See that pregnant teen over there? She was raped. See that guy doing his homework from last night? He convinced his friend out of suicide. See that man with the ugly scars? He fought for our country. See that guy who is sobbing? His mother is dying. See that show-off guy? He’s standing up to bullies. See that fat woman? She has a health problem. Don’t judge people. You don’t know their life.

Peace

John

Posted in Live | Leave a comment

Freedom to Love – Community of Love

Posted on June 24, 2012 by jatt79

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again.” Job 1:21

Over the last few months there has been an on-going battle with regards to women’s health, contraception and abortion. Each side has staked out their position with passion and convinced they have the answer. I watched Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life, debate Virginia ultrasound legislation with Nancy Keenan of NARAL on the PBS NewsHour with Judy Woodruff on Thursday, February 23, 2012. You can see the video at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june12/abortion_02-23.html

When it was done, I was left with more question than answers. Terms like gold-standard, medically necessary and informed consent were bandied about. Each speaker was defending their turf, and honestly were not too convincing. Where is the love for mother, father, and child?

Where I work, we have a program for clients who are transitioning to becoming parents. One of my co-workers works with these couples. She talks about the “van time” she has with them as they go to appointments or events. This young people how to respond various parenting issues. How do I respond when my baby doesn’t want to sleep? What does it mean when my baby cries? They are simply asking what does being a parent mean.

As communities and society what does parenting mean? This is not an easy issue. I pray that we can bring love back into the discussion. Love supporting the mother and father in their new responsibilities. Love nurturing the new child.

You may have heard about the organization Birthright http://www.birthright.org/. They provide caring, non-judgmental support to girls and women who are distressed by an unplanned pregnancy. I would suggest visiting their website and seeing how you might be able to help.

We are called to build communities of love and not condemnation.

Peace,

John

Posted in Live | Leave a comment

We must be willing to help Jesus carry the cross for peace and justice

Jesus stands for Peace and nonviolence

Jesus’ passion for justice and peace calls us to pray and to serve

We will carry his cross today!

Healthcare Passion and Commitment – Our Story and Yours

Louisville – The City of Beautiful Churches

The Spin Cycle – What was lost and Who was Forgotten.

Assisi Pledge For Peace

Freedom to Love – Compassion and Judgment

Freedom to Love – Community of Love

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives