Justice Matters

Life is witnessing that which is alive

2007-10-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

October is Respect Life Month. Saints Peter and Paul Parish has asked its parishioners to reflect on the value of life, in all shapes and forms, in society today. Many personal essays will appear in the church bulletin throughout the month of October. With their permission, the Justice Education Committee will post some of the parishioner's essays on this blog. Please feel free to enter your own reflections in the comments section. If you would like to submit a 350-word essay to be posted on the blog, please email Elizabeth Hockerman at ehockerman@gmail.com.

Life is witnessing that which is alive
By Taiko Maria Haessler

When I sat down to write a brief article about “what I feel life is,” a particular moment I experienced while traveling to an indigenous community in Chiapas seemed the only way to relate my feelings on this topic.

A backpack with only a toothbrush and a blanket begins to weigh considerably on my back. The equatorial sun feels like it is singeing my eyelashes with its intense heat. A dirt path that we had been following disappeared about a half an hour ago and since then, we have been crossing streams, climbing though hills and sweating through long-sleeved shirts and long pants. My cheeks flush in the heat and are probably becoming sunburned. The backpack seemed so empty before I started this hike and now I wish I had only packed the toothbrush. Ahead of me on the trail is Padre Martín. As he slips between Tzeltel and Spanish in a conversation with our guides, he agilely slips through mango tree branches and waist-high grasses. He wears heavy black round-toe rubber boots that come up to just above his ankle and look like they have already provided years of service to his feet. Somehow, after each step he takes, without pausing, he takes another step. He carries a backpack that has been stuffed with a priest’s stole, a rosary, a small Bible in Spanish and a vessel that holds the sacred host, for administering to the sick. Thinking about how heavy it must be, I feel tired.

My own backpack weighs on my shoulders and is sticking to the sweat on my back. I can feel my breath becoming deeper; my shoulders roll forward in their struggle against the weight that has been oppressing them for the past 3 hours.

My blood rushes around in my body, I can almost hear it circulating as it pounds in my ears. I do not know where I am going. I just know that I am somewhere, or nowhere, at the end of México where there is only selva—rainforest. My legs keep walking and my heart keeps beating, cleaning my blood. My skin keeps sweating and the sun holds its axis. Everything around me is alive. The banana trees grow tall and stretch their palm branches out. Small bushes tangle into each other and unimaginable birds call out in the madness of the rainforest vegetation. With each passing second, I become more aware of my body and of all the life around me. I look up to Padre Martín and see that he is laughing.

Without slowing my pace, I witness the people of Chiapas, I witness the forest—their home. I witness my own physical fatigue, but I also witness the oxygen, that keeps me alive. I witness the old trees and the vines that drape them. I witness faith, a living faith that has pulled me and others to this deep rainforest and this new language. The living sounds of our surroundings, the smell of our respiring bodies, the presence of our purpose. And it is in this moment that I fully realize that life is about being diligently aware of everything that is alive. In this way, God’s living creation grows in our hearts and transcends language, geography and gives strength to tired bodies when the journey is long. Where am I going? There is no map. But the life that is all around me welcomes me; breathing, changing, singing.

Again, I look to Padre Martín, who leads us. I understand why his pack does not slow him down; he has let the energy of all life be part of him. He has opened his heart to Creation and lives with its strength. Standing still for a moment, ignoring the tug of my blanket and toothbrush, I allow my eyes to gently close. As I draw a deep breath into my lungs, I open my heart to all Life. As it rushes in, I can feel its energy reverberating inside my little skeleton. I can feel each tendon, muscle, bone and pore. I am fully alive.

In the near distance, Mariachis begin to play. We have arrived at the community.

Respecting Life

2007-10-16T09:35:00.000-05:00

Promote the Culture of Life

2007-10-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

October is Respect Life Month. Saints Peter and Paul Parish has asked its parishioners to reflect on the value of life, in all shapes and forms, in society today. Many personal essays will appear in the church bulletin throughout the month of October. With their permission, the Justice Education Committee will post some of the parishioner's essays on this blog. Please feel free to enter your own reflections in the comments section. If you would like to submit a 350-word essay to be posted on the blog, please email Elizabeth Hockerman at ehockerman@gmail.com.

Promote the Culture of Life
By Matt, Sarah Parlier and family

It is from the blood of Christ that all draw the strength to commit themselves to promoting life. It is precisely this blood that is the most powerful source of hope, indeed it is the foundation of the absolute certitude that in God’s plan life will be victorious.
–Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life

I’d like to share with you a story that I believe reflects what it means for us to have respect for life. About 4 years ago, when my son, John, was 8 years old, he and I were on a walk to the store. While crossing the street, a man approached us and asked us for money so he could get something to eat. I had the initial knee jerk reaction to question this man’s intention for the use of that money. Being close to a Cousin’s sub shop I offered instead to buy him some lunch. He graciously accepted my offer. The three of us walked into the shop and I told him to order whatever he would like. After placing the order, there was the awkward silence as we waited for his food to get ready. Without any hesitation, John looked this man in the eyes and asked, “So, what’s your name?” He said with a bright smile, “My name is John.” My son immediately began to talk with him about the fact that they shared the same name. With that, the two carried on a conversation with complete ease. His order came up, he thanked us and we parted our separate ways.

On our way back home, John told me he thought it was very nice that I had bought him some lunch. He thought the man looked very thin and was probably very hungry. Clearly this left an impression upon him about what it might mean to care for those who are poor and hungry. If you have the means to help, you should probably find a good way to help.

While John was impressed with my compassion for this man, I have to admit, I could not stop thinking about John’s conversation with this man named John. Without any hesitation at all, my son looked this fellow human being in the eye and asked him his name. Seems so very simple to do but why do we often fail to do this? While I sought to fulfill this man’s physical needs, my 8-year-old son sought to fulfill this man’s emotional and spiritual needs without even realizing what he was doing. The smile on this man’s face was evidence to me that my son had provided him the more pressing need; the need for human connection, the need to know he wasn’t alone in this world. While my gift of food was indeed vital, my son’s gift of himself was perhaps more life sustaining in the long run.

So you might ask, what does this have to do with respecting life? While I could say much about my opinion of the culture of death in our world today, I really feel this story sheds light on the attitude we must put on to promote the culture of life. If we truly believe that God is the author of all life and that in His eyes, we are all equally loved and deemed precious, our attitude toward one another should in fact reflect this belief. Jesus’ sacrifice to us on the cross by his saving blood is truly the model for all Christians. In so many small ways throughout the day we are called to sacrifice ourselves to each other in order to bring new life. Buying a sandwich is all well and good. Offering the gift of yourself by way of an engaging smile and a thoughtful conversation, that gets to the heart of our call to love and respect our neighbor.

When reflecting on the myriad of issues that deal with respect for life: abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, the death penalty, war and terrorism, to name a few, I believe we are called to remember that God is the source of all life and that we are called to ensure the physical, spiritual, emotional and social well-being of ourselves and all others. We cannot separate these various aspects of care when it is convenient for us to do so. Whenever we reflect on these issues of life, we are called to ask ourselves if our opinions are fully promoting all aspects of life. Are we supporting views that in the short-run seem compassionate and convenient but in the long run are ultimately detrimental to the full preservation of life? Are we approaching these vital issues of life with the intentionality of a sandwich or are we engaging these issues with the intentionality of our hearts and true presence? True presence takes more time and puts you out on the line. But in the end, it is precisely this action that promotes the culture of life.

Respecting Life Through My Eyes

2007-10-04T08:42:00.000-05:00

Border Struggles Event Reflection

2007-03-07T08:38:00.000-06:00

The Border Struggles event that was held at the Urban Ecology Center on Jan. 13 was a day of learning, emotion and sharing.

About 40 individuals attended to hear a compelling two-part presentation by Milwaukee-based Voces de la Frontera. Melissa, a new member to the Voces team, began her presentation with a personal story of involvement in the plight of the Mexican immigrant.

Melissa is of Hispanic heritage. She previously worked in human resources and most recently spent seven years working for a large corporation in the Milwaukee area. Last March, she decided to join her sister in the Milwaukee march against immigration bills. A few days later, she was disciplined with a written warning from her manager. To participate in the march, Melissa took an early lunch but later found out that a co-worker told her manager where she had gone during her time off.

“I knew my boss was racist and that is why she wrote that warning,” Melissa said.

So Melissa went to Voces, met with Christine Neumann-Ortiz, founder of the organization, for legal advice. With an attorney referral, Melissa was able to file a charge with the National Labor Relations Board. Soon after, her manager retired with a severance package and the written warning was destroyed.

“After I knew that I did not want to work for that company anymore, I was lucky and blessed that Christine and Jeanne created a position for me,” Melissa said. “At the time I did not understand why this was happening and it was difficult for me and my family, but it was a blessing.

Melissa went on to give the Voces presentation that outlines the issues surrounding legal and illegal immigration to the U.S. from Mexico.

“Everyone deserves the right to live,” Melissa said. “We believe no human being is illegal.”

Melissa explained that Voces reaches out to any type of immigrant, mainly of Latino descent. Voces maintains ties to statewide, national and international organizations and feel that they are all united in fighting with the same struggle.

Voces offers services to individuals and families, including citizenship classes, legal clinics, labor rights workshops, leadership development, referrals to community resources and agencies and health and safety counseling with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Melissa helped to inform the crowd on reasons behind the Mexican immigration to the U.S. Globalization and free trade agreements in the early 1990s have led to an increase in the cost of living in Mexico, resulting in a massive increase in poverty.

“Globalization led to the rise of regional markets,” Melissa said. “Most trade agreements allow for free movement of companies, not people.”

According to Voces research, 19 million more Mexicans are living in poverty today than in 1994. The cost of the basic food basket in Mexico has increased 257 percent from 1994 to 2004, she said.

Since the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, 1 million jobs were lost in the U.S. Voces research indicates that Wisconsin was one of the states that was hit the hardest, where one out of every 10 jobs was eliminated.

Part of the mission of Voces is to dispel myths in the U.S. about Mexican immigrants who live in the country without the government knowing.

One myth is that immigrants don’t pay taxes, where in fact they contribute more than $189 billion in taxes each year. Since many of them are using false Social Security numbers to obtain work, they do not receive the benefits of tax breaks, Social Security funds or income tax refunds that American receive.

Another myth is that Mexican immigrants take advantage of the welfare system.
“They need Social Security numbers to take advantage,” Melissa said.

A third myth is that increased border control is the solution and that there is no motivation from Mexico to change the state of the country. Which just is not true, Melissa said.

“We are asking Congress to support fair immigration reform,” she said. “There has been a decrease in the number of people who are able to come over to the U.S. legally. The U.S. is only allowing so many people and the demand is so much higher, that we need to be realistic about it.”

According to Voces research, 50,000 visas are given to Mexicans from the U.S. annually, when in reality there are about 1 million people per year who wish to come to the U.S. to work temporarily or to take up permanent residence.

“We primarily want to focus on legalizing the people who are here,” Melissa said. “We are not looking for amnesty, but a path to legal status.”

Other issues with immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally include parents whose children are U.S. citizens. If caught, many will take voluntary deportation but they have to decide whether to being their children back to a poor nation or leave them in their own country, with the hope they will receive a better life.

Melissa mentioned local organizations that are involved in helping Mexican immigrants get driver’s licenses, legal advice, financial assistance for school lunches and loans.

One organization mentioned in the discussion was www.kiva.org, a Web-based organization that allows individuals to donate $25 to entrepreneurs in developing worlds as a loan that will be repaid.

After Melissa’s presentation, she brought Miguel, a Guatemalan immigrant who volunteers at Voces, to the front of the room to tell his story. He speaks English very well, but chose to tell his story in Spanish while Melissa interpreted. The presentation was cut short because Miguel's compelling story moved Melissa to tears.

Miguel grew up picking beans, cutting corn and doing many other farming-related tasks in Guatemala. He had to walk three hours to his job, so he would stay away from home from Monday through Friday to save him the six hour commute each day.

Miguel said he graduated with honors from his high school but afterward could not find work because he needed experience. His family is very poor and he was the first person in the family to graduate from high school.

“In desperation and because of war I came to the U.S.,” Melissa translated for Miguel. “I risked my life. Passing through Mexico I will never forget what I went through.”

When trying to cross Tijuana, Miguel said he stood for 48 hours because the person he paid for a seat on a bus sold the same seat to someone else.

“I remember when we were trying to cross, there was a person who was heavier and could not keep up with the others,” Melissa translated for Miguel. “I don’t know what happened to him.”

Miguel made it to California and his first job was installing drywall.

“I worked 15 days straight and made $15,” Melissa translated for him.

After the drywall job, Miguel sold popsicles and ice cream on the street. He worked from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and made $20 per day and $30 on the weekend days.

He recalled working at a restaurant from the early morning until 2 a.m. and made $280 after 15 days.

He worked many days in construction, from sun up to sun down and earned $40 per day.

“I know my story is similar to many others,” Melissa translated for Miguel. “That is why they come here. Not to hurt anyone, not to break the laws, but to work to make money for their families to maintain.”

Back in his hometown, Miguel said 43 percent of the workforce working on the best land works for Chiquita Banana and there is a lot of poverty. When he picked coffee in his country he made 80 cents in quetzal, the Guatemalan currency. Currently, one U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 7.75 quetzals.

“My sister is 34 years old and having a hard time finding a job because after the age of 30 you are considered very old,” Melissa translated for Miguel.

His sister currently sells candy, but if it weren’t for Miguel sending money back home, he does not know where his family would be.

“My hope is, my dream is that we can be together,” Melissa said teary-eyed as she translated for Miguel. “That’s all we want, is to work together and be together.”

The presentation was followed by a screening of Crossing Arizona, a RAINLAKE film directed and produced by Joseph Mathew and Dan DeVivo. The film documents all sides of the immigration issue at the border of Arizona and Mexico.

Heightened security at the California and Texas borders has pushed illegal border-crossers into the Arizona desert at numbers upwards of 4,500 per day. Many are men looking for work, but an increasing number are women and children wishing to reunite with their family members.

The documentary looks at the crisis from the eyes of the immigrants, ranchers whose property and animals are put into danger, humanitarians who put water stations into the desert, and minute men who have taken matters into their own hands.

A copy of Crossing Arizona was purchased by SS Peter and Paul Parish and is available for rent by request at the Parish Office or Parish Library, located at the front of the vestibule.

Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin Seeks Participation in Spreading Awareness

2006-12-14T13:14:00.000-06:00

December 12, 2006
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

You are invited to represent Catholics in the Milwaukee Archdiocese who are concerned about the genocide in Darfur. As you may be aware, the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, is now approaching its 4 year anniversary.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to send 20,000 international troops, but for the first time in the history of the United Nations, has not followed through with deploying a peacekeeping force.

The dictator and government of Sudan—responsible for sponsoring the Janjaweed militia committing the worst acts of genocide—has refused to accept the multinational peacekeepers. So the killing and rape continue on a massive scale.

The Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin is working on an ongoing basis to increase awareness and inspire advocacy and local action in our communities.

The coalition, which includes many of our Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters, is asking for parishes across Wisconsin to plan local events in January and February to commemorate the 4th anniversary.

Faith communities are being invited to participate in a variety of activities that will bring awareness to parishioners. The Coalition hopes to secure a substantial number of Catholic parishes that will participate on some level with the following activities/initiatives:

1) Holding a special day of prayer concerning the people of Darfur and peace in the region, either during a regular worship service or by planning a special service
2) Utilizing bulletin announcements or inserts to raise awareness and ask for action
3) Having a briefing on Darfur by having a speaker on the issue
4) Conducting postcard signing/ letter writing, perhaps in the fellowship time before or after mass

In addition, we are asking each congregation in the Archdiocese to co-sign a letter to President Bush asking him to make Darfur a top priority. Your congregation can go online to sign on to that letter here.

Lastly, I am hoping that each congregation can appoint at least one person to be a chief point of contact for action on Darfur. Please contact me if you are interested in joining the Coalition or in helping with this advocacy work in the Milwaukee Archdiocese. Your help in assisting your parish in participating or distributing materials to participating parishes for the 4 year anniversary activities would be much appreciated. Whatever you can do will make a difference!

In Christ’s Peace,
Rebecca Moczulewski
(262)780-9777
rmocz@sbcglobal.net

Rebecca Moczulewski is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary in West Allis and a member of the Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin. For more information on Catholic Relief Services and Darfur see http://sudan.crs.org/

Declaration of Peace

2006-09-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

Visit this website to read more about the Declaration of Peace and to sign before September 21:

http://declarationofpeace.org/

Responses to “Pray for Guidance on the Wisconsin Marriage Amendment” piece

2006-09-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have sent your thoughts on the “Pray for Guidance on the Wisconsin Marriage Amendment” piece. Here are some of the responses:

8/29/2006

As our blessed Scriptures so eloquently point out, there "is one pillar and foundation of truth, the Church." And if you know anything about a pillar on a building, or the foundation of a house, they both hold the whole thing up. The Church has carefully guarded the truth from it's inception, and Christ's words are surely being fulfilled as if they were prophecy, "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Through schism and scorn, through plague and apostacy, through "Reformation" and deformation, the Catholic Church has stood firm. Truth is not as you would imply, something that requires a "new judgement call" during "a new time."

Time spent on this issue dialoging is pointless. Your cry for sympathy is sad. Sexual sins are sins not only against God, but against ourselves. Greiveous in nature, and selfish. God created the sexual relationship to populate the world, not for pleasure. Your view on this subject goes completely counter to your own arguments. Example, you say that "as our understanding of ourselves and human nature evolves, so should our Church's traditions evolve." Citing, and supporting, evolutionary change on your part is completely self-inihilating as a homosexual relationship will never, and can never, ensure the survival of the species. Your arguement is completely counter-intuitive.

The bottom line is that sin is sin. We are called to turn from it at all costs. The Devil is real, and there is a battle going on for the souls of all human kind. Calling for the relaxation of God's law (this isn't a "Church Tradition" issue as you try to establish) is like telling your employer to ignore your pension to steal from the office because you believe you were born that way and there's nothing you can do about it. All sin can be defeated. All sin is forgiven. Jesus' blood ensures that.

I hope, no, I pray, for the leaders in Wisconsin to make the right choice and
protect the sactity of marriage and establish what human nature already knows to be true. One man, one woman.

Jeff

9/5/2006

Just read your viewpt in "The Voice". I think we have a fairly liberal parish in most regards but nonetheless I think it was a courageous act on your part to write your views on the upcoming amendment. (I hope you also support net neutrality).

I remember back about 30 yrs ago when I attended the first in a series of such unions between friends or family of mine that were celebrated by a priest or pastor. It was quite radical and only a select few attended. I thought at the time, well why not; these people obviously love and care about each other so why not make it more or less official. Everyone was happy and there was great fanfare. The couples had a great support group and in my heart I wished them the best. Then I watched over the ensuing years each of those relationships dissolve and I thought to myself, boy, there was a lot of joy, excitement and fanfare in the uniting ceremony but only sadness without ceremony in the breakups. I thought, what's the point of having this celebration and then having it just end so unceremoniously; heck, maybe if it was blessed by the state and it was harder to get out of, it might have encouraged a renewal of commitment. At least in a state recognized union there has to be an official declaration of termination and I am sure that this may give some pause for reconsideration. Who knows?

In one of the cases the individual decided to go it again with a different partner; once again they had a religious ceremony. They have been together now for at least 12 yrs and are doing great; trouble is, there's nothing in the law to protect them and they have no rights as a couple under the constitution. Also, I don't know how the proposed amendment is going to affect those with common law marriages where for one reason or another people don't want to get married. Hell, I know that I'm never going to get married again; but that doesn't mean I'll never want to share my life with someone and there are all kinds of restrictions to a relationship of this kind without constitutional protections. I agree with you wholeheartedly when you state, "altering it (the Constitution) to restrict the rights of individuals is an even bigger move". At this time in our history all I see is that this represents another smoke screen to hide the many of our rights that are being suppressed by the current administration's ideology of neofascism which, instead of being steadfastly fought against is being aided by this type of foolish legislation.

Joe

8/31/2006

Cheers for your column! I agree with you. I am particularly impressed that you made your arguments based on just the first sentence of the amendment. Although I agree with the points you made, it is the second sentence of the proposed amendment that truly strikes fear into my heart. In also ruling out civil unions or other arrangements that would give committed couples any of the legal benefits of marriage, that second sentence truly restricts the rights of citizens of this state. The second sentence imperils the gains already made, such as the health and insurance benefits offered by a number of municipalities and corporations to committed or registered couples.

Wisconsin law currently provides for marriage as an act only between a man and a woman. There is no need of a constitutional amendment to enforce or "protect" that.
As you pointed out, altering the constitution ia a big deal, not to be undertaken lightly. Never has the Wisconsin constitution been amended to restrict rights, only to expand them. But certainly the consitution should not be amended to deprive citizens of current rights!

Thanks for your column -- and thanks to The Voice for printing it.

Here's to strengthening our rights,

Kit Halloran O'Meara

Amendment and Wisconsin Bishops' Letter on Marriage

2006-09-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

To read the letter discussed in the “Pray for Guidance on the Wisconsin Marriage Amendment” piece below, visit this website:

http://www.archmil.org/bishops/ShowResource.asp?ID=1885

and click on “Wisconsin Bishops’ Letter on Marriage”

On November 7, 2006 the amendment will appear as follows on the Wisconsin Statewide ballot:
Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized by the state?

Pray for Guidance on Wisconsin Marriage Amendment

2006-08-02T12:24:00.000-05:00

When I read the document “A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Defining Marriage in Our State” I felt a strong sense of disappointment in the Catholic leaders who authored this letter. The argument they use that they are ‘defending’ the institution of marriage by supporting an amendment to our state constitution to exclude same gender marriages is one that I have heard over and over. Altering the constitution is a big move and altering it to restrict the rights of individuals is an even bigger move. I would like to hear more people from the Church speak out in defense of the people who would be affected by this amendment. I would hope that our church and its leaders would open this issue up for discussion and realize the importance of being critical of and careful with the message that is sent and the impact it will have. I do not believe that the arguments presented in this letter do any of those things.

In an interview with the Catholic Herald from July 6, 2006 Archbishop Dolan said,
“those who should be on the defensive are those who want to change something [marriage strictly between a man and a woman] that has been at the very core of human understanding for as long as that human understanding has been articulated." What about human kindness, inclusion, and equality--values and ideas that have also always been at the core of human understanding? Restricting a large group of people from expressing their commitment to one another and gaining both the emotional and legal benefits of marriage, not to mention making these couples feel like their love is not as valid as heterosexual love in the eyes of their community, puts those other core human values to the wayside.

To say that a person who advocates for same gender marriages is threatening the sanctity of marriage is frankly a bit absurd to me. The kind of fidelity that marriage symbolizes and that same sex couples are fighting for is actually a very traditional idea. The desire of same sex couples for the chance to participate in such a long-held tradition (and perhaps one day the Church's sacrament of marriage) is a testament to how serious these couples are about upholding the value of the institution of marriage.

In the article “Relationships: Blessed and Blessing,” James B. Nelson of the United Church of Christ suggests that it is time to look at this issue through the lens of the central message of the scripture, which shows "Jesus as setting aside every human barrier, every false tradition that violates the oneness of God and the oneness of God’s human community. It pictures the Jesus who lived out the life-changing reality that God’s oneness cannot be compromised by human prejudice, human fear, or human bigotry.” The bishops' letter to Wisconsin Catholics attempts to soften the blow by saying, “Support for this amendment does not imply or justify animosity towards any individual or group” and, “Even as we ask Catholics to support this amendment, we also urge them to repudiate words and deeds that demean individuals with a homosexual orientation.” I do not believe that denying the privledge and right to marry is a way to model the acceptance, inclusion and respect that they say Catholics should maintain for LGBT persons.

The essential message I want to get across is that this amendment is not merely an issue about homosexuality or heterosexuality. This is a human issue. As our understanding of ourselves and human nature evolves, so should our Church’s traditions evolve. I understand it may be a long, slow process but I want to urge discussion, thought and especially prayer on the issue. The first step is to be critical of our traditions and how they impact people we otherwise claim to embrace. This is a new time, a new judgement call, and before voting yes to the referendum we should pray long and hard to Jesus for His wisdom and guidance.

Kari Hanson
Chair of Justice Education Committee
Saints Peter and Paul Church

Summary of Justice Matters Death Penalty Forum

2006-07-05T11:15:00.000-05:00

Speakers: Terry Hess, board of directors for the Wisconsin Coalition Against the Death Penalty Fund, Inc., in opposition of the death penalty; John McAdams, Ph.D., associate professor at Marquette University in favor of the death penalty and Fr. John Celichowski, attorney and pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish speaking from the Catholic perspective.

The Justice Matter forum held on the topic of the reinstatement of the death penalty in Wisconsin and the practice of the death penalty in general. It was an interesting debate. Seventy-five people attended the event. After Terry Hess asked the crowd who was in favor of the death penalty, who was not in favor and who was undecided, one person in the audience was in favor, most were not in favor and a few people raised their hands indicating that they were undecided.

Terry Hess was the first speaker and stands in opposition of the death penalty. Hess said he is a nurse practitioner and that neither he, nor anyone he is close with has been a victim of a violent crime. Hess joined the board of directors of the Wisconsin Coalition Against The Death Penalty, Inc., because he does not feel that killing someone because that person killed someone is the right or moral way to conduct a society.
Three years ago, Hess joined a program where he was assigned to communicate through letters and prison visits with an individual on death row. Hess began communicating with Charles Hood, an individual on death row in Texas who had shot and killed two people in 1989. Hess said whether Hood was guilty or innocent is not the point. Facts and figures in support or opposition to the death penalty are not the point.
Hess said that he believes that with death row, society views vicious murderers as less than humans and instead as animals. Hess does not believe vicious murderers should be seen as animals, but as humans who have done something awful.
Hess’ notion of society is the metaphor of a tree where everyone’s lives are interconnected and somewhat co-dependent. We are connected as part of the Earth and part of the universe. Hess said that when a person kills someone, it takes a chunk out of the root of the tree and if society in turn kills the murderer, another chunk of the tree is taken and society is not stronger, but weaker for it.

John McAdams said he believes that the death penalty actually deters murders and that we should not ask whether it is fair or unfair if someone should be killed. The death penalty to McAdams, who noted that the individuals on death row have convicted aggravated murders, is an appropriate punishment for the most vicious murders and it means that punishment is consistent with justice.
McAdams brought up a few points and arguments that anti-death penalty organizations make and focused his speech on disproving those points. The first thing McAdams said anti-death penalty organizations say is that the death penalty is prone to error. McAdams believes that the numbers that anti-death penalty organizations quote are inflated. For example the number of convicted felons who were on death row and dismissed from the punishment are made out to be people who were incorrectly convicted in the first place. McAdams said that in reality, many cases have been overturned by liberal judges who are in opposition of the death penalty.
Another point McAdams made was that death penalty opponents want the public to think of the death penalty as a complete separation from every other penalty. Many organizations and people opposed to the death penalty say that the death penalty is not fool proof and that there are people on death row who have been wrongly convicted. McAdams said there is a large number of people in prison who have been wrongly convicted and that the death penalty should not be viewed as a perfect system. The same with convicted individuals who are from a lower income class of society.
McAdams said that people opposed to the death penalty say that rich people and minorities are the majority of people on death row however McAdams argued that the same demographic is in the regular prison system.
McAdams said that life in prison without parole is not a sufficient punishment for the more vicious criminals in society because no one can say that a person will be in prison for life in good faith. There is a large chance that the criminal will be released from prison at some point, whether they have been determined to be someone who has been rehabilitated or they escape.
McAdams believes that the death penalty actually deters murders, not crime but murders. He had statements from researchers who are social scientists backing up this point. McAdams said that on the surface, this statement does not appear to be true because society does not compare data apples to apples. Texas has a large number of people on death row, but Texas also has a very high murder rate, McAdams said. We cannot assume an identical society or economic factors are the same when thinking about having the death penalty in Wisconsin and comparing Wisconsin to other, larger states with different demographics, he said.
McAdams closed his presentation saying that as long as there is the possibility of death and murder in society, the failure to use the death penalty is reckless endangerment to the rest of the population.

Fr. John Celichowski informed the audience of different statements the Catholic Church and those associated with it had made throughout the years, some of which neither supported the death penalty or were against it. Celichowski, however, said that his personal conviction was against it. Pope John Paul II called for the end of the death penalty, Celichowski said. He considered it cruel and unnecessary. Celichowski said the Old Testament and the teaching of Christ in the New Testament called us to protect life, practice mercy and reject vengeance. Celichowski sited other passages in The Bible that showed this attitude, including the story of Cain and Abel, where God does not kill Cain, but banishes him outside of the community after he murders his brother.
Celichowski felt there were many reasons to resist the death penalty, including that it is flawed and that it is unfairly applied in terms of race, place, and the cost of defense. Celichowski said that Catholics in the United States are reexamining what they think of the death penalty and that, currently, half support it and half oppose it. Celichowski said that people ages 18 to 29 are less likely to support the death penalty than people over the age of 30. Celichowski also said that people who attend mass weekly are less likely to support it.
Celichowski offered ways to tolerate the death penalty as it continues to be legal in other states. He suggested that we pray for the victims of crimes and the families of victims. He suggested individuals learn about the Catholic social teachings and criminal justice policies in the United States including the possibilities of racism within the system. Celichowski said we need to educate ourselves and our communities. And we need to advocate by contacting our public officials.
Celichowski said he does not believe that there is conclusive evidence that supports the theory that the death penalty deters crime, but there is substantial evidence that there are mistakes made in the system.

Justice Matters Forum June 14: Death Penalty

2006-06-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

JUSTICE MATTERS presents DEATH PENALTY

Pro, Con and Catholic Perspective

With Guest Speakers:
John McAdams, Ph.D.
Associate Professor at Marquette University
In Support of the Death Penalty

Terry Hess
Board of Directors
Wisconsin Coalition Against the Death Penalty Fund, Inc.
In Opposition to the Death Penalty

Fr. John Celichowski, OFM Cap, J.D.
Attorney and Pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish
Speaking from the Catholic Perspective

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
AT 7PM
SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH CENTER
On the corner of Bradford and Cramer Streets, Milwaukee

For more information, go to www.ssppmilwaukee.org

Milwaukee Catholics for Peace and Justice Statement in Opposition to the Death Penalty

2006-05-09T11:02:00.000-05:00

“God has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6

Wisconsin has not had a death penalty for the past 152 years. Recently introduced legislation being considered by the Wisconsin Legislature seeks an advisory referendum to lay the groundwork for the reintroduction of capital punishment in our state. Milwaukee Catholics for Peace and Justice strongly opposes the death penalty and is committed to educating the public about alternatives to this inhumane practice.

As Catholics, we are called upon to recognize and affirm the value of every human life. The deliberate killing of a defenseless human being demeans all of us and crushes our human spirit, wherever and whenever it occurs. This is as true when the public’s executioner kills as when the murderer kills. The Vatican, under the guidance of our late beloved Pope John Paul II, made its position on this issue clear when it declared, in June 2001, that “the pursuit of the abolition of capital punishment [is] an integral part of the defense of human life at every stage of its development.”

As People of God, we are witnesses to the truth that the hope of redemption before death is God’s most precious gift to us. No one, not even a hardened criminal, can be denied the hope of personal conversion and repentance. Every execution, by extinguishing its victim’s opportunity for repentance, reconciliation and redemption, robs him or her of that gift, which is God’s alone to dispense. We are fallible human beings. When we execute, we arrogate to ourselves the power to judge and destroy life. We do so often erroneously and always immorally.

At the same time we grieve with the survivors of murdered loved ones, of whom the U.S. Catholic Bishops said, in November 2005, “For many left behind, a death sentence offers the illusion of closure and vindication. No act, even an execution, can bring back a loved one or heal terrible wounds. The pain and loss of one death cannot be wiped out by another death.”

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
Luke 6:27

Wisconsin has a proud history of opposing the death penalty. Since Wisconsin became a state in 1848, there has been only one execution, in 1851, which set the stage for the abolition of the death penalty in 1853. Since then, a number of bills have been introduced to reinstate the death penalty – most of them in the last 33 years – but none have been successful.

There are many arguments against the death penalty: discrimination, arbitrary application, mistakes and higher costs among them. As applied in this country, which has the highest execution rate of any “first world” country, the death penalty is economically, racially and geographically biased and thus deeply flawed. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, there have been 1004 executions since 1976. During roughly the same period, 120 people have been released from death row as a result of new evidence of their innocence, including DNA evidence. From 2000 to 2004, 35 inmates were freed from death row and exonerated. Recent studies continue to confirm that race is often a factor in death penalty cases. For example, a recent comprehensive study in North Carolina found that the odds of receiving the death penalty rose by 3.5 times among those defendants whose victims were white. Similarly, there is substantial evidence of the arbitrary nature of the punishment. Although each year 2000 to 4000 people commit acts which could lead to the death penalty, fewer than 300 are sentenced to be executed.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 3:34

We believe that our Christian faith compels us to oppose the death penalty. Let us join together against its reinstatement in Wisconsin. We ask for your prayers and support in opposing this legi

Origins of the Universe

2006-02-09T13:03:00.000-06:00

On February 8, the Justice Matters committee held its second panel discussion on the topic of Origins of the Universe. The panel presented the following views:

The Perspective of Intelligent Design, Dr. Scott Reid
Dr. Reid is a professor of chemistry at Marquette University. Although he is not a proponent of intelligent design, he provided an overview of that perspective.

The Perspective of Evolution, Maurizio Murro
Mr. Murro is a doctoral candidate in biology and is currently on the faculty of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

The Catholic Biblical Perspective, Dr. Lance Richey
Dr. Richey is an associate professor of Religious Studies at Cardinal Stritch University. He has doctorates in both scripture and philosophy.

Below is a brief recap from each of their presentations.

Intelligent Design
Intelligent Design contends that it is a scientific theory based upon the key issue of irreducible complexity. The reality of irreducible complexity is any physical reality that functions as a machine or organism which, if any part is changed, it can no longer be that reality. An example of such a machine would be the mousetrap. In other words, it functions as a unit and is incapable of being reduced to a more basic function, as a motorcycle could be reduced to being a bicycle. Thus if an irreducible complexity could be found that would have no previous source of existence, it would sustain the premise that there was a power that inserted it into existence. ID contends that a fossil record that appeared suddenly without explanation will one day be found.

Evolution
Evolution is a change in the genetic makeup of a population. In other words, an individual cannot evolve. An individual's genetic makeup is static and fixed. But over time a population can evolve, i.e., over time the genetic make up of individuals in a community can change and grow from one generation to the next. Each group can adopt the genetic makeup of the previous generation or adapt that makeup for the purpose of survival.

View of the Catholic Church
Since 1950 and Pope Pius XII the Catholic Church has held that evolution as a theory needs to be respected as the latest understanding of the origin of humans and of the universe. The Catholic Church has not adopted evolution as THE explanation, but it seeks to respect the findings of science to date. Since 1950 various individuals in the Church and various popes (the latest being Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI) have all recognized the need to listen to the unfolding wisdom of science in this regard. In fact, the Church gives greater credence to evolution than it does to Intelligent Design.

Looking for more information?
Please visit: www.talkorigins.org

This is a Usenet group with discussions on the creationism/evolution controversy; mainstream scientific ideas, theories and trends related to evolution; and lots of links to evolutionary theory- and creationism-related websites