Comunidade Católica Brasileira em NYC

O lema da semana é “Reparação Integral: porque nenhuma vítima está além de mim”.A Conferência Episcopal da Colômbia (CEC), em parceria com o Secretariado Nacional de Pastoral Social (SNPS/Cáritas Colombiana) e Rede Paz, realiza, a partir de quinta-feira, 5, até o dia 12, a Semana pela Paz 2010. De acordo com a assessoria de imprensa da CEC, o objetivo da campanha é avançar em um processo solidário nacional de exigência e construção da reparação integral das vítimas do conflito armado, que reforça a recuperação da dignidade no contexto da verdade, justiça e paz. Mais informações: www.pastoralsocialcolombia.org.co

WASHINGTON— As chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City applauded the July 28 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to halt some of the most controversial provisions of Arizona SB 1070 from going into effect the next day. Bishop Wester lamented the status quo on immigration as “unacceptable” and called for the Federal government to act immediately on immigration reform.

WASHINGTON—As schools launch a new academic year, millions of children also are set to learn the ABC’s of child protection. In Catholic schools and parishes nationwide, safe environment training gives children the skills necessary to protect themselves from would be-offenders. Mary Jane Doerr, associate director of the Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has listed here some of the messages children hear in safe environment programs.

1. Abuse is never a child’s fault, a point that children need to hear over and over again. Offenders try hard to make children feel complicit in the abuse or to blame them for the abuse.  Children learn that that is never true! The blame always belongs to the adult who is taking advantage of a child’s trust and vulnerabilities.
2. God loves children forever and wants them to live holy and happy lives. If a child has been abused, that child learns they are still innocent and loved by God and their families. The shame of child sexual abuse needs to be put where it belongs: on the abuser.
3. Abuse that has happened should be reported. Children learn to tell a parent or another trusted adult if someone is hurting them and to keep telling until they are believed. One study shows that children tell of their abuse an average of nine times before someone believes them. Parents can help children learn whom they can trust by pointing out the adults who can be trusted. Parents can also teach children the correct names of private body parts. This simple step gives children the vocabulary to tell others what happened to them.
4. You can recognize abuse when it happens. Children learn to trust that feeling that says something isn’t right and to tell a parent or other trusted adult when something happens that makes them feel uneasy. Children learn to question if someone is telling them to do what the child doesn’t like but says it is because he loves the child. Children learn to tell parents or trusted adult if another person makes them sad or confused or tries to get them to break rules. This can stop the process of grooming by which an abuser lures a child toward danger. A child who questions another’s inappropriate behavior can send a message to the offender that this child is not an easy target, but one that will tell what is being done to him/her.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNS) -- Boosting morale in a diocese deeply wounded because of the abuse of children by some clergy in past decades, Catholics in the Davenport Diocese pledged $22 million in a capital campaign that succeeded despite the worst economic conditions in decades.

The campaign was the first in more than 20 years for the diocese and came at a time of rebuilding following bankruptcy.

All 80 parishes and the Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City participated in the fundraising effort that will cover the purchase and renovation of diocesan headquarters in Davenport as well as support clergy, seminarians, schools, parishes and diocesan ministries. More than 9,700 donors contributed, with an average gift of $2,265.

"I am absolutely overwhelmed at the response of people for their church," Davenport Bishop Martin J. Amos said. "The initial need was prompted by the bankruptcy, but the success of the campaign has truly moved us forward in faith and hope."

Bishop Amos said campaign volunteers "were absolutely super in listening to fellow parishioners. I think that was a real benefit to the campaign. For me, personally, I met some absolutely wonderful people in the diocese that I wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to sit down with and have a conversation.

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WASHINGTON— As chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City applauded the July 28 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to halt some of the most controversial provisions of Arizona SB 1070 from going into effect the next day. Bishop Wester lamented the status quo on immigration as “unacceptable” and called for the Federal government to act immediately on immigration reform.           

 "It is the right decision,” Bishop Wester said.  “Any law that provides legal cover to profiling affects all members of our communities, including legal residents and citizens.  It is a very slippery slope. What is needed now is for Congress and the Administration to live up to their responsibilities and address this issue by passing immigration reform."            

The U.S. Catholic bishops believe that any comprehensive immigration reform bill should contain the following elements: a legalization program that gives migrant workers and their families an opportunity to earn legal permanent residency and eventual citizenship;  a new worker visa program that protects the labor rights of both U.S. and foreign workers and gives participants the option to earn permanent residency; reform of the U.S. family-based immigration system to reduce waiting times for family reunification; and restoration of due process protections for immigrants, including asylum-seekers.

In the longer term, policies that address the root causes of migration, such as the lack of sustainable development in sending nations, should also be part of the equation.

PAPHOS, Cyprus (CNS) -- As tensions swirled just to the north in Turkey and to the south in Gaza, Pope Benedict XVI landed in Cyprus praying for peace.

The pope began his June 4-6 visit to Cyprus, in the far eastern Mediterranean Sea, by blessing an olive tree. The trip began one day after the president of the Turkish bishops' conference was killed by his driver, who had been experiencing psychiatric problems.

And even as the pope was flying from Rome, international tensions were simmering over Israel's raid on a flotilla of boats trying to run the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Cyprus itself is not a stranger to tension; the island has been divided between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots since 1974. U.N. peacekeepers patrol a buffer zone between the two sides, and the Vatican nuncio's residence, where the pope was staying, is in the zone.

Arriving at the airport in Paphos, Pope Benedict told President Demetris Christofias and the Cypriot people, "May the love of your homeland and of your families and the desire to live in harmony with your neighbors under the compassionate protection of almighty God inspire you patiently to resolve the remaining concerns that you share with the international community for the future of your island."

Christofias told the pope, "Your presence here conveys a strong message of peace over hatred and war. We share with you the same vision for peace and social justice."

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Na tarde desta terça-feira, 25, tem início em Luziânia (GO), a 40 km de Brasília, a 2ª Assembleia Popular Nacional. O evento é fruto da 4ª Semana Social Brasileira, evento organizado pelas Pastorais Sociais, da Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB) e também pelo Jubileu Sul, movimento social que nasceu no ano 2000, com o objetivo de discutir a dívida pública, externa e ecológica – além de outros temas, que deverão ser tratados até a sexta-feira, 28, na Assembleia. O encontro terá início com uma análise de conjuntura feita pela assessora das Pastorais Sociais da CNBB, irmã Delci Franzen, e pelo economista e ativista social, membro da direção nacional do Movimento Sem Terra (MST), João Pedro Stédile. Cinco anos depois da 1ª Assembleia, este segundo encontro, que começa amanhã, deverá reunir 600 pessoas vindas de todos os estados do Brasil, para dar continuidade às discussões em torno do documento “O Brasil que Queremos” – texto que foi aprovado na primeira Assembleia Popular, que aconteceu em outubro de 2005, em Brasília. Segundo irmã Delci Franzen, o evento é um passo no fortalecimento dos movimentos sociais brasileiros. “A Assembleia Popular Nacional é uma resistência das forças sociais do Brasil que nasce para superar os dissensos que esses movimentos vêm sofrendo nos últimos anos em nosso país. A Assembleia é um instrumento muito importante na busca do método popular que sistematiza o Brasil que queremos”, disse. Ainda de acordo com irmã Delci, a Assembleia criou força política no Brasil porque conseguiu reunir vários movimentos e pastorais sociais em torno da causa do cidadão brasileiro. “A luta da Assembleia Popular é válida porque se trata de uma grande reunião das pastorais e movimentos sociais brasileiros. Com isso, conseguimos firmar uma grande força política que discute sua pauta com o povo e para o povo – a partir de temas relevantes que dizem respeito aos direitos e deveres desse mesmo povo”, frisou.LEIA MAIS

Dia 20 de Maio, na escadaria da Catedral da Sé, em São Paulo, o Movimento Nacional da População de Rua, com apoio do Vicariato do Povo da Rua da arquidiocese de São Paulo, realizou um “Ato pela vida”, para manifestar-se contra todas as formas de violência praticadas a pessoas em situação de rua.

O arcebispo de São Paulo, cardeal dom Odilo Pedro Scherer, participou da manifestação para reiterar seu repúdio a qualquer violência praticada contra a pessoa humana.

No último dia 11 de maio, o cardeal Scherer já havia se manifestado, através de nota, desejando apuração rápida da chacina que vitimou seis moradores de rua, na zona norte da capital paulista. Da Praça da Sé, os manifestantes foram em caminhada até a Câmara Municipal, onde foram recebidos pela Frente Parlamentares em Defesa da População de Rua.

Entre as violências praticadas contra a população de rua nos últimos tempos, destacam-se, em 2004 o assassinato de sete moradores de rua em São Paulo. Os criminosos ainda não foram identificados; em 2010, o assassinato de três moradores de rua em Salvador; assassinato de dois moradores de rua na zona leste de São Paulo; assassinato de seis moradores de rua em Guarulhos; assassinato de seis moradores de rua na zona norte da capital paulista. No Rio Grande do Sul, um homem em situação de rua foi pintado de prata.