Ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill are respectful of human dignity, protective of human rights, and devoted especially to the poor and oppressed.
Join the Sisters of Charity and other organizations in affecting change in our world.
Resources for Social Justice
JUBILEE ACT & DEBT CANCELLATION
On Wednesday, April 16, 2008, the House of Representatives voted 285 to 132 to pass the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634). This strong bipartisan legislation urges expanded debt cancellation to impoverished countries that need it to meet the Millennium Development Goals and provide much needed clean water, health care without fees, and food to its people. Debt cancellation is an essential element of any real, long-term development progress in Africa and Haiti. The Jubilee Act, which now moves to the Senate for consideration, should be supported by our Senators. The Act provides debt cancellation for more poor nations and would help put an end to the kind of irresponsible lending that caused crippling debt burdens in the past.
HUNGER
The Hunger Site – With just a few clicks a day, you can feed the hungry, provide free mammograms, provide healthcare for children in need, fund programs to give books to children in need, protect and preserve the rainforest, and fund programs to provide food to rescued animals.
Just Harvest – A Center for Action Against Hunger is a membership organization that promotes economic justice and works to influence public policy and to educate, empower, and mobilize the citizens of our community toward the elimination of hunger and poverty.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 80 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental, labor, and community groups working for the definitive cancellation of crushing debts to fight poverty and injustice in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), which hosts this site, believes strongly in the values of this nation, in pluralism, and the ability of every American to share in the rights and responsibilities of this great country. We Can Stop The Hate:
- Documents which hate groups and vigilantes are active in the anti-immigrant debate.
- Catalogs the code words they use to demonize undocumented workers and to justify draconian public policies.
- Demonstrates how those in the mainstream media are complicit in providing access to the airwaves to spokespeople tied to hate groups and vigilantes, and echo the rhetoric of hate themselves.
- Reports on the rise in hate crimes against Latinos since 2004 (concurrent with the rise in hate speech surrounding the immigration debate) and catalogs many of the hate crimes committed against Latinos, as well as other kinds of abuse.
IMMIGRATION
2018 Sister Mary Schmidt, SC, Lecture
Reverend Craig B. Mousin
University Ombudsperson, DePaul University
Immigration law has become one of the most critically debated issues of the century. Most from all sides of the political debate agree that the current law is broken and needs to be reformed or fixed. How do the biblical narrative and Catholic Social Thought impact the debate? What is the law that guides our beliefs and goals in our nation? How does a person of faith respond to the exiled or refugee in our midst? This lecture intends to add new dimensions as we respond to those questions.
2017 Sister Mary Schmidt, SC, Lecture.
The most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, discusses immigration issues.
An excellent article appeared in the March 10, 2008, issue of AMERICA. Written by John F. Kavanaugh, SJ, the article presents some clearly thought out arguments which contradict widely-held positions on the issue of immigration. The article entitled, “Amnesty? ‘Let us be vigilant and charitable.’ is brief and to the point.
Find the article here.
Iced Game – “ICED” is an acronym for “I Can End Deportation.” This is an on-line game and your objective is to become an American citizen. Assuming the role of an immigrant, you are avoiding ICE officers, choosing right from wrong, and answering questions on immigration.
LexisNexis® Legal Newsroom
For continuously updated information on immigration developments and advocacy, visit Bender’s Immigration Bulletin. Bender’s Immigration Bulletin serves as an authoritative and comprehensive source for the latest immigration news, case digests, and government documents. It features timely articles by leading experts in the field.
VOTE
Project Vote Smart provides an easy way to find out who represents you on the state or national level. Open the site, and in the left sidebar, enter your nine-digit zip code to access a list of current officials for your area. Click on a representative’s name and visit a page that includes contact information.
Faithful Citizenship is the site at which people can access the guidance provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in terms of responsibility to prepare and to vote in the general election. The information addresses conscience formation, principles of Catholic Social teaching, ways to evaluate issues and candidates in the light of our faith.
Catholics United – This site is an excellent way to learn how our presidential candidates stand on various issues. Use you voice and vote! This is the call of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops promoting faithful citizenship. During this time of presidential elections, we must express our moral choices. Difficult political decisions demand that we have well-formed consciences.
Additional Websites
These sites outline candidate responses to issues such as: healthcare, abortion, climate change, immigration, Iraq, Iran, and the economy. We need to research our candidates and make conscientious decisions as Saint Elizabeth Seton, our first native-born United States saint, would have us do.
PEACE & JUSTICE
Network is a progressive voice within the Catholic community that has been influencing Congress in favor of peace and justice for more than 30 years.
Education for Justice provides print-ready resources promoting Catholic Social Teaching on issues of justice in society. While designed primarily for educators, the site can be used by anyone wishing to share this type of material with others.
GLOBAL POLICY
The Global Policy Forum monitors policy making at the United Nations, promotes accountability of global decisions, educates and mobilizes for global citizen participation, and advocates on vital issues of international peace and justice.