PRAYER - STUDY - ACTION
Protect Voting Rights
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
The fundamental belief behind democracy is that everyone’s voice has equal say in the decisions being made. Over the past year, we’ve seen hundreds of challenges to that belief -- both through legislation and through individual acts. All of this is even more deeply challenging to wrestle with because we know that the political sphere, even in its most perfect form, is not going to bring us the solutions we are searching for.
Protecting voting rights is an urgent and essential need, which is why Pax Christi USA is partnering to host the March On for Voting Rights, this Saturday, August 28th, on the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington. Since the start of 2021, 48 states have collectively introduced 389 bills that contribute to voter suppression. There are two bills in Congress that could reinstate some of these rights -- the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. These two pieces of legislation share similarities, but they serve as bookends to one another for comprehensive democracy reform. One without the other is not enough.
“The revolution is at hand, and we must free ourselves of the chains of political and economic slavery. The nonviolent revolution is saying, ‘We will not wait for the courts to act, for we have been waiting hundreds of years. We will not wait for the President, nor the Justice Department, nor Congress, but we will take matters into our own hands, and create a great source of power, outside of any national structure that could and would assure us victory.’ For those who have said, ‘Be patient and wait!’ we must say, ‘Patience is a dirty and nasty word.’ We cannot be patient, we do not want to be free gradually, we want our freedom, and we want it now."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963
Ultimately, we know that even once the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act are enacted, there is still work to be done. People who are incarcerated or living with a felony conviction, those without citizenship, survivors of power-based violence needing to maintain anonymity for their safety, and countless other populations will continue to face barriers to voting access unless we push for even more reforms. These essential pieces of legislation remind us of the many reasons to continue working towards the elimination of barriers in every facet of our democracy.
In peace,
Lauren Bailey
National Field Organizer, Pax Christi USA
You are asked to act join us in opposing the Death Penalty.
Scheduled Executions in TexasScheduled Execution Last NameFirst NameTDCJ NumberDate of BirthRaceDate ReceivedCounty
09/08/2021 Ramirez John 9995440 6/29/1984 Nueces
09/28/2021 Rhoades Rick 9990490 5/10/1964 Harris
10/12/2021 Barbee Stephen 9995070 3/30/1967 Tarrant
10/27/2021 Gutierrez Ruben 9993080 6/10/1977 Cameron
11/03/2021 Hernandez Fabian 9995530 9/22/1975 El Paso
11/10/2021 Chanthakoummane Kosoul 999529 10/01/1980 Collin
11/17/2021 Gonzales Ramiro 999513 11/05/1982 Medina
Position of Pax Christi USA ON MASS INCARCERATION AND THE DEATH PENALTY
The United States has the highest per-capita incarceration rate in the world, clear evidence of a “throwaway culture,” as Pope Francis describes it in his first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The U.S. criminal justice system upholds and perpetuates a racial caste and economic disparities by criminalizing poverty, addiction, and mental illness. Jim Crow laws morphed into the targeted mass incarceration of Black people and other people of color, while racialized migrants fleeing violence and oppression fed by U.S. foreign policy are caged in prisons (‘detention centers’) at the U.S. Southern border and other prisons around the country. As a community of conscience, we stand together to support the creation and implementation of restorative justice practices rooted in respect for human dignity, healing, accountability, repair, and restoration; we call for an end to immigration incarceration and for the abolition of the death penalty.
Pax Christi Social Justice Principles
There are many, many social justice issues, which at times find us overwhelmed and wishing we could be more effective. The Pax Christi principles will be listed here in summary and should you have an interest in addressing one or more in our meetings, please share your thoughts and resources.
Extracts from Pax Christi Statement of Principles
Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
Acknowledgement of the Legacy of Slavery: We recognize the profiteering and the continuing to benefit.
Acknowledgement of the Role of the Catholic Church: We acknowledge and repent for the sins of anti-Black racism, enslavement and segregation.
On Racial Justice: Violence inherent in systemic racism is an affront to the God who creates.
On (Im)migration: Migrants and refugees are fleeing poverty, violence, and environmental devastation. We support refuge, citizenship and justice.
On Climate Change: We support action on a condition which fuels poverty, food insecurity, displacement and violence.
On Militarism: We support the abolition of nuclear weapons, the funding of nonviolent solutions to conflict.
On Palestine: We support pressure of the leaders of Israel toward a just peace.
Covid-19: We support people of color, the elderly, people with disabilities.
Healthcare: We support a universal healthcare system.
LGBTQ+ Equality: We affirm the right to equality and an end to criminalization.
Mass Incarceration and the Death Penalty: We support restorative justice practices and an end to the death penalty.
On Education: We support an educational system which supports a historically accurate curricula.
Homelessness and Housing: We support affordable and accessible housing.
Gun Violence: We support reasonable measures and universal background checks.
On Labor: We support the dignity in all work, fair wages, and the ability to join unions.
The complete reference to the Principles are located at:
https://paxchristiusa.org/2020/09/16/statement-of-principles-elections-2020/
Learn more of San Antonio Pax Christi and consider joining our monthly zoom educational gatherings on the first Saturday of the month. https://www.paxchristisa.org/ Also learn of more at paxchristiusa.org and international Pax Christi https://paxchristi.net/
Future events of Pax Christi San Antonio will address Social Justice and Minorities, and International Peace. We will continue to address Mass Incarceration and the Death Penalty.
Join us in promoting Nonviolence and collaborating with and supporting others in our community
toward Nonviolence, promoting of youth and minority leadership, and all others who wish to
promote peace.
Pax Christi is an international peace action which grounds in the gospel and Catholic Social Teaching. We welcome all advocates of peace and invite issues and presentations by those who are not Catholic and share our concerns. We hope to extend our hospitality.
Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi San Antonio is a membership organization that rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. As a section of Pax Christi International, we are a Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the Peace of Christ in our witness to the mandate of the nonviolence of the Cross
Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi San Antonio is a membership organization that rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. As a section of Pax Christi International, we are a Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the Peace of Christ in our witness to the mandate of the nonviolence of the Cross
TCADP San Antonio, TX
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Check the notices for details.
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You are invited to engage in this process, help us identify leaders and engage in collaboration.
Arthur Dawes, MA, MSW
Coordinator
Pax Christi San Antonio
arthurdawes@att.net
210-213-5919
Notices
Anti-Nuclear Weapons Banners: Please take a look at the picture of the banner in the attachment. It refers to an international treaty that the Holy See has ratified. Pax Christi Dallas is working with the Nuclear Free World committee for the Dallas Peace and Justice Center to find good places in Texas to put them for the month of January--high traffic areas near a traffic light or stop sign where cars have to stop so then the drivers will have a chance to read them. In the bottom corners you will see the website link to ICAN (www.icanw.org) so that folks can go there and finds lots of information. ICAN is the International Coalition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and won the Nobel Peace Prize about a year ago. For a banner, contact Joyce Hall: hallmj@sbcglobal.net
What really happens to the used clothing you donate? Read this revelatory article by Anna deSouza: https://www.rd.com/article/what-happens-used-clothing-donations/
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio was the first local organization to endorse this bill, which has also been endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. See https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/AL3K2mRHejHBX9ewnwO9CKEAaFY
Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2020: The Year in Review, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Access the report at: https://tcadp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Texas-Death-Penalty-Developments-in-2020-FINAL.pdf
Watch Pax Christi USA’s Michelle Sherman, interviewed in the “Young Peacebuilders” series of Pax Christi International: https://paxchristiusa.org/2020/12/16/watch-pax-christi-usas-michelle-sherman-featured-on-young-peacebuilders-series/
Executive Director, Hope Border Institute
Sr. Norma Pimentel, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Access the webinar at: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/webinars/border-realities-and-migrant-protection-webinar/
Online Resource for families or small groups:
If you’re needing some social interaction with depth, more than just listening to zoom webinars, longing for the social time that used to happen before and after Mass, consider using the Maryknoll Weekly Reflection Guides. Gather as family or small group and use these guides in Facetime, Skype, Zoom etc. This an easy online structure with prayer, an introductory theme, a link to the Sunday Readings and some reflection questions to guide group conversation. Using the SeeJudgeAct methodology, you will be led as a group to consider where, in light of the shared reflection, the Spirit is calling you this week. The Global Solidarity charism of the Maryknoll family will feed you spiritually for these challenging times. Find the Guides in both Spanish and English at:
https://www.maryknoll.us/home/resources/mission-spirituality/ordinary-time-2020
Pax Christi International
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Pax Christi U.S.A.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org
Pax Christi Texas
http://www.paxchristitexas.org
Pax Christi San Antonio
http://www.paxchristisa.org
COPS / Metro Alliance
www.copsmetro.com/
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
www.msjc.net
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, International JPIC Committee
http://saccvi.blogspot.com/
San Antonio Peace Center
http://www.sanantoniopeace.center
Interfaith Radio, (Interfaith Voices)
http://www.interfaithradio.org/
Texas Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty
www.txccedp.org
Pax Christi International
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Pax Christi U.S.A.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org
Pax Christi Texas
http://www.paxchristitexas.org
Pax Christi San Antonio
http://www.paxchristisa.org
COPS / Metro Alliance
www.copsmetro.com/
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
www.msjc.net
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, International JPIC Committee
http://saccvi.blogspot.com/
San Antonio Peace Center
http://www.sanantoniopeace.center
Interfaith Radio, (Interfaith Voices)
http://www.interfaithradio.org/
Texas Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty
www.txccedp.org
