Social Justice

I went to see "Paranormal Activity" this weekend. I love a good scary movie and this one didn't disappoint. It's a far cry from the usual, wretched gorefests that Hollywood produces en masse.
The scares were subtle, the monster virtually unseen, and the story not all that implausible in my opinion. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys being creeped out every now and then. Don't take the kids!

Because so many at Crossleft responded favorably to my interview with Dr. Bryant Welch, I decided to post another ProU interview here. This is part one of two. The first half of the interview was first published on Progressiveu.org on April 26th, 2009

Allison Kilkenny is a political humorist, blogger and co-host of Citizen Radio, an often derisive and never indecisive radio program described as being “like CNN, but with WAY more swearing.” Her work has appeared in The Nation Magazine, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, 23/6, and her own blog, http://allisonkilkenny.wordpress.com/. Recently, we discussed topics ranging from overcrowding in prisons to being G. Gordon Liddy’s “Twitter buddy.”

Do you want join in the conversation with other NJ Catholics who are interested in advocating for social justice and in promoting the principles of Catholic Social Teaching? Here is your opportunity. Join Pax Christi NJ on Yahoo! Groups.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paxnj/

I have a new defense for all those self-proclaimed orthodox bloggers who might criticize Saint Anthony Shrine for being welcoming of gay and lesbian Catholics:

At least we don’t have a Buddha.

It seems that down in Australia, a bishop there has issued a warning to a “renegade” parish “where women can preach, homosexual couples can be blessed and social justice is championed.” It seems the church is “operating outside practices and policies acceptable to the Roman Catholic Church.” (God forbid the Church should champion social justice.) The bishop concluded that whatever good the parish might be doing, it is decidedly not Catholic. (The crisis was, of course, precipitated by a person not a member of the parish who came in and took surreptitious photographs – yet another Catholic snitch on a self-appointed crusade to purify the Church. If you’re worried about impurities, my friends, try Lysol.)

On July 15th, as Congressmen Alcee Hastings and John Dingel reintroduced HR 6496 they “lauded” the work of NGO’s who have supported legislative action from the US government. Among those recognized for their contribution was Pax Christi USA. According to Network, this bill is the best legislative attempt to date to deal with the worsening Iraqi refugee crisis. As of this writing there are no co-sponsors from New Jersey. Please contact your congressman and urge him to support this legislation.

About the Iraqi Refugee Crisis
There are currently 5 million Iraqi’s who have been displaced, internally and externally, due to the ongoing violence in Iraq. Of the 2.4 million who have left the country few consider returning to Iraq an option.

Iraqi refugees are among the most traumatized in modern history. It is estimated that 80% have experienced torture, extortion or the violent death of a family member. The children are the most seriously affected.

The United States Government, under previous legislation has allowed for up to 12,000 visas to be issued by this September. To date only 4,700 have actually been processed. The USCCB is calling for an allotment of at least 100,000 visas for next year.

For more information on the Iraqi refugee crisis you can go to these links

It stands to reason to say of course he is, he was a victim of it himself. Sadly that is not entirely true. John McCain has appeared to lead the charge to end the use of torture unequivocally, but his legislative compromises have allowed the practice to continue and have even provided immunity from prosecution for its perpetrators.

Now, TrueMajority is working with Catholics United and School of the Americas Watch to bring you the voices of torture survivors and military interrogators who are asking Sen. McCain to regain his moral footing and ban torture.

Please see below a video from Joshua Casteel, a former interrogator at Abu Ghraib, turned conscientious objector, asking John McCain to ban ALL TORTURE

Watch the video and sign their petition demanding an end to torture:

More on John McCain’s position on torture below the fold

Evangelical churches have always had their buzzwords, a unique insider's language that lets everyone know where you stand in theology and in relationship to God.

But mainline and liberal churches have their own discourse and keywords, and chief among the words we like to throw around is "social justice." The word has been used so frequently that I'm frankly tired of it. Whatever inspiration it once had, has now drained from it. Not only that, but I don't think it conveys what we want it to, which certainly complicates the ability of progressives to get across their point. To some, it is unjust to take from the rich and give to the poor. To some, it is unjust to work for equality and fairness. To some, the word "justice" implies a negative, as in getting what one deserves.

But Jesus isn't about giving us what we deserve, but about opening us up to each other in radical ways.

I would much rather hear us talking about "social redemption" instead of "social justice." We as Christians should be working to redeem society, offering a path toward transformation and the ability to realize that the redemption we seek will redeem us as much as the thing we seek to redeem. What do others think? Has the buzzword been played-out? Does it convey what we want it to convey? Does social justice really capture the message and ministry of Jesus?

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The Importance of Our Galactic Family

The Myanmar cyclone-stricken people present an excellent example of our planetary situation. Even though thousands of people are suffering, Myanmar’s government has refused outside help. The people do not know that many countries are waiting just outside their borders to assist them. They think no one cares; they believe they are alone.

Earth humans have been taught that we are alone in the cosmos. We are told that the technologies we presently use are all that are available. Millions of Earth humans are suffering horrendously. They are told there are no solutions to their problems; there are no cures for their diseases. Millions feel totally deserted by God and any other intelligent beings on our planet or elsewhere.

Both scenarios are false. Thousands wait for permission to help the people of Myanmar. Thousands of space ships and members of our galactic family wait for permission to assist the people of Earth. In both cases, the government/governments refuse to allow the assistance. The U.S. Air Force has standing orders to shoot down all space ships upon sight. Even though our galactic family has the capability to neutralize our weapons and land en masse, they await our request for them to do so. They come in peace and refuse to do anything to give the opposite impression.

This is from a short talk I gave to a group of ministers last week and thought I'd share it here as well.

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."

-- Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. --

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

-- In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus came to his disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?” --

"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

-- a smoldering wick he will not snuff out --

" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "

-- Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." --

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.