I just got an email from a Senator of mine that I had emailed a few weeks ago. I was surprised, because usually you get a quicker turn-around. So much time had passed that I had forgotten I had even sent him an email, and so I wasn't expecting his reply! Anyway, it was a good reminder to me that I haven't responded to any "Action Alerts" lately. So I decided to go looking for some!
Since the Obama Drama unfolded here at Notre Dame in May 2009, and the November 2008 Election, it has become increasingly clear to me that it's not enough to show up to vote. Our Catholic Social tradition has a much richer notion of active citizenship. There's so much we can do to really support causes which our Tradition says are of primary importance beyond electing candidates that share our views -- and our action becomes particularly important precisely when the ones who get elected, DON'T.
Even more surprisingly, there are simple things we can do to remain politically engaged - beyond the vote. Take emailing your reps, for example. Lots of good Catholic orgs have "action alerts" you can respond to: you enter your information, they email your reps. And voila! You've let your voice be heard and have encouraged them to support Catholic values on a variety of issues in just a few minutes!
That being said, here are some good action alerts I encourage everyone to respond to.
http://www.capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=14503781&type=CO
JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANTS - USCCB COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2010-01-27-Alert-healthcare.pdf
HEALTH CARE REFORM - USCCB
http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ac_homepage
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS) -- ACTION ALERTS
http://crs.org/act/
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES - ACTION IDEAS
And if you need a little Catholic Inspiration:
As Pier Giorgio Frassati used to say:
"Charity is not enough; we need social reform."
And as Pope John Paul II aptly reminded us in Christifideles Laci:
"A new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle."
Since the Obama Drama unfolded here at Notre Dame in May 2009, and the November 2008 Election, it has become increasingly clear to me that it's not enough to show up to vote. Our Catholic Social tradition has a much richer notion of active citizenship. There's so much we can do to really support causes which our Tradition says are of primary importance beyond electing candidates that share our views -- and our action becomes particularly important precisely when the ones who get elected, DON'T.
Even more surprisingly, there are simple things we can do to remain politically engaged - beyond the vote. Take emailing your reps, for example. Lots of good Catholic orgs have "action alerts" you can respond to: you enter your information, they email your reps. And voila! You've let your voice be heard and have encouraged them to support Catholic values on a variety of issues in just a few minutes!
That being said, here are some good action alerts I encourage everyone to respond to.
http://www.capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=14503781&type=CO
JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANTS - USCCB COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2010-01-27-Alert-healthcare.pdf
HEALTH CARE REFORM - USCCB
http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ac_homepage
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS) -- ACTION ALERTS
http://crs.org/act/
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES - ACTION IDEAS
And if you need a little Catholic Inspiration:
As Pier Giorgio Frassati used to say:
"Charity is not enough; we need social reform."
And as Pope John Paul II aptly reminded us in Christifideles Laci:
"A new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle."
No comments:
Post a Comment