Take Action Now!
Contact President Obama now (http://actioncenter.crs.org) and urge him to do everything he can to support full implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement and efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.
Why is action important now? The situation in Sudan – not just in the Darfur region, but also the tenuous peace between the North and South brought about by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – hangs in the balance. The country is bracing for a referendum on whether the South should secede from the North in January 2011. The potential for increased violence, death, and displacement at the hands of a renewed North-South war is real. Therefore, significant steps must be taken to avert such a disaster.
What can President Obama do? The Senate has gone on record with the passage of S. Res. 404 signaling the United States’ strong commitment to prevent increased violence and promote peace and stability in all of Sudan. The resolution specifically calls on President Obama to strengthen engagement on this issue and on the international community to coordinate their efforts closely. It urges the responsible actors in Sudan to comply with the provisions of the CPA, resolve outstanding issues, and avoid actions that escalate tensions.
What is the Church’s position? The Catholic bishops of Sudan have raised serious concerns about the situation in their country. They also remain hopeful that peace is possible. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) share their concerns and hopes regarding the potential for increased violence and are taking action to avert conflict, assist people in need and promote reconciliation. Therefore, we urge President Obama and his administration to address the concerns of the Catholic Church in Sudan and implement the provisions of S. Res. 404 and to do everything he can to pursue peace and stability in Sudan.
What does the situation in Sudan have to do with my Catholic faith? Our Catholic faith calls on us to uphold the life and dignity of all human life and to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters everywhere. Conflict in Sudan has already cost millions of lives, displaced millions more, and deepened widespread poverty. As Catholics, we must take action to prevent violence and save lives as well as assist our neighbors in need.
How is the Catholic Church promoting peace and stability in Sudan? CRS has worked in Sudan since 1972 and is currently active in Darfur, South Sudan and in the capital, Khartoum. Working in partnership with the Catholic Church in Sudan and with affected communities, our focus in Darfur is to provide humanitarian assistance such as food and essential household items as well as establishment of shelters for people displaced by the violence. In the South we also promote development assistance through education, agriculture, water and sanitation and health care initiatives and support peace efforts that strengthen civil society and civic education.
A delegation of Sudanese bishops are visiting the United States June 12-28 to meet with Church leaders, policymakers, and others to raise their concerns and call for increased efforts to build a peaceful future for Sudan.
For more information, contact:
Stephen Hilbert, Policy Adviser for Africa/Foreign Aid, International Justice and Peace, USCCB; 202-541-3149, shilbert@usccb.org Tina Rodousakis, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, CRS; 410-951-7462, trodousa@crs.org
Please Click Here to Read the Appeal to Publix
http://www.stmargaretmary.org/Publix Letter.pdf
Our Hait Commitment:
Please click here for the update from our travelers who returned from Haiti on March 1st.
Link to information on immigration:
www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Contact Information for Governor Crist:
Mail:
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Email:
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Phone:
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146
[Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time]
Fax:
(850) 487-0801