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Equal Access to Institutional Aid

4/25/2016

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“The Church without frontiers, Mother to all, spreads throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity, in which no one is seen as useless, out of place, or disposable.” Pope Francis Message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 3, 2014

In this Year of Mercy, how are we providing shelter to the homeless? How are we caring for the immigrants among us?  Do our undocumented brothers and sisters feel  "a culture of acceptance and solidarity"?

Currently, all public colleges and universities in Connecticut set aside a proportion of tuition revenue to be used as ‘institutional aid’ to assist students with a demonstrated financial need. Undocumented Connecticut students, without immigration status, pay full tuition. They contribute towards this institutional aid, yet Connecticut does not allow undocumented students access to receive institutional aid.

After graduating from our state’s high schools, higher education remains out of reach. It doesn’t have to be this way! Our legislators have the power to change the way institutional aid is given out, so that undocumented students are able to get access to the scholarships their tuition helps fund.

For more information about how to take action and stand in solidarity with the undocumented students, check out the ct4adream.
S.B. 147 information Sheet
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The Right to Water

4/7/2016

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Turning on the faucet, and having clean water come out, is a luxury that is easy to take for granted. The crisis in Flint, Michigan has helped us realize that safe, clean, water is a precious resource, even in the United States.  Over the last few month, Connecticut has also been talking about water, but not because it is toxic. Bloomfield’s water has been so well cared for that it is attractive to massive water bottling companies.  Niagara Bottling has been working with the Metropolitan District Commission to create a water bottling plant in Bloomfield.  This California- based corporation would bottle an enormous number of bottles a day- 1.8 million gallons, so much that concerned citizens are calling this a “water raid.”
 
Bottling this much water a day will have an effect on all of Connecticut, not just Bloomfield.  Recently, Senate Bill 422 was approved in the committee and needs to go to the floor for a vote.  According to the concerned citizens and environmental advocates: SB422 would
“Prioritize state residents in a drought and prohibit the export of water out of state in any Drought Emergency. Residents will be cutting water use while water bottling companies will be shipping it out-of-state. The DPH will step in only when our reservoirs are down to 10% capacity. Revise our state drought plan to protect residents. The only way to protect Connecticut's water while its state water plan is being developed is to pass SB422. (Clean Water Action, http://tinyurl.com/water322)
 
“ Without legislation, it will continue to be "open season" for corporate raids on our water. Who gets to decide the future of our water?  SB22 would put a moratorium on large water sales and level the playing field for water rates and special sewer charges for ALL customers. Help protect Connecticut's water. Urge your state representative and state senator to support SB422.”(Bloomfield Citizens,  http://tinyurl.com/water4716)
 
As Catholics, we believe that water is a fundamental right. Caring for creation is one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching.  The next month will be a critical time to learn about the Niagara deal and help Connecticut form just policies around water usage to protect this sacred resource for both the present and the future.  

​There will be Department of Energy and Environmental Protection public hearings, legislative visits, and an email campaign that will be happening as part of the Bloomfield Citizens actions.  If you would like to stay up to date on this issue or be a part of advocating for a just water plan for Connecticut, please contact Sarah.Hillier@aohct.org
 

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2015 Advent Advocacy Calendar

10/30/2015

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Click on the image to download the 2015 Advocacy Calendar
​

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Taking Action with the Global Catholic Climate Movement

10/19/2015

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We have partnered with the Global Catholic Climate Movement to raise awareness about the climate change crisis in the Catholic community. We urge world leaders to commit to ambitious climate action and solve this urgent moral crisis (for more information, see climate change facts and Catholic teachings on climate change). Pope Francis said:“On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.” If you agree, click “Yes” below:”
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Follow Pope Francis' Call to Take Action on Climate Change! 

9/23/2015

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This summer, a group of young adults from the archdiocese learned about Catholics Confront Global Poverty and decided to take action! In  late August, Claire, Adrian and Miriam visited Senator Murphy's office to advocate for current Catholics Confront Global Poverty issues of human trafficking, immigration reform, and climate change.      
Our Holy Father has called on us all to take urgent action in the face of increasing changes to our global climate in his recent encyclical "Laudato Si [Praised Be]: On the Care of Our Common Home". As Catholics, we cannot sit idly by when we see in the world around us the effects of changing weather patterns on poor and vulnerable people. Farmers in the dry Sahel region of Africa have shared with Catholic Relief Services that they are experiencing a much shorter rainy season, making it more difficult to grow the food they need.
In the near-term, the U.S. Congress must provide $500 million in this year's appropriations as a down payment to the $3 billion pledge our nation has made to the Green Climate Fund over the next 4 years. The Green Climate Fund is an international effort to help developing nations adapt to climate changes and mitigate their effects. Take Action Now: Send a message to your members of Congress and urge them to fully fund President Obama's $500 million request for the Green Climate Fund in this year's appropriation
CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!
"The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all." Pope Francis (23)

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NEW Website Helps Catholics be "Salt and Light"

6/25/2015

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WeAreSaltAndLight.org, a new website of the U.S. Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, helps Catholics respond to Jesus' call to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" (Mt. 5:13-16).

The website includes:
  • More than 50 inspiring stories of real Catholic communities being Salt & Light (including several from our own Archdiocese!)
  • Over 100 resources on praying, reaching out, learning and acting together
  • Assessment tools to find ways to grow as faith-filled disciples at home and abroad
  • A 1-minute introductory video
  • Responsive design, for usability on handheld devices
WeAreSaltAndLight.org equips Catholics to live out Pope Francis' call to "go forth" on mission. It also seeks to help Catholic communities-especially parishes, dioceses, schools, universities, seminaries, religious communities, and ecclesial movements-to carry out the vision of the U.S. bishops' landmark document, Communities of Salt & Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

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Respecting the Dignity of Domestic Workers

6/25/2015

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PictureLynn Campbell and Maria Lima from the Brazilian Immigrant Center, at the Public Hearing in Hartford.
Legislation that would give certain basic labor protections to Connecticut domestic workers, including home care workers, has passed the state legislature and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Dannel Malloy. 

Currently, Connecticut law excludes people who work "in the domestic service of any person" from a host of labor protections, including:
  • coverage under the state's minimum wage,
  • eligibility for paid sick days and time-and-a-half overtime pay, and
  • the ability to bring sexual harassment or discrimination complaints against their employer.
Unfortunately the bill that passed was watered down and, if signed, will only address the latter exemption: allowing domestic workers to file sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.  

We feel this is a big step in a positive direction, however, and look forward to continued work with the Brazilian Worker Center, the Naugatuck Valley Project, the CT Catholic Conference, and other allies working together to address the issue of workers' rights.

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Help CRS Assist Nepal Earthquake Victims

5/22/2015

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The death toll from the two recent earthquakes in Nepal continues to climb, with estimates putting it over 8,500 currently with many still among the missing.

Catholic Relief Services has committed $10 million to the Nepal emergency response, and is partnering with Caritas Nepal to provide 75,000 people with temporary shelter, water treatment and hygiene kits, and blankets. Given the scale of devastation, CRS will likely expand support to reach more people.
The timeliness of humanitarian assistance is critical. In addition to catastrophic loss of life, a singular event like an earthquake, especially for those in impoverished parts of our world, can derail a family's stability, deplete a lifetime of savings and push them over the edge into poverty. For communities, the devastation to infrastructure, economy and reserves can set back a generation. Immediate CRS assistance will serve as a foundation for a more comprehensive recovery effort.

How Can You Help?

Your support helps provide immediate relief. The following costs for relief items are estimates based on similar emergency relief efforts in the region
  • $8 provides a water kit for a family. This includes a jerry can, a pail and aqua tabs for water purification.
  • $15 provides an emergency shelter kit. This includes tarps and nails to use with local materials to build shelters.
  • $22 provides household living supplies. This includes sleeping mats, blankets, utensils, plastics and a cooking pot.
  • $28 provides hygiene kits. This includes soap, laundry detergent, a toothbrush, toothpaste and towels.
Catholic Relief Services appreciates your prayers and your support. Gifts can be made online at www.crs.org or by phone at (877) 435-7277. Checks may be sent to:CRS, PO Box 17090, Baltimore, MD  21297-0303, with "Nepal Earthquake" written on the memo line.

Prayer for the People of Nepal
Background Information Handout

For more about this and other critical CRS projects, visit CRS's NEW  Resource Center to find information and ministry tools for prayer, formation and action with a global perspective.
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Support the Child Nutrition Act

3/20/2015

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"The hungry remain, at the street corner, and ask to be recognized as citizens, to receive a healthy diet. We ask for dignity, not for charity."  

--Pope Francis, November, 2014

One of the Domestic Legislative priorities addressed by the recent Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington DC was the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.  The current law, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will expire on September 15, 2015 and Congress will deliberate re-authorization as part of the regular 5-year review of the laws that govern nutrition programs contained in the Child Nutrition Act.

Programs affected by this reauthorization include those that address childhood hunger, help expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and promote nutrition and healthy communities. The WIC program provides nutritious food and nutrition education to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, new mothers, and infants and children up to age 5. Free and reduced-price school lunch and breakfast programs for low-income students and the summer food service program, which provides meals during periods when school is not in session, both ensure that children in our poor communities receive the healthy food they require to learn and grow.

For more information on these programs and the populations they serve, see the Backgrounder offered by the US Bishops.

TAKE ACTION: 
Let your voice be heard in the public debate on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act by urging your Senators and Representative to support policies that address childhood hunger, help expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and promote nutrition and healthy communities throughout the year.

Encourage Congress to:
  • Improve access and flexibility for child nutrition and school-based meal programs to respond to local needs
  • Invest in resources and protect from harmful cuts and changes, the hunger and nutrition programs that feed hungry children, and expectant and breastfeeding mothers, throughout the year
  • Protect recent gains made in eligibility and certification so that more children get the food they need for their healthy development.
To find contact information for your congressional representatives, visit this site:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/US-Congress.shtml.

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To advance Catholic Social Teaching by educating and preparing parishes to work for social justice. 
​The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry
of the Archdiocese of Hartford

467 Bloomfield Ave. Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone: 860-242-5573 

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