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Life & Dignity Sunday
Diocese of Sacramento
December 5 & 6, 2009
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San Fernando Region
January 23 & 24, 2010
December 5 & 6, 2009
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San Fernando Region
January 23 & 24, 2010
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Diocese of Fresno
April 17 & 18, 2010
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Diocese of Fresno
April 17 & 18, 2010
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Diocese of Orange
May 1 & 2, 2010
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May 1 & 2, 2010
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Archdiocese of San Francisco
May 15 & 16, 2010
May 15 & 16, 2010
Social Teaching
| January 29, 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4 |
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Approximately 30 percent of Californian families do not earn enough to pay for basic needs. Many of them are struggling with inadequate resources and are forced to make hard choices between hunger, housing and health care. Although often described as, "falling through the cracks" this group is neither small nor marginal but rather, it's a substantial proportion of our society and yet little is known about the challenges and difficulties they face. To build awareness of the facts and to fight poverty more effectively, Catholic Charities of California launched Step Up California, Campaign to Cut Poverty in September of 2009. A coalition of organizations is working to educate legislative members and staff about poverty and self-sufficiency. As part of that effort, Step Up is sponsoring a poverty simulation workshop at the state capitol on February 3. The simulation is a unique tool that illustrates the day-to-day realities of life with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. During the simulation, participants role play the lives of low-income families trying to maintain their self-sufficiency. The poverty simulation workshop can open people's eyes to the human cost of poverty. This unique learning resource creates, like no other method, an insight into the state of chronic crisis that consumes so many working poor families. For more information on the Step Up California campaign and on what you can do please click here. For more information, contact Linda Wanner, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Renewed Push for Immigration Reform Dioceses around the state and nation are responding to the US Bishops call for Congress to once again debate comprehensive immigration reform. The new postcard campaign launched via the Justice for Immigrants organization, aims to deliver 250,000 postcards to Congress next month. In a mid-term election year Congress is reluctant to debate any controversial legislation, but the continued injustices suffered by immigrants is a situation the Bishops cannot ignore. For a comprehensive look at the genesis of the current campaign click here. To find out how your arch/diocese is involved contact your local diocesan offices. For more information, contact Steve Pehanich, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Census 2010: Be Californian, Be Counted Every 10 years since the birth of this nation, the "They may fear their census responses will be used against them in a detrimental manner. It is important to convey that all responses provided on the 2010 Census questionnaire or to a Census Bureau employee are confidential and protected under Title 13 of the United States Code," says The oath taken by census employees to protect individual confidentiality is taken very seriously. Census questionnaires will be mailed in April. Please fill one out when you receive it. For more information, contact Steve Pehanich, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the California Complete Count Committee website for more information. Center for Restorative Justice Works Consolidates Websites What started 10 years ago as an effort to bring children to visit their mothers in prison has blossomed into a network of programs. Get on the Bus made its inaugural run in 2000 with 17 children on one bus visiting one prison. Last year, more than 1,110 children on 44 buses were transported for visits to five different prisons. The Center for Restorative Justice works now includes the Chowchilla Family Express, which brings children to visit on a regular basis, and Cross Over, which brings community members into prisons to learn about the system. View the Center's new website at www.crjw.us. Contact Debbie McDermott, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , for more information. On the Web |
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News Public Policy Insights January 29, 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4
News Public Policy Insights January 29, 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4