Review and Renew...CCHD returns to its roots

"Meet Mary." This is the title of a new animation spot developed by the USCCB to re-emphasize to critics and supporters alike, the basic components and processes of the US bishops' domestic anti poverty campaign.

Just a few minutes long, the clip hits the basics in a way that is accessible to all, from the just-curious-community organizer to the the avid advocate, although it does seem that Mary is actually quite a bit of a "Martha"...a subtle statement of the power of both reflection and action?

http://www.youtube.com/usccb

Intrinsically Empathic Beings?

The following animation/lecture from the Royal Society of Animation suggests that human beings are not naturally wired for hate or worse, apathy, but rather are soft wired for empathy.

Is the distinction from the RSA that we are only 'soft' wired, not hard wired, for empathy a subtle reminder that while we naturally have the capacity to empathize, we are still responsible for actually acting out this capaiblity?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g

Mass at the US-Mexico Border

Fr. John Dear, SJ, writes eloquently about the annual Mass held November 2nd at a small piece of chain link fence in Sunland Park, NM where worlds come together but can just barely touch through the small gaps in the fence...how do we bridge these gaps?

http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/mass-us-mexico-border

An indecent, unchristian witch-hunt

How many times were you asked as a child, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I remember having countless different answers (teacher, marine biologist, veterinarian, doctor), but never did I answer "I want to be a social worker!" I doubt that I even knew what a social worker did and would likely have never thought I would become one. Although there are likely a number of factors that came together to bring me to the field, I usually credit my first internship with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development during my freshman year of college as the start of it all.

Because I had such positive experience with CCHD I have been saddened to watch extremists right winged political pundits smear the name of the program and those associated with it. No, CCHD is not a traditional charity, that is not the point of the program. Instead of handout food or clothing, CCHD attempts to alleviate domestic poverty by looking at the root causes of poverty and responding with programs derived from the two major thrusts of the program: community organizing and economic development. Some may view the Church's involvement in this sort of social justice activism as 'radical,' but my question to them is, was not Jesus quite the radical in his own time and place? His message of love was not all about butterflies and hugs. His message vigorously questioned and challenged the status quo so the dignity of all people would be respected. Is not CCHD attempting to do the same?

The following is another more comprehensive response to the anti-CCHD chatter by a National Catholic Reporter columnist:

An indecent, unchristian witch-hunt National Catholic Reporter

Gotta Love That Quality Time

It never ceases to amaze me how much even a small bit of joy or goodness can lift one's spirits in the face of challenging events, experiences and situations. See the following link:

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_14467762

Colonias in NM

I do not claim to know much about the systematic processes that occur in order that people live in substandard housing in the area between Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. However, I do know that people are people are people. People have certain basic needs: nutritious food, safe drinking water, shelter, health care, and love. For many people in the small unincorporated communities in the Border Area this is a reality they are still struggling to attain:

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_14446080

I asked myself, why is this? Is it so inconceivable that people roads, sewage, water, and electricity in their communities in order to function on a daily basis? When was the last time you did not have access to one of these? While I can hear the frustrations of hard working Americans concerned about where their tax dollars are going, it is preposterous to consider denying members of our community such basic rights. Whether people are native to America or whether they do not have legeal ctitizenship in the US, they still, as humans, have certain needs.

Power of a $20 microloan

Can you and I act to end poverty one $20 bill at a time? Explore the power of microloans with Kiva:

http://www.kiva.org/