The Menu “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the

the blind, and you will be blessed.

Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14

Newsletter of the UCC Social Justice Team Issue 2, February 25, 2007

Social Justice Chef’s Special:

Workshop: April 15
The UCC Social Justice Team Catholic Social Teaching:
will be hosting a workshop
Sun., April 15 1-5 pm and Life and Dignity of the Human Person
invites anyone interested in Human life is sacred. In fact, this dignity of the human
learning more about Catholic
Social Teachings or how to
apply justice issues to daily
life to participate. Breakout
sessions of the workshop will
include topics such as faithful
citizenship, using Catholic
Social Teachings as a leader,
social justice and charity, and
information about pro-life
issues. Registration will begin
March 1, and materials will be
available at the front desk at
the UCC or by email at
sjteam@utcatholic.org.
Support the UCC
Missionaries to
Arteaga, Mexico
Every year a group of 35
missionaries from the UCC
travel to Arteaga, Mexico
during Spring Break. This
year they will be facilitating
religious education for
children, visiting the sick and
elderly and giving away
donated school supplies. The
trip would not be possible
without support from the
UCC community. Please
consider “adopting” a
Missionary after the masses
on Sunday Feb 25, in the
Atrium. Suggested “adoption”
amount is $35.
The Death Penalty: A life issue
What does scripture say?
“The Lord works
person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This righteousness and justice for
belief is the foundation of all the principles of Catholic social all the oppressed.”
teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack
Psalm 103:6
from abortion and euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell
research, and the use of the death penalty. Catholic teaching
“Do not exploit the poor
also calls on us to work to avoid war. We believe that every
person is precious, that people are more important than because they are poor and do
things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it not crush the needy in court,
threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human for the Lord will take up their
person.
case.” Proverbs 22:22-23
Source: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.htm
Jessica’s Law Status second time offenders. This
means that someone could
family friend. This law would
further discourage reporting,
The Texas Legislature is receive the death penalty as people might be afraid
considering Senate Bill 68 without having committed their relatives would receive
and House Bill 8, known as murder, and the bill also has the death penalty. Please call
“Jessica’s Law,” which calls other moral problems. your legislators and share
for increased punishment for Currently, only 1 in 5 sex y o u r t h o u g h t s a b ou t
sex offenders: 25 years in offender cases ever make it “Jessica’s Law” as soon as
prison for first time to the Texas justice system, possible (Capitol switchboard
offenders and the possibility and 90% of sex offenses are number is 512.463.5495).
of the death penalty for committed by a relative or Source: TCADP
Linda White and Helen Prejean speak on dignity of the human person
On Valentine’s Day 2007 murder victim’s family
at the UCC, a message of love members and how
abounded—not that of these sessions became
candies and carnations, but a emotionally draining
profound message about because of the anger
forgiveness, hope, and victims expressed at
respecting the dignity of all. these meetings. Before
her daughter was
Linda White, a Tomball murdered, Linda did
resident, spoke about the way not know how she felt
her daughter was brutally about the death
murdered by two 15-year-old penalty, but after her system and decided that she
boys attempting to rob her. daughter’s murder, she began was firmly against the death
She told how she went to to investigate the inequities in penalty. She joined Murder
therapy sessions with other the Texas criminal justice C o ntinue d o n back s ide .
The Menu Newsletter of the UCC Social Justice Team
“ B U T W H E N Y O U G I V E A B A N Q U E T , I N V I T E T H E P O O R , T H E C R I P P L E D , T H E L A M E , T H E B L I N D ,
A N D Y O U W I L L B E B L E S S E D . A L T H O U G H T H E Y C A N N O T R E P A Y Y O U , Y O U W I L L B E R E P A I D A T
T H E R E S U R R E C T I O N O F T H E R I G H T E O U S . ” L U K E 1 4 : 1 3 - 1 4
Peaceful Vigil on the A Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty
Days of Executions by Helen Prejean, CSJ
On each day of an execution
by the State of Texas, the
Austin chapter of the Texas
Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty hosts a vigil at
the Governor’s mansion on
Lavaca between 10th and
Jesus was a victim of 11th Streets from 5:30-6:30
the death penalty. pm. Bring a sign and a
marker, a candle, or a friend
Soup Supper Speakers and be in solidarity with those
being killed. The Austin
March 2: Casa Marianella chapter of the TCADP has
March 9: Mobile Loaves and meetings on the first Thurs.
Fishes (Alan Graham) of the month at 2700
Anderson Lane. For more
Suppers begin at 6:30 pm information, contact group
after Stations of the Cross at leader Bob Van Steenburg, an
6 pm. Bring a bowl, a spoon active Catholic, at
and bread to share! austin@tcadp.org.
(continued from previous page) should be considered for the
Vict im s ’ F am ilies for death penalty. The list
Reconciliation and found includes policemen and
their message of forgiveness children under the age of 13,
to be more constructive than but fails to mention
the angry therapy group she firefighters or 14-year-olds.
had previously attended. Of “How can we put a higher
the death penalty being a ‘price’ on some lives?” she
comfort for victim’s families, said. Furthermore, it is clear
she says, “The death penalty that race is a factor in who is
holds out a false promise of sentenced to capital
healing and closure. Can there punishment. 80% of people
be closure? No there cannot; who are on death row have
you’re forever changed. But killed a white person, and
you can talk about love…” 50% are people of color.
Historical slave states
Sister Helen also spoke p e r f or m 8 0% o f al l
about her ministry with executions, and Sr. Helen
prisoners on death row. She cited the example of an
said, “If we’re not working to African American girl from
change it, we’re complicit in Shreveport, LA, who was
it.” Texas has killed 383 raped and had her throat
people since the slashed, yet her murderers did
reinstatement of the death not receive a life sentence.
penalty in 1976. Sr. Helen
mentioned some inequities in Sr. Helen urged those
the justice system. The State present to speak against the
Legislature has a list of people use of violence as a paradigm
who, if killed, their murderers for a solution to social
Jesus, our brother,
God of Compassion, you suffered execution at the
You let your rain fall on the hands of the state but you did
just and the unjust. not let hatred overcome you.
Help us to reach out to victims
Expand and deepen our hearts
so that we may love as You of violence so that our enduring
love may help them heal.
love even those among us who
have caused the greatest pain Holy Spirit of God,
You strengthen us in the
by taking life.
For there is in our land a great struggle for justice. Help us to
cry for vengeance as we fill up work for the abolition of state-
death rows and kill the killers in sanctioned death and renew our
the name of justice, in the society in its very heart so that
name of peace. violence will be no more. Amen.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Catholic Charities promotes both justice and charity. In
Austin, they work to promote faithful citizenship, provide
services to immigrants and have a food pantry, among other
services. If you would like to volunteer on a regular basis or
organize a food drive to benefit the pantry, please contact
martha-jasse@austindiocese.org or go to www.ccctx.org.
problems. She connected the SJ Team Mission statement:
issue to the number of Iraqi The UCC Social Justice Team
civilians that have been seeks to connect what we
murdered during the Iraq war experience at Mass on Sunday to
(current estimation is 60,000). how we live the rest of the week
by focusing on the tenets of
Sr. Helen connected our call charity and justice. We serve the
to speak out against the death common good through works
penalty with our larger call of of mercy for the poor and
loving all people, especially vulnerable and advocating for
the most vulnerable. She said, just social policies.
“We can love people who
love us, but can our love Like what you see? Want
extend to the unseen poor in to become a part of it?
this city? ...Is it possible that
hurricanes aren’t the only way A small group of students
to drown? People are and adults committed to
drowning in our inner cities. promoting justice around the
Is it possible to love them?” UCC and the community
She spoke especially to the produces this bi-weekly
students present, saying how news let t er , looks for
powerful the student voice opportunities to do charity
can be, and that “when you and justice, leads workshops
are committed to a cause that and hosts other events. If you
is just and right, providence would like to help with
moves with you.” She planning, have ideas to add,
connected all justice issues or would like to put a
together in a “fabric” which is submission in the newsletter,
“held together by the dignity email sjteam@utcatholic.org.
of the human person.”