PROMOTION OF ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

                                                                                                                    Approved at Assembly
                                                                                                                                                           August 22, 2004

RESOLUTION:
Rooted in the life-giving message of Jesus and recognizing that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with God, oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part, LCWR members will identify and implement at least one new, congregational action or program that promotes ecological sustainability.  (Adapted from the Earth Charter)

RATIONALE:
This year’s Joint Assembly theme, which urges the development of non-violent alternatives, has implications for our relationship with Earth.  Last year’s theme, “Tending the Holy,” challenged us to recognize all creation as sacred.  Our LCWR goal statement recognizes “the interconnectedness of all creation.”  One of the continuing themes of the Church’s Social Teaching is that care for Earth is a form of participating in God’s act of creating and sustaining the world.  Our Judeo-Christian tradition reveals that God sees all creation as good (Gen. 1:31).  Increasingly, we are coming to believe that the whole incarnational reality for which Jesus desired fullness of life (John 10:10) encompasses all creation.

BACKGROUND:
Sustainability
-  The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Earth in Crisis
 -  Global Climate change caused by overuse of fossil fuel and deforestation disables the earth’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.  Results are heat waves, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, loss of land.

-  Water supplies are shrinking.  40% of Earth’s population currently face serious water shortages; by 2025 demand will exceed availability by 56%. Ecosystems are fraying.  70% of oceanic fish stocks are depleted or are at their biological limits.  42% of Earth’s forests have been lost in the last century. 65% of Earth’s croplands are degraded.

- Species are vanishing.  25% of all living species have grown extinct in the last 25 years.

Some causes of the crisis
-  Eco-blind economy:  Our profit based / throwaway economy needlessly depletes resources and defiles the earth with toxic waste.

-  Rampant overconsumption: An economy premised on limitless growth demands ever expanding and uncritical consumption.  75% of consumption on Earth is done by 20% of the people, perpetuating poverty for the other 80%.

-  Distorted world view: Some human societies consider themselves as the rightful owners of Earth, separate from and superior to all other beings, therefore entitled to dominate and consume Earth’s resources.

-  War: The ever-present reality of wars on Earth brings death, maiming, and impoverishment to humans and also to the Earth. 

- Chemical and nuclear weapons pollute the environment.
- Scorched earth and deforestation erode agricultural land.
- Water sources are polluted.
- Infrastructures for supply of basic needs are destroyed increasing deaths by malnutrition, 
  disease, and lack of service.
- Oil fires contaminate the air with biohazardous materials.
- Bombing explosions destroy not only human, animal, and plant life but also layers of soil
  at points of impact.

                     Material adapted from The Earth at Risk http://www.holycrossjustice.org/publications.htm

SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
- Conduct an environmental audit of congregational properties and implement recommendations.

- Develop a land ethic involving research and implementation of measures to protect open space such as conservation easements or land trusts.

- Encourage more earth-friendly living in purchase and use of household products, energy consumption, choice of food items, maintenance of cars, and purchase of hybrid cars.  (see www.coopamerica.org and  www.responsibleshopper.org )

- Explore cooperative green purchasing within LCWR regions, health systems, and educational
   institutions.

- Become aware of environmental issues within our own bioregions and become a positive
   influence for sustainability.

- Understand  implications of purchasing bottled water and educate community members:

- Depletion of water sources by corporations for profit motive
- Destruction of water based ecosystems
- Proliferation of single-use plastic containers
- Privatization of a resource basic for human life

- Evaluate congregational social justice efforts in the context of the Earth Charter 
   www.earthcharter.org.

- Establish an environmental committee in the congregation to research and make
   recommendations for earth friendly practices.

- Use congregational publications for Earth education and advocacy.

- Endorse the Earth Charter and incorporate its principles into congregational life.

ORIGIN OF PROPOSAL: LCWR Global Concerns Committee c/o Sister Marie Lucey, OSF; mlucey@lcwr.org

Endorsed by Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15

*************

  THE ISSUE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

                                                                                                                                                          Approved at Assembly
                                                                                                                                                          August 22, 2004

STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION: As members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious committed to the human and environmental needs of our world, we oppose the research, production, testing, use and life extension upgrades of nuclear weapons.

RATIONALE:
-  The teaching of the Church on nuclear weapons has always recognized that Jesus’ command to love one another makes nuclear weapons incompatible with the commitment to world peace and justice.

-  The United States has withdrawn from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, a cornerstone of nonproliferation efforts since its adoption in 1962.

-  Contrary to the U.S. promise in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970, our nuclear arsenal is being rebuilt at the Y12 Plant in Oak Ridge, TN so each warhead will be certified reliable for the next 100-120 years.

-  The U.S. Congress this year lifted a ten year ban on designing new nuclear weapons and approved more than ten million dollars for the first new-design nuclear weapons in fifteen years.

-  The United States declared nuclear weapons ‘usable’ weapons in the US arsenal and will no longer limit the use of nuclear weapons to other nuclear armed states but would reserve the right to use nuclear weapons against any enemy.

-  The current budget before Congress calls for 5% increase in funding for nuclear weapons and a 7.2% decrease in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.  The $6.7 billion slated for production of nuclear weapons in 2005 could fund Head Start programs for 1,350,000 children.

-  The global arms race is accelerating and the United States is leading the way.

SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
-  Educate our membership about the realities of nuclear weapons production in the United States and the cost to society of our nuclear policies.

- Research the position and voting records of elected officials and urge them to oppose funding for new and ongoing nuclear weapons production programs and to require the dismantlement of retired warheads.

-  Urge elected officials to recommit the U.S. to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and to keep the promises made in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970.

-  Encourage members’ support of and involvement with national and local citizen groups working to oppose nuclear weapons production such as Stop The Bomb campaign (www.stopthebombs.org).

ORIGIN OF THE PROPOSAL:  Region VI

CONTACT PERSONS:  Jeanette Buehler, CPPS; jbuehler@spbdo.com  and Nancy Bramlage, SC; nancy.bramlage@srcharitycinti.org

Joint LCWR-CMSM Resolution

ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE ENGAGEMENT IN THE 2004 ELECTION PROCESS

                                                                                                                                                            Approved at Assembly
                                                                                                                                                            August 22, 2004

STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION:
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men urge our members to be fully informed and active participants in the 2004 election process and encourage others to exercise their rights and responsibilities.

RATIONALE:
Catholic Social Teaching calls us to be responsible and informed citizens, actively engaged in the political and social structures of our country. Elections are important moments in our nation for debate and decisions about current policies and the future direction of our country.  At this time we recognize that U.S. elections have a tremendous impact worldwide, as well.  Each citizen shares in the responsibility of shaping the future of our nation and our world as we engage in the debates and cast ballots for candidates for our local, state, and national offices, and vote on budget and social initiatives.

BACKGROUND:
Many issues demand our attention during this 2004 election year.

-  Our nation, reeling from the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, is waging war in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

-  Our military presence is felt in many other nations around the world. 

-  The budget deficit grows and its impact is felt on the most vulnerable in our nation. 

-  Our borders are being closed to thousands of people seeking political and economic opportunities denied them in their own countries.

-  The structured globalization of economic systems has resulted in a greater gap between the rich and the poor.

-  Millions of U.S. citizens have no access to adequate health care.

Partisan politics, rather than bipartisan and collaborative efforts, promote ideologies over concern for people, resulting in policies that benefit a few with access to power rather than programs that empower all people.  People of faith must be engaged in the political and electoral process, bringing a prophetic voice to the political debate asking such questions as:

-  How do we create structures that make this a more just, secure and peaceful world?

-  How would those structures

- protect those most vulnerable in our society?
- end hunger, poverty and homelessness?
- work with the international community as a partner in creating peace?
- promote programs that protect the dignity of human life along the life spectrum?

Women and men religious in the U.S. and missioned around the world live and work daily with millions of people who find themselves disenfranchised from the politics of power, yet they are the very people most affected by the decisions made and policies enacted by our elected officials.  We see the consequences of these policies in the daily struggle of the people among whom we live and work.

SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
-  Encourage those of our members and our sponsored institutions (as appropriate) who work among people of color and the most marginalized to provide opportunities for registration, education, and the resources to vote, since these people are usually the most adversely affected by intimidation and misleading information and are traditionally among those least represented in the process;

-  Organize non-partisan voter registration programs, especially among people of color and low-income people who are often underrepresented;

-  Distribute to voters non-partisan analysis of issues and candidate surveys if they are made available in the local area;

-  Organize non-partisan forums and “town hall” meetings to enable voters to interact with candidates;

-  Provide time and opportunity for members and employees to vote on Election Day.

RESOURCES:
The National Offices of LCWR and CMSM recommend the following resources that encourage informed participation in the electoral process. 

-  Faithful Citizenship:  A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility from the USCCB available in English and Spanish (www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship) and an abbreviated brochure (www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/pdf/brochure.pdf) 

-  2004 U.S. Elections:  Impact on peace, social justice, and the integrity of creation from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns  (www.maryknollogc.org) 

-  Elections Matter:  Vote to End Hunger from the Bread for the World Institute. (www.bread.org).

-  Vote 2004: Congregation Justice Committee: Sisters of the Holy Cross (www.holycrossjustice.org)

-  NETWORK Election 2004 Resources (www.networklobby.org)

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION: Global Concerns Committee of the LCWR and the Justice and Peace Committee of CMSM.

CONTACT PERSONS: Marie Lucey, OSF; mlucey@lcwr.org; Stan DeBoe, OSST; sdeboe@cmsm.org 

While we believe that women and men religious should be actively engaged and that our congregations have an obligation to support that engagement, we also recognize the legal limitations placed on religious organizations with IRS-designated 501 c (3) status.  These limitations are not meant to prevent religious voices from being active participants in the process but to encourage non-partisan action that ensures a fair and balanced electoral process.  

                          Actions to be avoided by our institutes are:
                          - Endorsing or opposing candidates, political parties, or groups of candidates;
                          - Using church facilities for partisan political purposes;
                          - Distributing partisan political materials. 

The USCCB provides detailed information on what is allowed or not allowed under the law.  It is available at www.usccb.org/ogc.