LCWR commits itself to work for peace by promoting a culture of nonviolence and building a sustainable global community founded on interdependence and the principles of human rights.

Rationale

It is imperative that we seek a new paradigm for judging questions of war and peace today. We must take seriously the Gospel challenge to seek, practice and pursue peace through just and nonviolent means. We realize we have a corporate voice and responsibility to educate, reflect and act on the principles of nonviolence and encourage the same in sponsored schools, colleges and universities and in adult education ministries. Through interfaith dialogue, education and prayer we have the opportunity to promote and support efforts toward peace.

Call for Specific Action

1. Commit ourselves to prayer and contemplation within public and private arenas on the anniversary of September 11th to give witness to and promote a nonviolent resolution to conflict.
2. Call on the executive and legislative branches of our government to support and ratify the International Criminal Court.
3. Study and consider the Earth Charter as congreations. The Earth Charter provides a framework for a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well being of the human family and the larger living world. Read the Earth Charter and endorse on line at www.earthcharterusa.org.
4. Sign the appeal by the Nobel Peace Laureates on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) on the web site www.decadeofnonviolence-houston.org.
5. Use every means to oppose military intervention in Iraq, including letter to President Bush, appropriate Cabinet members, and Members of Congress.

Origin of Proposal: LCWR Global Concerns Committee
                                Endorsed by Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Contact Person:     Maria Elena Martinez, OSF (mariaelena10@juno.com)

In order to promote needed reform, LCWR membership will support and engage in health care justice initiatives to secure universal access to health care.

Rationale

1. We have seen and experienced how poverty and injustice are closely interconnected with health and the availability of health services.
2. U.S. faith-based health care efforts have engaged in vigorous advocacy on behalf of uninsured, underinsured and under-served patients. Now they have increased their impact by coming together. This can provide the wider context for LCWR activity.
3. We believe that our personal experiences within the health care system as well as our long professional immersion equip us to inform and shape the discussion.
4. We aim to connect to and communicate with those who will be at the table when health care policy solutions are discussed locally, regionally, and nationally.
5. We support the U.S. Catholic Bishops in their statement, “We will be active and involved participants in this vital national debate. It is a major political task, a significant policy challenge and a moral imperative.” (“Comprehensive Health Care Reform”)

Background

• The U.S. remains the only industrialized country lacking a system to insure citizen health. We expend 14% of Gross Domestic Product on health care – 40% more than any other industrialized nation – while our outcomes lag far behind. (We spend 75% more per capita, yet have a higher infant mortality rate and a shorter life expectancy…)
• U.S. health care costs too much, covers too little, and excludes too many. The crisis deepens daily. One-sixth of the population is uninsured – 44 million citizens – with 100,000 more added each month. For tens of millions more, care is unaffordable or unavailable. 24% of the uninsured are children and 46% are employed.
• NETWORK, Catholic Health Association and Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) are actively involved in health care justice initiatives. UHCAN together with others launched the Universal Health Care 2000 Campaign to raise health care issues in the 2000 elections. The faith community formed a strong part of the campaign. There is a desire to build on the success of their campaign through strengthening organizations, and developing strategies and issues to achieve universal health care.

Support the health care justice initiatives of NETWORK, Catholic Health Association and UHCAN, collaborating with their specific actions and initiatives to secure health care access for all citizens as well as for documented and undocumented immigrants.

Origin of the Proposal: Region 3; also Regions 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Contact Person:            Maria Hornung, MMS, 215-742-6100, X-153
 
 

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has approximately 1,000 members who are the elected leaders of their religious orders, representing 76,000 Catholic sisters in the United States. The Conference develops leadership, promotes collaboration within church and society, and serves as a voice for systemic change.