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LCWR is engaged in addressing the causes of many of the significant issues of social justice facing the global community. Below are some of the issues around which LCWR has taken recent action.
For many years, LCWR has been an advocate for affordable health care for all in this country. Similar assembly resolutions were approved and acted upon in 1990, 1998, and 2002. In its educational and advocacy efforts, LCWR follows the lead of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Catholic Health Association (CHA). In August 2009, the presidents and board of LCWR developed a brief statement calling for health care reform that provides affordable, accessible health care for all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. The statement was shared with all LCWR members, the USCCB and CHA, President Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius, and key members of Congress.
LCWR Statement on Health Care Reform
On December 26, 2009, The New York Times published an article that led some readers to conclude that there is a division between a position taken by the US Catholic bishops and a position taken by both the Catholic Health Association (CHA) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) regarding the federal funding of abortion in the health care reform bill. The fact is that CHA, LCWR and the US bishops are in complete agreement that no federal funding of abortion be provided in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009.
During the months of debate about health care reform legislation, LCWR has supported the work of both the Catholic bishops and the Catholic Health Association to assure that health reform protects life at all stages while expanding coverage to the greatest possible number of people in the United States .
In response to the efforts of Senator Robert Casey to propose an amendment to achieve this goal and assure that no federal funding be provided for abortions, on December 17, 2009 CHA issued the following statement: “While we have yet to see the manager's amendment of Senator Robert Casey's final abortion amendment language, we are encouraged by recent deliberations and the outline Senator Casey is developing. It is our understanding that the language now being written would prohibit federal funding of abortion, ensure provider conscience protection and fund programs to provide supportive care to some of the most vulnerable pregnant women in our society.” In effect, the CHA statement was not an endorsement of the amendment or the bill, but rather support of the effort to find a way to keep federal funding for abortions out of the bill before the bill was voted on.
As LCWR president, Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA was invited by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to join other Catholic organizations in expressing public support of the CHA statement. In a statement released by Catholics in Alliance, she offered support for Senator Casey's efforts “to propose language that will achieve needed financial assistance for pregnant women without federal funding for abortion.” She also stated that LCWR “strongly supports health care legislation that will expand coverage to most people in the US and will protect human life at all stages.”
Many LCWR member congregations have a long history of addressing environmental issues, and LCWR is a member of the Catholic Coalition on climate Change, formed in 2006 with the support of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). A current project of the coalition is promotion of the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and People in Poverty, posted on the coalition website. Also posted is the August 26, 2009 message of Pope Benedict about economic and social costs of climate change. www.catholicclimatecovenant.org
Lenten Carbon Fast Calendar 2010
LCWR/CMSM 2008 Joint Assembly Resolution on Climate Change
LCWR 2009 Assembly Resolution Reduce Our Carbon Footprint
NGO Status/Climate Change:Summary and Recommendations to Governments
Following President Bush's veto of the Intelligence Authorization Act passed by both houses of Congress, a public witness event was held on March 10, 2008, in Upper Senate Park near the U.S. Capitol. Speakers from several sponsoring organizations protested the veto of a bill which would have put an end to U.S. sponsored torture. Marie Lucey , OSF, LCWR associate director for social mission, spoke on behalf of LCWR, a member of the National Religious Coalition Against Torture, one of the sponsors.
Statement on behalf of LCWR delivered by Marie Lucey on Torture
Marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war and occupation, March 19, 2008, events decrying the war were held around the country, including several in Washington , D.C. At the invitation of Catholics United, Marie Lucey , OSF, delivered a statement on behalf of LCWR during a rally at Lafayette Park , across from the White House.
Statement on behalf of LCWR delivered by Marie Lucey on Iraq War
On March 25, 2008, at the Department of Energy in Washington , D.C. , LCWR participated in the last of several hearings held around the country on the proposal of the DOE for a “stable, secure and reliable” restructuring of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, including the building of a new bomb plant at Las Alamos, NM. Representatives of many organizations delivered statements opposing the plan, similar to the 2006 Complex 2030 proposal which received zero funding from Congress in 2007. Speaking on behalf of LCWR, Marie Lucey , OSF made reference to this year's 25th anniversary of the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on War and Peace, and objected to the use of the word “transformation” in connection with nuclear weapons.
Statement on behalf of LCWR delivered by Marie Lucey, OSF on US Nuclear Weapons
At the invitation of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a delegation of US women religious, accompanied by two lay CRS staff, traveled to Lebanon and Syria from January 11-20 to witness the suffering of Iraqi people who have fled the violence of their country and to raise awareness of their situation with their constituencies upon their return. Marie Lucey, OSF, LCWR associate director for social mission, and other current and former LCWR members were part of the delegation.
The purpose of the visit was to experience the reality of the Iraqi refugees in Lebanon and Syria, to increase understanding of the factors impacting their lives, and to become aware of the work of CRS and partners in the region in order to educate and advocate through the delegates’ respective constituencies and networks in ways that will advance justice and peace for Iraqi people who have fled the violence in Iraq.
Report and Photos of the Visit to Lebanon and Syria
Iraqi Refugee Trauma Training
The LCWR presidency expressed to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice their deep concern about current situations in Iran that could lead to military action on the part of
the United States. They called on the Secretary of State and President Bush to continue to engage in dialogue around Iran’s buildup of nuclear power and support of terrorist organizations in Iraq and the Middle East. They also asked that the US refrain from military action in resolving the critical issues.
Letter from LCWR Presidents to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
The LCWR National Board called for comprehensive immigration policy reform in the United States. As a member of the Justice for Immigrants Campaign of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, LCWR promotes legislation that includes family reunification, a path to earned legalization, worker protections, and an effective border policy that is humane rather than punitive.
LCWR National Board Statement on Comprehensive Immigration Policy Reform
www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Initiated by the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, a statement titled “Water: Essential for Justice and Peace,” was developed for consideration by participants in the
4th World Water Forum (WWF) held in Mexico City March 16-22, 2006.
Five Christian organizations, including LCWR, joined the Hopi Villages of Arizona
in issuing the statement.
" Water: Essential for Justice and Peace:
An Interfaith Statement to the 4th World Water Forum"
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