June 2001 Call to Action News
Africa: Hunger to Harvest
Bread for the World’s 2001 Offering of Letters will urge Congress to support a U.S. commitment to reduce hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. For an added $1 billion a year — a penny per day per American — the U.S. could lead a global initiative to cut hunger in half in Africa by 2015. This money would support continued funding for effective poverty-focused development plus debt relief. To involve your parish or community, send $7 for your kit: everything you need — background information, planning tips, worship aids, bulletin inserts, a 9-minute video, poster, etc. 1-800-82BREAD or www.bread.org
New! Legislative Action Center
Sending a letter to your senator or representative is now just mouse-clicks away on the website of NETWORK, the National Catholic Justice Lobby. There are action alerts, lists of important legislation, lists of state delegations and committee/subcommittee members, sample letters, etc. Just go to www.networklobby.org and enter your zip code in the box provided. You'll immediately see a list of your legislators and sample letters from which to choose. NETWORK's phone number is 202 547-5556.
Tax cuts pending in Congress
At press time, a package of tax cuts had moved from committee to full Senate debate. Our justice allies at NETWORK are urging letters to your legislators, asking them to skew any tax cut in favor of the neediest citizens, to make the child tax credit fully refundable (so the poorest families can use it), and to retain, not repeal, the estate tax, which falls appropriately on the wealthy. Visit NETWORK's Legislative Action Center on the Web (above) to get your letters written and sent promptly.
Labor Day in the pulpit
Start planning now for Labor Day, 2001 (Sept. 3). It's a unique day for faith communities and the union movement to rediscover their common traditions for economic justice, equality and fair treatment on the job. Since 1996 thousands have heard union leaders and activists speak during Labor Day weekend worship in local congregations. Call the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (773 728-8400) for a Labor in the Pulpits resource kit: reflections on the lectionary, sample prayers, pull-out worker rights bulletin inserts, etc. To line up a local union speaker, call your local interfaith committee or central labor council, or ask NICWJ for the name and number of a local group near you.
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