September 2001 Call to Action News

Getting Around

Plan Colombia fuels violence

The $1.3 billion U.S. aid package to Colombia doesn't stem drug traffic; it only kills people, and undermines any chance for peace between the government and rebel forces after 30 years of war. Luis Murillo, a former state governor in Colombia, told CTAers in Los Angeles that 20 Colombians die each day, five in combat and 15 in political assassinations, of which there were 5,000 last year. At the CTA parley in Philadelphia Fr. Roy Bourgeois of SOA Watch will show the connections between U.S. militarization of Colombia and the officers trained at the School of the Americas. His co-presenter is a Colombian native, Cecilia Zárate-Laun of the Colombia Support Network (www.colombiasupport.net). In Washington, NETWORK is lobbying hard against Plan Colombia, especially since aerial fumigation to destroy coca and poppy crops is causing catastrophic health, economic, social and environmental harm, while drug production increases. Aerial spraying has been denounced by the Colombian bishops, and by the governors of four southern Colombian states most affected by the spraying. For updates NETWORK recommends the Latin America Working Group at www.colombiapolicy.org. There is a major combined action in Washington Sept. 27-28 to oppose the militarization of Colombia.

Magdalen story wins award

For her cover story, "Who framed Mary Magdalen?" in the April 2000 issue of U.S. Catholic, journalist Heidi Schlumpf of Chicago won first place for best article from the Catholic Press Association. CTA is doubly proud. The subject matter came from the restored understanding of Mary Magdalen promoted by CTA and FutureChurch (click here for related article). The author is an active participant in CTA Next Generation activities.

Jubilee USA critiques G-8 at Genoa economic summit

Jubilee USA (successor to Jubilee 2000, the coalition effort against Third World debt that included CTA) was part of the demonstrations in Genoa during the July economic summit of G-8, the group of the world's eight richest nations, and declared the summit a dismal failure.

Co-chair in Genoa, Bill Ferguson, deplored the violence between police and protesters, but said the inequalities in the global economy "claim tens of thousands of lives each day through poverty, disease, and debt." Stay involved in the debt issues through www.jubileeusa.org

E-mail the president

Besides your letters to CTA office, CTA board president, Sr. Mary Ann Mueninghoff, OP, welcomes letters and ideas directly to her. Send them to maryann.mueninghoff.1@nd.edu

Eucharistic communities

About 250 people from 41 different Intentional Eucharistic Communities (IECs) in the U.S., Canada and Australia met in suburban Washington May 18-20. Organizer Ellen Radday, a CTAer from Arlington, Va., reports that participating IECs ranged from very small to large, parish-affiliated groups, all lay-led and self-governing, but with differing approaches to leadership and liturgical presiding. Their common mark: a regular Eucharistic liturgy is at their core. Members tend to feel fearful that the official Church will find a way to censor them, or clip their wings, but the desire to worship in a small faith community and share their lives in a highly personal community far outweights any fear. Writes Ellen, "There is no turning back. These IECs are here to stay. We are preparing a directory so that more people can find us. We will stay in touch, and expect to gather again in five years. God willing, the vitality of IECs will enable them to serve as a model of church." Videos of the sessions and liturgy will be available. For information and referral, contact Ellen at 703 538-6128.