Join Catholic Direct Action To End Abuse of Immigrant Children July 18

Dear Friends,

Images of immigrant children detained in cages, separated from family members, and living in unsanitary, unhealthy conditions have outraged the nation in recent days. Presidential threats of raids and deportations that will tear families and communities apart are creating fear and anxiety in our neighborhoods.

The faith community has decried this treatment of immigrant children and families not only as a violation of human dignity and rights, but also as contrary to religious teachings and the sacred call to care for people who are most at risk, especially children.

Catholic organizations are planning a campaign to end the abuse of immigrant children and families by the U.S. government.  The first phase is a prayerful direct action in Washington DC, July 18th.

We hope you can join us in Washington DC on July 18th to tell the Administration and Congress that our Catholic faith demands that we treat our neighbor as we would want to be treated.  Please complete this form to share your interest with organizers: https://forms.gle/NnLDy8ArB4B9h92A7.

When: 10 am on July 18, 2019

Where: East Lawn of the Capitol, across from the Russell Senate Office Building, Section 8 on the map.

What: Join us for a call to action by Catholic leaders, prayer, and nonviolent civil disobedience, for those who choose.

To download the flyer for this direct action, click here.

If you can’t make it to Washington on July 18, please plan to join us in solidarity. We’ll be sending a copy of the prayer service, so that you can join us in prayer; information about national call-in, so that you, too, can make your voice heard, and some suggestions for local solidarity actions.

Here are a couple of suggestions for housing. Stuart Center (RSCJ sisters), 821 Varnum St. NE, Washington, DC 20017, Phone: (202) 635-7987. They have a limited number of rooms available at special rate for folks who are coming for the action. If they are full, try the Washington Retreat House,  4000 Harewood Rd NE, Washington, DC 20017, Phone: (202) 529-1111. Both are near Catholic University and within walking distance of the Brookland Metro stop.

Thanks much for whatever you can do!

Sponsoring Organizations:

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Faith in Action

Faith in Public Life

Franciscan Action Network

Ignatian Solidarity Network

Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States – Office of Justice and Ecology

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

Pax Christi USA

Sisters of the Good Shepherd National Advocacy Center

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Stuart Center: Society of the Sacred Heart

Picture from flickr.com, top slightly cropped