Office for Justice and Peace
Justice and Peace Commission
10 Year Anniversary Accomplishments
The Justice and Peace Commission began under the direction of Tom Chabolla
in 1994. It started with five members. Since it's inception, more members
have been added totaling 15 today. Each member has the opportunity to serve
two 3-year terms. As of today, more than 30 people have served on the Commission.
Below are some of the major events that have taken place under the commission's
leadership.
Justice and Peace Conferences
The Office and Commission have sponsored bi-annual conferences since 1997 in order to bring together people of faith within the Archdiocese to be inspired in their work for social change, to be educated on issues and strategies, and to expand their networks. Keynote speakers have included Monsignor Diarmud Martin, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez of Honduras; Cardinal Francis Van Thuan, President of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace; Sr. Christine Tan of the Philippines; Wetshotsile Joseph Seremane, President of the Democratic Alliance of South Africa; Bishop Gabino Zavala; and John Coleman, S.J. of LMU.
Symposium on Crime, Punishment, and the Common Good
The Office of Justice and Peace hosted the California Catholic Conference and the California dioceses in a statewide symposium entitled "Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration - A Symposium on Crime, Punishment, and the Common Good in California." Over 2000 people attended. Its purpose was to convene all those affected by the criminal justice system in order to examine the pertinent issues and build a more restorative justice system in our state. Keynote speakers were Rev. Bryan Massingale and Rev. Eugene Rivers, III.
National Catholic Gathering for Jubilee Justice
This gathering was sponsored by over 60 national Catholic organizations, drawing over 3000 people from across the U.S. As a response to the Holy Father's call to prepare for the Great Jubilee year 2000, this event highlighted the significant work done in the church to promote a deeper understanding of jubilee spirituality and Catholic social teaching. Participants pledged to carry the work of charity, justice and peace into the new millennium.
Encuentro 2000
Encuentro 2000 marked the first national gathering to recognize the richness of the Church's racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in the United States. It gathered representatives from all parts of the family of faith-African, African-American, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latin American, Caribbean, Hispanic, Native-American, European, Middle Eastern and other communities that form the Catholic church in the U.S.
Public Policy Breakfast
This year the Office and Commission will be holding Cardinal Mahony's Tenth Annual Public Policy Breakfast. The purpose of the Public Policy Breakfast is to create a forum in which representatives of the Catholic Church can engage in constructive dialogue with policymakers on an issue of specific concern to our respective constituencies. Issues have included Third World Debt, closing the economic gap in Los Angeles, welfare, the environment and homelessness.
Justice and Peace Recognition Dinner
Recognition dinners have been held annually since 1989 to acknowledge and honor the social justice work that is being done in our Archdiocese. Honorees include Catholic Campaign for Human Development grant recipients, parishes receiving Operation Rice Bowl grants and Parish Justice Awards, and an individual or group receiving the Empowerment Award.
Parish Social Ministry Training Institute
The Institute was created to assist parish leaders to think strategically about how to develop and maintain a constituency, identify issues, and train and develop other leaders in their community. The mentoring of parish social justice staff and leaders received special focus. The Office and the Commission created this forum to develop stronger networks throughout the Archdiocese capable of effectively addressing social justice issues in their parishes and beyond.
Third World Debt - Honduras Delegation & Jubilee Series
A delegation of representatives from the Office and Commission visited Honduras in 1998 to explore the impact of unpayable debt on low-income communities and to solicit input on a strategy for the country if their debt is reduced or forgiven. Honduras was selected because it was considered for debt relief under the HIPC initiative. In addition, the Justice and Peace Commission hosted a dialogue on Third World debt with members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) Community from Zimbabwe. They spoke of their own experience of the impact of structural adjustment policies on the low-income community in their country.
Catholic Lobby Day
The Office and Commission facilitate the Archdiocese's involvement with Catholic Lobby Day in collaboration with the California Catholic Conference. Each year we send busloads of Catholics to meet with members of the Legislature to discuss issues that affect our constituents, particularly focusing on issues that impact the working poor and the most vulnerable.
Globalization, Human Rights, and Ethics Symposium
The symposium brought together interested and motivated high school students for the unique opportunity to learn about globalization and to share their reactions with national leaders and local workers. Students also had the benefit of interacting with their peers on issues of local, national and international importance.
Clergy and Labor Gathering
The focus of the gathering was to give Catholic clergy an opportunity to interface with labor leaders and workers involved in local organizing campaigns. Clergy gained a better understanding of the labor picture in Los Angeles and labor leaders learned how to better engage with parishes. Together they identified ways in which labor and the Church could collaboratively support workers in their struggles and in so doing strengthened their working relationship. In addition, the Office and Commission sponsor a Labor Day mass and a Cesar Chavez mass annually at the Cathedral.
Brake the Cycle of Poverty Bike Ride
On July 26, 2003 the Office and the Commission sponsored a solidarity bike ride in Los Angeles in support of the two-month bike ride sponsored by the national Catholic Campaign for Human Development office. The results were an increased awareness of the effects of poverty and a greater understanding of the ways people can address the root causes of poverty in America. Bishop Gabino Zavala blessed our ride and Senator Alarcon's office presented the office with a Certificate of Recognition.
