STATE of the UNION: IMMIGRATION

"Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.

"Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows.

"I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation."

To read the entire speech, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To watch the speech, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Faith-Based Anti-Torture Group Commemorates Anniversary of Executive Order Halting Torture

On January 22, 2009, two years ago, President Obama issued an Executive Order halting torture by requiring that all interrogations comply with the standards in the Army Field Manual.

Additionally, he mandated that the International Committee of the Red Cross be provided access to all detainees which ensured that they could not be "disappeared" into "black sites."

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) and its member organizations urge people of faith to join them in remembering the important steps taken by President Obama and in recognizing that our government has more to do to end torture permanently.

More specifically, NRCAT is calling on members, supporters and other concerned people of faith to commemorate this anniversary by writing a letter to the editor of their local newspaper describing the significance of this day and discussing the importance of taking further steps to permanently end the use of torture.

NRCAT has provided talking points for a letter and encourages all people of faith to feel free to use them, but urges people that use them to write their letter in their own voice.

Speaker Boehner Marks the 50th Anniversary of JFK's Inaugural Address

House Votes to Repeal the President's Health Care Plan

Members of the House of Representatives voted today to repeal the President's Health Care Plan by a vote of 245 to 189. A simple majority was necessary for passage.

Three Democrats sided with all Republicans to repeal the plan, which President Obama signed into law last March as the "Affordable Care Act."

Republican leaders said they were committed to trying to repeal it in order to honor a campaign pledge that helped them win control of the House and gain seats in the Senate in congressional elections last November.

Republicans plan tomorrow to direct committees to begin work on a replacement health care bill. The Senate remains under Democratic control and is not expected to take up the repeal legislation.

Hundreds of faith groups show support for health care reform in letter to Congress

Hundreds of national, state and local faith organizations showed their support for health care reform in a letter to Congress today.

The letter begins with the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his sermon at Riverside Church in New York City, April 4, 1967:

"We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society."

Believing that health care reform takes historic steps into a health care future that prioritizes the needs of the American people, members of the Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition and Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and call upon you to:

* move forward with its on-going implementation;
* work to improve the provisions that need further consideration;
* engage in genuine dialogue and civil discourse with your colleagues about the
concerns around which there is partisan disagreement.

Faith communities have supported health care reform for decades, and they offered vocal support and occasional constructive criticism over the last year. While they individually promote a variety of different policy priorities, they are unified in their belief that repealing, dismantling, or de-funding health care reform will undermine the moral vision for our health care future and harm those who will benefit from the new law.

The letter outlines the numerous ways in which health care reform leads to a more inclusive, affordable, accessible, and accountable health care future, as identified in "A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care" that was included with the letter.

The release of this letter coincides with the launch of three activities within the faith community in recent days:

Sign-on petition "What I Like about Health Care Reform."

Call-in days to Members of Congress.

Email campaign.

To read the letter, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Have a Blessed King Day!

The Governors and all volunteer Advocacy Team of The Disciples Center for Public Witness join many others within our denomination, across our nation, and around the globe to honor the birthday, life, mission, vision and continuing challenge of one of America's prophets and one of her strongest advocates for justice and peace: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

PRAYER: O God of our salvation, give us the grace and strength to keep Dr. King's dream alive, and to make his vision of the Beloved Community a central part of our lives as Christians, as Americans, and as members of the world community. We make this prayer in the name of the One who gave the vision to Dr. King and to us, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

CLICK HERE to watch Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" Speech.

CLICK HERE to read Dr. King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail.

CLICK HERE to read Dr. King's speech to striking sanitation workers in Memphis.

CLICK HERE to read Dr. King's speech on the Vietnam War.

PM Calls Attention to Non-Smoking Week

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement highlighting the importance of National Non-Smoking Week, January 16-22:

"The health and well-being of Canadians is an important priority for our Government. Awareness of the many health hazards of tobacco use will help Canadians -- especially our youth and children -- avoid smoking, while helping others quit this very unhealthy habit.

"This is why our Government has announced several measures, including new health warning messages for cigarette packages, and why we are working with the provinces and territories to include toll-free phone and web address information on these new labels. And we want to increase awareness and support for those trying to quit smoking.

"This new initiative supplements our Government’s Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed At Youth Act, which is aimed at preventing marketing practices that entice our youth and children to start smoking.

"I wish Canadians the very best of health in 2011. Avoiding smoking or quitting the habit is a step in the right direction."

A Victory for God's Wild Places

Just before Christmas, as most of us were decorating our Christmas trees, Secretary of the Interior Salazar reinstated a policy that allows the agency to designate certain places in the West as "wild lands." This designation will keep these areas off limits to development.

This decision will allow unique and irreplaceable places in God’s Creation to be protected and maintained for future generations of God’s children to enjoy.

The Eco-justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches asks us to join them in saying Thank You to Secretary Salazar for protecting God’s Creation.

Please CLICK HERE to send a letter of thanks to the Secretary.

President Obama Speaks at a Memorial Service for the Victims of the Shooting in Tucson, Arizona

To the families of those we've lost; to all who called them friends; to the students of this university, the public servants who are gathered here, the people of Tucson and the people of Arizona: I have come here tonight as an American who, like all Americans, kneels to pray with you today and will stand by you tomorrow.

There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts. But know this: The hopes of a nation are here tonight. We mourn with you for the fallen. We join you in your grief. And we add our faith to yours that Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the other living victims of this tragedy will pull through.

Scripture tells us:

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

To read the rest of the President's reflections, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To watch a video of President's remarks, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Minister Kenney meets with families from Operation Stork

Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney recently marked the anniversary of Operation Stork with some of the families helped by this special initiative to unite Haitian children with their adoptive parents.

In the weeks following last year’s devastating earthquake, Operation Stork brought 203 Haitian children to Canada. "This was a truly monumental task," said Minister Kenney. "In just six weeks, Canadian and provincial officials processed as many adoptions from Haiti as are normally done in two years."

Of the 203 children, 152 have since become either permanent residents or citizens of Canada. CIC will continue to work with the parents of the remaining children until everyone’s status is finalized.

To read more about this, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

This is the Day: Remembering Haiti

35 seconds can change your life.

In a mere 35 seconds, the lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitians were changed. The earthquake that shook and shocked the island nation of Haiti on this day, already one year ago, lasted only 35 seconds.

35 seconds.

I sit in silence and prayerfully count to myself. One, two, three...thirty-five. I slowly open my eyes and know that I am still here, breathing, listening, seeing. I am alive. The pure white snow of this cold, midwestern winter day could easily trick me into believing that the rest of the world looks and feels just as calm, peaceful, and beautiful as where I am. But I know better. I know that it took only 35 seconds for 300,000 lives to end and more than 1.5 million lives to be displaced and wounded in every way. And so my mind and my heart are in Haiti, especially, today, just as they have been each and every day in the last year.

Thanks to you and your compassion, your gifts, your generosity, and your commitment, Week of Compassion responded immediately to the overwhelming needs resulting from this most devastating earthquake. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our partner organizations on the ground in Haiti, we are making a difference.

To read more of this reflection from The Rev. Amy Gopp, Director of the Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PLEASE CLICK HERE.

God’s Heart Was the First to Break

God’s heart was the first to break - when one young man decided to pull the trigger and when his victims began to fall. Now a nation is in shock and grief. We are reminded again how fleeting is life and how enduring the patterns of human nature, both for good and for harm. A US Representative known for her openness, kindness, and care; a child at the very budding of her incredible promise; a deacon and pillar of his local congregation putting his own body between his wife and the shooter . . . In all 20 persons dead or wounded by one very broken young man. In times like these people of faith turn to God who made us, who loves us still, and we ask, "Why?"

It’s still too early to have a clear picture of why. Perhaps it has to do with the general tenor of political discourse where, as Jim Wallis said to me, "We find it too easy to say 'I'm right and you're evil.'" Perhaps there was a particular bent reason in the mind of this young man that pushed him to this specific timing and target. Some will certainly argue that the fault lies with him alone. Others will look more to the societal context that may have given rise to this awful event. There is surely some truth to both perspectives.

In the meantime, as we wait for more information, as we struggle to understand, we pray. . . .

To read the rest of this reflection by Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PLEASE CLICK HERE.

A Prayer in Times of Conflcit

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Book of Common Prayer, p. 824.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The President has called for a moment of silence today for the victims of the Arizona shootings. Please pause at 11 am EST and pray for the victims, their families and loved ones. Also, pray for greater civility and mutual respect in our political discourse and policy debates.

U.S. Political Leaders Condemn Shooting of Congresswoman Giffords

President Obama and congressional leaders condemned the Saturday shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who is in critical condition at an Arizona hospital.

President Obama called the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy" that left Giffords "gravely wounded." He said "a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society."

Amid concerns that the shooting might have had a political motivation, House Speaker John A. Boehner quickly decried the violence in a statement. "I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff," Boehner said in a statement. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families. This is a sad day for our country."

Arizona Senator John McCain issued a strongly-worded statement Saturday. "Whoever did this, whatever their reason, they are a disgrace to Arizona, this country and the human race, and they deserve and will receive the contempt of all decent people and the strongest punishment of the law," he said.

Giffords underwent surgery and remained in critical condition in an intensive care unit after being treated for a single gunshot wound through the head.

Excerpts from a Congressional Quarterly Online story by Sam Goldfarb. To read the entire story, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Note: The gun attack also killed six others, including US District Court Judge John Roll, and wounded twelve more persons.

Note 2: Congresswoman Giffords is a supporter of the DREAM Act and an outspoken critic of the Arizona immigration law.

Immigration Foe Passed Over for Chairman of Judiciary Subcommittee

An avid illegal immigration foe, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) will not continue as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee's Immigration subcommittee.

Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) announced his selection for subcommittee chairman on Friday, and California Rep. Elton Gallegly (R) was chosen to head the Immigration and Enforcement panel.

King, who served as the ranking Republican on the Immigration subcommittee since 2007, was selected as vice chairman of the panel.

To read the rest of this article by Molly K. Hooper in The Hill, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Note: Rep. Elton Gallegly has sponsored or co-sponsored a number of bills related to immigration, including H.R.126: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to limit citizenship at birth, merely by virtue of birth in the United States, to persons with citizen or legal resident mothers.

Grassley Investigation of TV Preachers Veers Off Course, Says Americans United

A Senate Finance Committee investigation into several high-profile TV ministries went badly off track when staffers recommended that Congress repeal a federal ban on partisan politicking by churches and other non-profit groups, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) announced in 2007 that committee staff would investigate six TV ministries that might have been abusing their non-profit status. A staff memo delivered to Grassley yesterday reports on the findings, including lack of cooperation from four of the six ministries being examined.

But the report also includes a recommendation that the Congress do away with the federal tax law ban on partisan political activity by non-profit groups.

"I have to wonder what these Senate staffers could possibly be thinking with this breathtakingly wrong-headed suggestion," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "It’s a sign that this investigation has gone seriously off course."

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Epiphany Blessings!

The Governors and all-volunteer Advocacy Team of The Disciples Center for Public Witness hope you, your family, your congregation, and all your loved ones had a very merry Christmas and, if you celebrated it, a wonderful and enriching Kwanzaa.

On this holy Feast of the Epiphany, we wish you a blessed new year and pray that you will have many opportunities to share and receive gifts--especially the gifts of God's compassion, justice and peace.

We also hope that, on this day commemorating the giving of gifts to the Christ-child, you might consider making a new year's gift or pledge to support the advocacy work of The Center. To do so, PLEASE CLICK HERE.


Epiphany is a modern icon by Janet McKenzie. This icons and other religious art can be found at Bridge Building Images.

U.S. Congress Elects Boehner New House Speaker

One of the first actions of the 112th U.S. House of Representatives was the election of Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) to be the next Speaker of the House. He received 241 votes, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) got 173, and 19 voted present or for other members.

During his speech to his colleagues on the floor he expressed his belief that both parties can find a way of working together, "we can disagree without being disagreeable to each other."

Also saying, "We may have different - sometimes, very different - ideas for how to go about achieving the common good, but it is our shared goal. It is why we serve."

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced changes to the Ministry at a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.

"Canadians have just come through a year during which the rewards of prudent financial stewardship, and of appropriate, well-timed stimulus measures have yielded dividends in jobs and growth," said Prime Minister Harper. "It is a good note upon which to start a new year. However, the global recovery is fragile. And there are still far too many jobless Canadians for whom the recovery has yet to become a full reality. That is why the economy remains the number one priority for Canadians, and must remain the number one priority for our government."

The following changes to the Ministry are effective immediately:

The Honourable Peter Kent, as Minister of the Environment, will keep advancing efforts to protect Canada’s environment and address climate change at home and abroad.

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, as Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), will further promote Canada’s political and trade interests in the Americas and help protect Canadians travelling and working outside of the country.

The Honourable Julian Fantino, as Minister of State (Seniors), will work towards ensuring the well-being of Canadian seniors and promote the sharing of their skills, knowledge and experience in their communities; and,

The Honourable Ted Menzies, as Minister of State (Finance), will continue to help provide economic stability and financial security for Canadians.

"This fine tuning of the Ministry will be consistent with our intention to stay the course," added the Prime Minister. "This is a time for stability, not uncertainty."

New Year's Eve attack on Christian worshippers in Egypt condemned by U.S. Christians, Jews and Muslims

The National Council of Churches has been joined by a wide range of faith leaders, including Jews and Muslims, in condemning the murderous New Year's Eve bombing of worshipers in All Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt.

"The perpetrators of this outrage are apparently so blinded by hatred that they have lost touch with the tenets of any known faith," said the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC general secretary. "It is simply agonizing to think that many around the world will mistake this horror as the attack of one religious community on another. Christians, Jews and Muslims around the world are united by their outrage and condemnation of this soul-less act.

"This is not a struggle between religions but between those who value the life of every neighbor and those who clearly do not," Kinnamon said.

At least 21 people were killed at the conclusion of a New Year's midnight mass, and scores were seriously injured.

Kinnamon sent a message of support and solidarity to Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii, a member of the National Council of Churches governing board. "I am sick at heart for the loss of life outside the church in Alexandria," Kinnamon said. "Please know that my prayers are with the whole Coptic Orthodox community."

The Coptic Orthodox Church traces its origins to Saint Mark the apostle and evangelist in the middle of the first century.

Kinnamon also expressed the appreciation of the NCC's 37 member communions to the Muslim and Jewish communities for their unqualified condemnation of the violence, as well as for their support of the Christian community.

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

NEW YEAR BLESSINGS!

The Governors, Fellows, Advisors, and Advocacy Team of the DISCIPLES CENTER for PUBLIC WITNESS wish you, your family, and all your loved ones a very happy and blessed New Year.

MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH GOODNESS and YOUR NEW YEAR OVERFLOWING WITH BLESSINGS!

AND MAY IT BE A YEAR OF PEACE AND JUSTICE AND WHOLENESS FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN EVERYWHERE.

Please keep The CENTER and its unique ministry of education and advocacy in your thoughts and prayers throughout the new year.