USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Media Alert

Media Alert – Worth Noting in December

New Tool for Ecumenical Dialog

Walking God's Paths is a six-session discussion vehicle being developed by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, on behalf of the National Council of Synagogues and the Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each discussion will begin with 15-minute discussion-starting videotapes, slated for preview in early December. The resource will include a user's guide of dialogue questions and resources. Participants will contrast each tradition's understanding of God's "path," and relate the two interpretations in positive ways. "Jews and Christians both believe they have been given a mission to the world," says Eugene Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Director, USCCB Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. "Through the collaborative process of putting a program like this together, we explore how these understandings have changed and deepened over time and where they overlap or diverge. While we differ on important faith beliefs, we have in common much that we are called to witness together to all humanity."

Dr. Eugene Fisher is available at 202/541-3020 (efisher@usccb.org).

World AIDS Day, Advent Times to "Live and Let Live"

As Christians the world over begin their observance of Advent, Catholic throughout the United States will also be asked to join their prayers with others on World AIDS Day, December 1, which is also the first Sunday of Advent. The Bishops Committee for Hispanic Affairs and for African American Catholics, along with the Episcopal Moderator for the National Catholic AIDS Network came together in a letter calling upon Catholics to "Live and Let Live," the theme for this year's observance. Homilies, prayers and activities for the day that will address the issues of stigma and discrimination against those living with this dreaded disease. "Stigma and discrimation are daily facts of life, and are obstacles to addressing the real issues of the disease," says Ronaldo Cruz, Director, Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs. "Both the USCCB Committees on Hispanic Affairs and Committee for African American Catholics have made serious efforts to develop theologically and culturally appropriate resources that show compassion to people living with HIV/AIDS," says Beverly Carroll, Director, USCCB Secretariat for African American Catholics.

Beverly Carroll, Director, USCCB Secretariat for African American Catholics is available at 202/541-3177 (bcarroll@usccb.org).
Ronaldo Cruz, Director, USCCB Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs, is available at 202/541-3154 (rcruz@usccb.org).

Africa Delegation to Advocate for Better Protection of Refugees

Each year thousands of African refugees are resettled in the United States, due in part to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS), the largest U.S. refugee resettlement agency working with the federal government. From November 26 through December 5, a delegation of the USCCB Committee on Migration and MRS staff will visit Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Guinea to witness first-hand the challenges faced by refugees in these countries. In addition, the delegates will meet with representatives of the United Nations, the United States Government, the Catholic Church, and non-governmental organizations in each country to discuss the implications of the continent's refugee crisis. "Through consultations with world leaders as well as children separated from their families, the U.S. bishops and staff expect to gain a clear perspective on the refugee situation in Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone with the hope of better understanding what meaningful solutions are needed,"says Bernadette Passade Cisse, USCCB Refugee Policy Advisor. "Meetings with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will explore possible avenues for further collaboration."

Bernadette Passade Cisse, USCCB Refugee Policy Advisor, is available at 202/541-3073 (bcisse@usccb.org).