Social Concerns Column for April 17, 2011

“You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him.” (Col 2:12)

Message of Pope for Lent: Fast from Consumption.  In his 2011 Message for Lent, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the issue of consumption as one which prevents us from fully living the Christian life: “The idolatry of goods, on the other hand, not only causes us to drift away from others, but divests man, making him unhappy, deceiving him, deluding him without fulfilling its promises, since it puts materialistic goods in the place of God, the only source of life.”  Read the entire message on the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101104_lent-2011_en.html

Next English Tutor Training is April 30th.  We have partnered with the Livermore Public Library’s excellent and popular program to help adults improve their spoken English skills.  If you speak English, you have all the skills you need to tutor.  You do not need to be bilingual.  You will be paired with a St. Michael parishioner who is eager to improve their spoken English.  We ask for two hours of your time per week, scheduled at your convenience. Contact Joanne Angvick, 443-1422, joangvick@sbcglobal.net.

Write Your Congressperson to Support Pro-Life Legislation.  As of this writing, three pro-life bills were active in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, 
• HR 358, the Protect Life Act, and 
• HR 361, the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011.  

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops needs you, the voter, to contact your Congressperson to urge them to support Pro-Life legislation.  The Church has limited influence on legislators; however, you have a tremendous influence on your representative as one of their constituents.

Writing to your Congressperson will take approximate five minutes of your time at:
http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/take-action/current-alerts.html

How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. -- Psalm 41:1