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USCCB Publications (in order of publication date):
- Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism
- Racism: Confronting the Poison in Our Common Home January 2016
- Reconciled Through Christ | En Español– Published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2013, this publication explores the reconciliation and greater collaboration between Hispanic American Catholics and African American Catholics.
- Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism– 2001. collated in 2013
- 25th Anniversary Executive Summary – We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight: The Church’s Response to Racism in the Years Following
- Brothers and Sisters to Us– U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism, 1979
- On Racial Harmony– A Statement by the Administrative Board, National Catholic Welfare Conference (August 23, 1963) that reaffirms the U.S. Catholic bishops’ official position against racial discrimination and segregation.
USCCB Bishops’ Letters on Racism:
- USCCB President Calls for Dialogue, Peace in the Midst of Violence – July 18, 2016
- USCCB President Calls for Prayers, Reflection, Civility and Dialogue
July 8, 2016 - Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism– 2001. collated in 2013
- The Catholic Church and the Black Lives Matter Movement: The Racial Divide in the United States Revisited… Bishop Edward Braxton, Diocese of Belleville, IL
February 26, 2016 - The Racial Divide in the United States:
A Reflection for the World Day of Peace– Bishop Edward K. Braxton, Diocese of Belleville, IL – 2015 - Statement on Race Relations
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky - Statement on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
May 7, 2010 - What We’ve Seen and What We’ve Heard: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization| En Español
From the Black Bishops of the United States – September 9, 1984
Other Racial Equity Resources:
- #BlackCatholics Syllabus by Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt, PhD
- Navigating Injustice: A Closer Look at Faith, Race, and Mental Health, published by Springtide Research Institute
- Racial Justice and the Catholic Church by Fr. Bryan Massingale
- The Church and the Racial Divide by Bishop Edward Braxton
The Synod on Synodality Resources:
- Voting Members Selected for October 2023 and 2024 meetings in Rome (women for the 1st time will be voting in a global synod meeting) Link to list https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254758/tk-full-list
- A Synodal Church in Mission: Synthesis Report: https://www.synod.va/en/news/a-synodal-church-in-mission.html
- National Synthesis of the People of God – United States: https://www.usccb.org/resources/US%20National%20Synthesis%202021-2023%20Synod.pdf
- Document for the North American Continental Assembly: https://www.usccb.org/resources/North%20American%20Final%20Document%20-%20English.pdf
- Document for the Continental Stage (DCS): https://www.usccb.org/resources/Documento-Tappa-Continentale-EN.pdf
- Instrumentum Laboris (2nd half of this document includes questions to be addressed in October): https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/common/phases/universal-stage/il/ENG_INSTRUMENTUM-LABORIS.pdf
Resources to get you started with Apologetics:
- Catholic Answers: Catholic Answers is the largest Catholic apologetics and evangelization organization in North America. http://www.catholic.com
- How to be Christian: https://www.youtube.com/@HowToBeChristian
- Peter Kreeft: A popular Catholic Apologist and philosopher. https://www.peterkreeft.com
- The Magis Center: Discover the intersection of science, reason, and faith. https://wwwmagiscenter.com
- Catholics Come Home: A media interactive site great for introducing the faith to people who are not overly intellectual. http://www.catholicscomehome.org
- Life Teen: A site targeting teens that has many great explanations of the Catholic faith written at a level that high schoolers can understand. An excellent resource for adults too! http://www.lifeteen.com
- Sonitus Sanctus: A place where you can find a lot of great talks that can be downloaded as mp3 to listen to on your audio player. http://catholicaudio.blogspot.com
- Catholic Apologetics: This is a site written by Catholics who have worked closely with evangelicals at Reagent University. The site is meant to build bridges of understanding between evangelicals and Catholics. http://www.catholicapologetics.org
Books:
- Surprised By the Truth (I, II, and III) by Patrick Madrid. Testimonies of people who have converted to the Catholic faith.
- The Best Things in Life by Peter Kreeft. It is a philosophical explanation of right and wrong that is very helpful for correcting erroneous logic when approaching issues of faith.
- Catholic and Christian by Alan Schreck. This is an explanation of the thorny issues of the faith meant to equip Catholics to understand their own faith.
- Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on ‘Romanism’ by Karl Keating. This book seems a bit harsh since the author is trying to defend the faith to those who have attacked it in very negative ways.
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Just referring to this book and the footnotes and bible references is an excellent defense. It also helps you to make sure that you are defending what is actually Catholic and not some ‘idea’ that you were taught by ‘some priest/nun’ sometime in your life.
- The Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli. This book is a little heavy but it’s comprehensive.
When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. (Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home [Laudato Si’], no. 117)
Abortion
- Project Rachel
- Find local help
- Program and Prayers
- Spiritual Adoption Brochure
- Healing and Grace After Abortion Video
End of Life
- Resources for end of life care
- Catholic teaching on end of life care
- Catholic teaching on euthanasia
- Advance directives
- What it means to be a Catholic hospice care provider
- Catholic Medical Association
Suicide Prevention and Healing After Suicide
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 (Press 1 for veterans’ line) - Crisis text line
Text START to 741741 - Alliance of Hope
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- TAPS Military Suicide Loss
- Coping with a Suicide
- Adoption Network (A Leading Independent Adoption Center providing caring professional adoption services for birth mothers and adoptive parents nationwide)
- Adopt US Kids (AdoptUSKids is a national project that supports child welfare systems and connects children in foster care with families)
- American Adoptions (It is common to have questions about U.S. adoption and how it works. We’re here to provide the answers)
- Catholic Charities International (International or Intercountry Adoption Services)
- Catholic Miscarriage Support (For those who have experience loss through miscarriage)
- Gabriel Network (For pregnant homeless women)
- Holy Innocents (Burial ministry for families who have lost children to miscarriage)
- How Do We Bridge the Abortion Divide? The Debate (Podcast featuring Rakim Brooks, President of the Alliance for Justice, and Gloria Purvis, host of the Gloria Purvis Podcast)
- Infertility – Office of Marriage and Family Life
- Isaiah’s Promise (For families with adverse prenatal diagnosis)
- Joytob: with Damon & Melanie Owens (Joytob is a new teaching ministry dedicated to proclaiming the joy of being made in the image and likeness of God, male and female…
- Natural Family Planning (Contraception approved by Catholic Church)
- Rachel’s Vineyard (A safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion)
- Ready to Adopt? 10 Questions to Ask if You’re Thinking About Adoption
Eating Disorders
- National Eating Disorders Association
1-800-931-2237 (M-F 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST)
Grief Support
- American Association of Suicidology
- BetterHelp.com, Grief Support Counseling
- Center for Infant and Child Loss
- Centering and Grief Digest Magazine
- Death Cafe
- Death Doula
- Grief and Loss Resources
- National Alliance for Grieving Children
- National Institute of Health Coping With Grief Resource
- Victim Connect
Mental Health/Brain Health and Behavioral Therapy
- CatholicTherapists.com: Find a Catholic Therapist Near You
- Crisis Text Line: if you’re experiencing a crisis and need to chat with someone, please text TRIBE to 741741 in the U.S. to chat with someone at the Crisis Text Line.
- Mental Health America, 800.969.6642
- MentalHealth.gov
- Mental Health First Aid Maryland — Behavioral Health Resources in Maryland / Download PDF
- National Suicide Hotline can be reached by calling or texting 988
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1.800.950.NAMI, Monday to Friday 10AM to 6PM EST, or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7 confidential & free crisis counseling
- Navigating Injustice: A Closer Look at Race, Faith & Mental Health, published by Springtide Research Institute
- Psychology Today
- SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Sound It Out Together – Music can help bridge the gap between you and your kid, making for earnest and constructive conversations about emotional wellbeing.
- Therapy for Black Girls
- Upper Room Crisis Hotline: 1.888.808.8724 or www.Catholichotline.org
- Department of Homeland Security Resources
- National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888
Text HELP to: BeFree (233733) - National Runaway Safeline
1-800-786-2929 - The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care
Sex Trafficking in American FAQ - USCCB Resources
- Catholic Mobilizing Network
- Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition
- Dismas Ministry
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), founded by Bryan Stevenson. The EJI produces a History of Racial Injustice Calendar, which can be purchased here
- ‘Holding Still’ is a riveting, candid and insightful short documentary film about practicing centering prayer while incarcerated at Folsom Prison.”I had not realized how powerful and transformative centering prayer— an ancient form of prayer in the Catholic tradition—could be. When I see how God is healing these men through prayer, I believe more than ever that God wants us all to have life, and life in its fullness … beginning in this world.This video was co-produced by the Catholic Prison Ministry & the Prison Contemplative Fellowship. I highly recommend it.
- Joseph House in Tallahassee, FL provides safe housing and transition services for those re-entering society.
- MD Courts Legal Help — Expungement. If your case meets certain conditions, you may ask the court to expunge a criminal record. Expungement removes information about a case from court and law enforcement records.
- Re-Entry Partnerships — A Guide for States. Faith-Based and Community Organizations.
- S.A.F.E. Housing Network — The SAFE Housing Network is a national collective of formerly incarcerated people working to decarcerate the US by bringing people home to stay, helping them to heal from the trauma of incarceration, and empowering them to lead in the fight to end mass incarceration.
- Alabama
Starting Point - Arizona
Founding Mothers - California
A New Way of Life Reentry Project
All About Change
A Place 2 Go
Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles
Starting Over, Inc.
Turning Point - Georgia
NAESM, Inc.
ReNforce
RestoreHER US.America - Illinois
Talk to Me Foundation
Win Recovery - Indiana
Constructing Our Future - Maryland
Maryland Justice Project - Michigan
RAHAM
S&D PJ Housing - Minnesota
Black Butterfly Women’s Services - Mississippi
RECH Foundation - Nebraska
Black and Pink
Q.U.E.E.N.S Butterfly House - Nevada
True Beginnings - New York
Dream Deferred
New Hour
The Lilac House - North Carolina
Beauty After Bars - Oklahoma
Block Builderz - Pennsylvania
Ardella’s House
Friends Association - Tennessee
Free Hearts - Texas
Angel’s Safe Home - Washington
Arms Around You - Wisconsin
Expo of Wisconsin
- Alabama
- U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Deputy Attorney General — Federal Funding & Services for Prisoner Reentry
- “When We Visit Jesus in Prison: A Guide for Catholic Ministry” by Chaplain Dale Recinella
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
1-800-656-4673 - Report Clergy Abuse – United States Department of Justice
- USA National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453 - Enough Abuse — The Movement to End Child Sexual Abuse https://enoughabuse.org/
A will may be the most important document that you ever write, because it allows you to select the persons who will receive what you own when you die. If you don’t have one in place, you cannot select the recipients of your property and the state you reside in will determine how your property is divided.
There are several on-line resources to help you create a will. Some are free and some are fairly inexpensive, but all are easy to use:
Planning for end of life or critical care is not a favorite topic of conversation, but it is an important one. Having health care advance directives (also called Living Wills) in place can help ensure your wishes are made clear to your loved ones and physicians when you are not in a position to advocate for the type of care you wish to receive.
There are several on-line tools to help you create an advance directive, and some are free and some charge a reasonable fee:
Once it’s completed, you can print out the will. In most states, you’ll need to sign it in front of witnesses to make it a valid document. After that you might create an electronic file. “Digitally store and share your will so that no matter if family is nearby or thousands of miles away, they have access to your will so your wishes are known and protected,” Fry says.
You can also keep a printed version of the will and store it in a secure spot, such as a safe or lockbox. Tell a trusted relative or friend where the will is and how to access it.
For more information about the process of creating a will, US News & World Report has a great article that will help: “How to Write a Will Online.”
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