2012 Elections |
|||
|
"We commit ourselves to ongoing education of ourselves and others in areas crucial to our life and ministry." - IHM Assembly 1987 on Education
CHECK OUT THE LATEST Resources! Election 2012: A Critical Vote - NETWORK Catholic Social Justice Lobby Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy - Parker Palmer
The Issue "In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation," write the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. The Bishops urge citizens "to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest."
Flackcheck.org - FlackCheck.org uses parody and humor to debunk false political advertising, poke fun at extreme language, and hold the media accountable for their election coverage. The Debunking Handbook - Although there is a great deal of psychological research on misinformation, there's no summary of the literature that offers practical guidelines on the most effective ways of reducing the influence of myths. The Debunking Handbook boils the research down into a short, simple summary, intended as a guide for communicators in all areas who encounter misinformation. The Handbook explores the surprising fact that debunking myths can sometimes reinforce the myth in peoples' minds. Communicators need to be aware of the various backfire effects and how to avoid them. Why Politicians Get Away With Lying - Maybe it's a sign that the public has given up on honesty from presidential candidates. Instead, in a recent flurry prompted by the public editor of The New York Times, the assumption seems to be that politicians will always lie and that voters' defense against that is fact checking by journalists. But why do voters let politicians lie to them? What sort of lies do people accept, and which do they object to? Michigan Truth Squad - A Project of the Center for Michigan, Michigan Truth Squad analyzes and cries "foul" on misleading and negative TV and Web campaign ads. New York Times Elections Coverage - Check out continuous updates on the candidates, primary results and debates. Learn more about political donations and see how the candidates stack up on specific issues. You can also download the Election 2012 iPhone app. VIDEO: Obama and Romney Respond to Questions about Poverty -The Circle of Protection
Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States. - This statement urges Catholics to be involved in public life and to use the values of their faith to shape their political choices. It does not tell Catholics who to vote for, but rather to make choices that promote the common good. Faithful Citizenship: An Exploration of Sacred Scripture and Tradition - An 11-week reflection series looking at the scriptural and traditional roots of the Church's teaching on many moral and social issues. "What Do We Desire?" The Future of Faith and Citizenship - Serene Jones won an Award of Merit in the long-format theological reflection category for this article, which was published in Reflections, the magazine of Yale Divinity School. Serene Jones is a Yale professor. She recently became the first female president of Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Principles and Policies for Christian Voters - This issue guide for Christians, published prior to the 2008 elections by Sojourners, urges voters to create a more just and peaceful world organized around the following principles and policies: compassion and economic justice; peace and restraint of violence; consistent ethic of life; racial justice; human rights, dignity and gender justice; strengthen families and renew culture; and good stewardship of God's creation. Platform for the Common Good - During the 2008 election season, as the political parties developed their political platforms, many Catholic groups came together to develop a Platform for the Common Good. This platform is based on principles from Catholic social tradition and addresses what we can do to make our nation "a more perfect union" focused on the common good. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) - This 1995 encyclical by Pope John Paul II expresses the position of the Catholic Church on the value and inviolability of human life. Consistent Ethic of Life Background Sheet - This resource by Educaton for Justice provides an overview of and background information on the Catholic Social Teaching principal of a Consistent Ethic of Life, which maintains that all life is sacred from the moment of conception through natural death. A Consistent Ethic of Life - Kenneth Overberg, SJ, provides an explanation and analysis of the church's teachings on the Consistent Ethic of Life. Prayers Election Novena - The 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago has published a novena of prayers that can help our discerning at this election time and remind us of what manner of world we are trying to build. These prayers are great for private reflection or for community prayer.
Resources on Citizens United Tax-Exempt Groups Shield Political Gifts of Businesses There is growing evidence that large corporations are trying to influence campaigns by donating money to tax-exempt organizations that can spend millions of dollars without being subject to the disclosure requirements that apply to candidates, parties and PACs.
Money Unlimited:How Chief Justice John Roberts orchestrated the Citizens United decision
Activist Primer: The Nitty-Gritty on the Amendment Movement to Defeat Citizens United
Citizens United: A Tsunami of Secret Corporate Campaign Cash Is Drowning Our Democracy - On the second anniversary of the Citizens United ruling, Isaiah Poole argues that our government is under the thumb of corporate moguls instead of in the hands of the people. "God Bless Citizens United" - A 5-Part series on Stephen Colbert's ongoing parody exploring our nation's campaign finance laws. Representation Without Taxation: Fortune 500 Companies that Spend Big on Lobbying and Avoid Taxes - A new report from U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice examines one area of policymaking where corporate money already had an enormous impact even before Citizens United: tax law. This report compares corporations lobbying expenditures with the tax breaks they receive. This report covers 280 corporations that make up most of the Fortune 500 companies that were consistently profitable in each of the last three years. These companies spent a combined total of $2 billion over the 2008-2010 period on federal lobbying and received a total of $223 billion in tax breaks during those years. The Solution to Citizens United That No One Is Talking About - Frances Moore Lappe |
