FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2016
Contact: Jennifer Farmer, jfarmer@piconetwork.org, 202-306-0136
Maura Moser, mmoser@usccb.org, 202-541-3364
Teresa Dominguez, tadominguez@dioceseoffresno.org, 559-488-7400
Pamela Fabiano, Pamela.fabiano@justpeace.va
The First U.S. Convening of International Social Justice Movement Leaders to Meet in Modesto, February 16-19
MODESTO, CA.— The Vatican’s department for Integral Human Development (IHD), the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Campaign for Human Development and PICO National Network, the largest network of faith-based organizing groups in the nation, today announced a major convening of faith and social justice movement leaders. The U.S. Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements (WMPM), to be held February 16-19, 2017 in Modesto, California, will bring together hundreds of people from various cultures and communities from across the world.
The Modesto meeting is the first U.S. Regional convening being organized in conjunction with three international meetings that have taken place in Rome (in Oct. 2014 and Nov. 2016) and Bolivia (in July 2015). The purpose of each meeting is for grassroots groups to push for workers’ rights, housing and environmental justice, as well as deepen relationships among these organizations and the faith community.
“We recently gathered in Rome at the invitation of Pope Francis to show the Church’s closeness to all sectors in our society; including grassroots movements,” said Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of IHD. “This is a gathering which is being taken out to the regions and to the national levels. The gathering is about the dignity of all people, which we don’t receive from any government; it’s something we are born with. We encourage all grassroots movements to join us in Modesto.”
“The faith community is called to create spaces of profound empathy where we acknowledge and take up the plight of the marginalized and the oppressed,” said Scott Reed, executive director of PICO National Network. “On the heels of a polarizing presidential race, the gathering will inspire faith leaders to aggressively work towards poverty reduction, fair and humane immigration policies, criminal justice reform, and environmental and racial justice.”
“The gathering will allow grassroots, low income people to come together, share concerns, hopes and aspirations for forging their shared futures,” said Bishop David Talley, Bishop of Alexandria LA and chair of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Subcommittee. “The Church is invited to accompany those who struggle to find their place, seeking the common good as it embraces the whole human family.”
WHO: The Vatican’s department for Integral Human Development (IHD), the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and PICO National Network.
WHAT: U.S. Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements (WMPM)
WHEN: February 16-19, 2017 (The event begins at 6:00 p.m. PST on Feb. 16)
WHERE: Central Catholic High School, 200 S Carpenter Rd., Modesto, CA
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands who jointly exercise certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States. To learn more about the USCCB, please visit www.usccb.org
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education. Learn more at www.usccb.org/cchd
PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 45 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno is the 14th largest diocese in the United States, ministering to a population exceeding 2.8 million throughout 36,072 square miles. In addition to a few urban centers, our region is largely comprised of rural towns and rich farmlands that can supply the whole country. To learn more about us at www.dioceseoffresno.org.
As of January 2017, the Vatican’s department for Promoting Integral Human Development incorporates four previous pontifical councils: Cor Unum, Migrants, Healthcare, and Justice and Peace. The Church is called to promote the integral development of the human person in the light of the Gospel. This development takes place by attending to the inestimable goods of justice, peace, and the care of creation. The department seeks to be competent particularly in issues regarding migrants, those in need, the sick, the excluded and marginalized, the imprisoned and the unemployed, as well as victims of armed conflict, natural disasters, and all forms of slavery and torture.