Recently, a prominent theologian from a seminary was visiting us. When the issue of how we raise money for Casa Juan Diego came up, a Catholic Worker blurted out, “We pray a lot.” “Give me a copy of those prayers. I demand a copy of those prayers,” the theologian humorously insisted. Unfortunately, there is no… continue reading
Regarding Policies of Return: Returning the Women and Children To the Boat to Drown
January 26, 2016 by
Traditionally, when passenger ships sailed on open waters, an emergency on the ship could mean doom. People would be ushered to life rafts and in the colonial days, boats were often stuffed full of more people than could be accommodated on the small life rafts. The cry would go out for women and children to… continue reading
Bishops Call For an End To Deportations of Mothers and Children
January 26, 2016 by
WASHINGTON-USCCB– In light of recent enforcement actions conducted by the Department of Homeland Security for the purpose of deporting individuals, primarily mothers with children, the bishops who chair the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network called for an end to such practices. [18 thousand mothers with children are at risk of… continue reading
Class-Action Lawsuit: Immigrants Held for Days in Freezing, Unsanitary Cells
January 26, 2016 by
Tucson Sector Border Patrol holds men, women, and children in freezing, overcrowded, and filthy cells for extended periods of time in violation of the U.S. Constitution, a group of legal organizations allege in a class-action lawsuit. The class-action suit, which was filed on behalf of two people detained in the Tucson Border Patrol Station as… continue reading
Casa Juan Diego Christmas Letter 2015
December 1, 2015 by
Dear Friends of Casa Juan Diego, Many thanks for allowing us to remain open for another year. We are grateful. We keep hearing that you can tell a good Catholic by the way they love the poor (or a good Presbyterian or a good Jewish person). The “goods” keep us going. But it… continue reading
Blessed Oscar Romero on Christmas
December 1, 2015 by
Excerpts from the Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent on the fourth of December of 1977: “Christ, the Center and the End Of All Human History.” A Calling For Christmas Regarding Christmas, beloved brothers and sisters, I want take as a guide, and propose to you all, an initiative of the Diocese of Santiago… continue reading
The Son of God Was Homeless
November 27, 2015 by
Excerpted from Pope Francis’ talk at his meeting with homeless persons at St Patrick’s Parish in Washington, D.C. Saint Joseph had to face some difficult situations in his life. One of them was the time when Mary was about to give birth, to have Jesus. The Bible tells us that, “while they were in Bethlehem,… continue reading
Migrant Abuse, Family Separation During Deportations
November 14, 2015 by
(Washington, D.C., September 15, 2015 – Jesuit Conference) — As Pope Francis stated in his message for the 2014 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity.” A new study released today finds, however, that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not fulfilling its obligation… continue reading
The Pope, the Cuban Embargo, and Inequality; A Personal Note
November 14, 2015 by
As I write this, I am still reeling from that part of Pope Francis’s speech to the Congress where he singled out Dorothy Day as one of four great Americans to be honored for their work and service. Dorothy Day was the inspiration for Mark and Louise Zwick starting Casa Juan Diego. For thirty-five years,… continue reading
Pope Francis Calls Dorothy Day a Great American In His Speech to Congress
September 24, 2015 by
United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. Thursday, 24 September 2015 Mr. Vice-President, Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of Congress, Dear Friends, I am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress in “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. I would like to think that the reason for this is that… continue reading
