{"id":13,"date":"2014-05-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calchurches.planetpov.com\/impact\/index.php\/2014\/05\/23\/help-us-create-faithful-fridays-advocacy-on-legislative-justice-we-need-you\/"},"modified":"2014-05-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T00:00:00","slug":"help-us-create-faithful-fridays-advocacy-on-legislative-justice-we-need-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/2014\/05\/23\/help-us-create-faithful-fridays-advocacy-on-legislative-justice-we-need-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Help us create Faithful Fridays advocacy on legislative justice. We need you!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Dear Friends:<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Is there anyone in the faith community who has not heard of and been moved by \u201cMoral Mondays\u201d in North Carolina?<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Faith and lay people from all over that state have been converging on the state Capitol to protest what they see as regressive, unjust, and mean-hearted legislation.\u00a0 A few weeks ago they rallied 80-100,000 people, and they got so much notice the legislature is seeking to ban (unconstitutionally) such rallies again.\u00a0 Every Monday thousands are now standing for justice on budget, voting rights, tax issues \u2013 anything that affects the growing inequality of North Carolina and its people.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> What you may not realize is that measured in meaningful ways, California has the highest poverty rate of any state in the nation.\u00a0\u00a0 (Sacramento Bee, November 29, 2013).<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> To address this appalling issue, California Council of Churches IMPACT\u00a0 is urging you and your friends, fellow congregants and parishioners, clergy, and allies to begin local actions we are calling Faithful Fridays.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> It\u2019s not at all easy to come to Sacramento week after week.\u00a0 It is simply too far for many to travel.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> But on Fridays your legislators are at the district offices, and, as constituents, that is a perfect place to gather to stand for justice.\u00a0 Gather together however you can, and bear witness every Friday before those who hold the power over many fragile lives that they do no further harm.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> This year\u2019s budget is a key target.\u00a0 We have abundance after many years of want.\u00a0 Proposition 30 has brought money to the state that the Governor has delegated almost entirely to repaying the debt and filling the \u2018rainy day\u2019 fund.\u00a0 Almost none of it will go to those whose programs were decimated to stave off collapse.\u00a0 We cut programs for the poorest of the poor to save the General Fund, but now, in abundance, we still make them the human sacrifice.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Yes we must pay our debts. Yes we need reserves. But people who have been thrown aside by the private sector or that the private forces cannot help have no other resources but ours, manifestations of justice for the Common Good.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Several compassionate Senators have offered a 1:1:1 compromise for surplus this year \u2013 one third to debt, one third to savings, one third to returning support to those in need. The new Speaker of the Assembly, Toni Atkins said the same, not specifying a formula but noting we must protect our families and children from want. These views have some bi-partisan support as many from both parties support specific programs even while disagreeing on others.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> It is within this space our voices are powerful.\u00a0 We can build bridges while advocating for the poor.\u00a0 We believe there are just and honorable solutions, and we urge you to organize to speak to the adoption of budget justice that balances fiscal responsibility with compassion for those hanging by a very slender economic thread.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> To start a Faithful Fridays action, begin where you are \u2013 \u201cwhere two or more are gathered\u201d \u2013 and make your presence known.\u00a0 Visit and talk or visit and hold signs, sing, recite, whatever you are moved to do, however you choose to do it.\u00a0 If you are unable to be present, call when others you know may be there.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Let your local papers and television and radio know what you are doing!\u00a0 Encourage ministerial councils and interfaith groups to join in.\u00a0 The more voices, the more authority over these issues you can have. Please take the time to go to offices of friendly legislators, too!\u00a0 They need your witness and support just as much as the cranky ones need to rethink their positions!<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> The budget must be passed by June 15, so this is urgent.\u00a0 We ask that you do this quickly, and that any clergy so moved become a local presence with high visibility as soon as you can.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> To find the nearest office for your officials, please go to:<\/span> <\/span>http:\/\/www.churchimpact.org\/take-action.html<\/a>\u00a0 <\/p>\n

If your zip and\/or address are entered, it will take you to a list of legislators where you can click the link and find their main page with addresses and phone numbers.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> As the weeks and months roll on, we will be offering suggestions on issues for Faithful Fridays.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Please stay in touch with us.\u00a0 We are a small staff as you know, and we can\u2019t be with you much in person, but we can share your stories with others and offer strategies that have succeeded for your inspiration.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Write to us a faithfulfridays@calchurches.org and tell us what, and how, you are doing.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> This is something we can do.\u00a0 Please join us in making Faithful Fridays a way to have your voices heard and heeded on behalf of too many who have no voice at all.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Thank you!<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Friends: Is there anyone in the faith community who has not heard of and been moved by \u201cMoral Mondays\u201d in North Carolina? Faith and … Read More ›<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/churchimpact.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}