St. Thomas Aquinas Human Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes May 27, 2008

Attendance:
Paul Chestnut, Mary Fong, Carol Schaffer, Patricia Markee, Laura Chiu, Kieran McCarty, Ruth Chippendale

1. Faith-Sharing/Question of the Week - Carol
Carol provided thoughts about community.

2. The April minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

3. Results of Offering of Letters May 17 and 18
369 letters for each of our three representatives in Washington were signed and delivered.

4. Web site revisions
Carol and Paul completed revisions of the HCC web page.

5. Burning Bush event
We discussed the notion of a Burning Bush event centered on social justice issues. We aimed for October.

6. PSC Retreat - May 17
The keynote speaker was Sister Sharon McMillan.

7. HCC budget - Terry

Terry presented the budget request for HCC for the fiscal year starting July 1. HCC funds social justice journals, which are delivered to the Parish Center, and contributions to various social justice organizations. George allowed that the organization PIA needs help. We agreed to request $2000 for PIA membership, and $300 for the annual Heroes' Luncheon sponsored by PIA.
The requested amounts are as follows:

Organization Memberships:

ORGANIZATION		Amount
Peninsula Peace and Justice		$150
Inn Vision		$500
South Bay Sanctuary		$250
Bread for the World		$200
Catholics Against Capital Punishment		$150
Jericho		$50
PIA		$2350
Santa Clara County Council of Churches		$500
Network		$50
Total		$5650

Journals:

Journal		Amount
National Catholic Reporter		$43.95
Commonweal		$49.00
Sojourners		$39.95
Total		$131.90

In addition, we request that the parish contribution to JustFaith be changed from its own Category (572161) to Category 572160 - Social Justice: JustFaith $1500.00

8. County Petition on the death penalty - Terry

The strategy of the County Petition is to persuade the District Attorneys to avoid going for the death penalty. The reasons for avoiding the death penalty are:
- It is well-known that innocent people are occasionally put to death
- The cost of executing a person turns out to be much more expensive that life imprisonment
- Equal justice is never realized
- The penalty is applied predominantly to the poor and people of color.
We discussed the plan by the group Faith In Action for a forum in October. Also, Terry proposed that the parish should be polled on the proposition that the parish should support the abolition of the death penalty. Terry will talk to Father George about it.

9. National Religious Campaign Against Torture - Ruth
Ruth reported that at the PSC meeting on May 14, she said that Pax Christi is conducting during June a National Religious Campaign against Torture. For the month of June, parishes will be displaying banners, demonstrating unity against torture with the following phrases: "Torture is Wrong" or "Torture is a Moral Issue". Ruth moved that the parish purchase a banner; the motion carried unanimously. Then a motion was placed on the floor that three banners be purchased, one for each church. The motion carried. The banners were placed at each church on June 1. A article has been placed on the HCC web site explaining the issue and adding more information.

10. Deanery 2 social justice liaison meeting at Stanford
Walt Lundin attended the meeting and reported to the group via email. The notion of "Faithful Citizenship" was discussed at length. The November election has many social justice issues and is thus an opportunity for social justice education.

11. Need drivers for Hidden Villa youth - George
George made an appeal for help for drivers for the youth camp at Hidden Villa.

12. What's On Your Mind?

Patricia: JustFaith is preparing 8-session modules for the next year.

Laura: The January-to-June report to the PSC is due on June 11. Ruth will be unavailable on that day, so Paul volunteered to present the report.

13. Volunteer for Faith-sharing/Question of the Week
Kieran volunteered.

Next meeting - July 22

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