archives

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Washington, D.C.

Briefings continued this morning for participants in the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering who will be heading to Capitol Hill later in the day for meetings with Members of Congress. Below is a sampling of issues covered by staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a variety of other experts.

Water Shortages

Albert Wright, a scholar from Ghana and an advisor to the Global Water Partnership, told participants that water scarcity (defined as less than 1,000 cubic meters of water per person per year) currently affects 500 million people in 30 countries. Where once water was a tool of war, Wright said, for example through naval blockades and induced drought, water is increasingly becoming a source of international conflict.

The woman at the well, from this past Sunday's Gospel (John 4:5-42) is the last person on earth you'd expect Jesus to open up and reveal himself to. Not only is she a woman and an outcast, she's a Samaritan -- the hated enemy -- yet Jesus engages her in spiritual conversation, and she surprisingly takes him seriously, draws him out, and lets him teach her. He tells her what he has told no one else: that he is the holy Christ. She, not St. Paul, then becomes the first apostle to the Gentiles She must have been remarkable and no doubt can teach us a thing or two about the peacemaking Christ and the spiritual life.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Washington, D.C.

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta said today that it was not the intent of the U.S. bishops in their recent “Faithful Citizenship” document to suggest that Catholics who vote for a pro-choice candidate are automatically placing their salvation in jeopardy.

I spoke briefly with Gregory before he addressed the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, offering a “send-off” to participants heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with members of Congress.