Sudan

Fulfilling the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Northern and Southern regions of the country which halted a bloody civil war, South Sudanese in January 2011 voted in a referendum to decide on whether to succeed and establish a new nation.  The Catholic bishops of the United States and Sudan supported the self-determination of the South Sudanese people.  In the Archdiocese, the Catholic Social Action Office and other Catholic communities helped the local Sudanese communities in Cincinnati and Dayton to travel to designated U.S. voting locations to participate in this historic election.  Visit Catholic Relief Services’ website on Sudan to discover more about the history and hoped-for future of Sudan at peaceinsudan.org.

Read The Catholic Telegraph‘s excellent front page story on South Sudan and efforts in the Archdiocese to stand in solidarity.

Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur leaders (from left to right): Mike Gable (Archdiocesan Mission Office), Barbara Glueck (American Jewish Committee), Tony Stieritz (Archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Office), Fr. Ruffino Ezama (Comboni Missionaries), Mayik Koriom (Cincinnati Sudanese community), Homa Yavar (Muslim Mothers Against Violence), Naomi Ruben (AJC)

The Catholic Social Action Office also serves as one of three co-chairs for the Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur, a coalition comprised of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular organizations.  Working hand-in-hand with local Sudanese leaders, GCAD currently aims to:

1. Advocate for continued peace in Sudan by meeting with federal legislators, requesting that they promote stability in South Sudan, Darfur, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and other regions.  We are also urging them to include international development funding in the federal budget to support the new nation of South Sudan.
2. Empower South Sudanese through fundraising and other support.

Ending the Violence in Darfur

According to Catholic Relief Services, the unresolved conflict in Darfur threatens the peace created between the North and the South.  After hundreds of thousands were killed in the genocide Darfur, the violence continues and there remain 2.7 million internally displaced people.

Engage Your Parish:

Locally, several years ago, the Advocates for Justice Collaborative worked with the Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur to mobilize a great deal of advocacy with our Congressional representatives as well as helped organize an historic rally for Cincinnati against the genocide in Darfur.

The following tools were developed to help you make a plan for your parish. Please call for additional resources or information.

Parish Advocacy Tools on Darfur available to download here:

• Parish Action Plan for Darfur (Adobe Acrobat PDF file) This can be used to develop a plan.
• Resource Guide for Implementing this plan (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer) Note: this file will be continually updated as new resources become available Last updated: 4/10/06

Prayer Aids (see also the Resource Guide above):

• Sample Intercessory Prayers for Weekend Masses
• Sample Interfaith Prayer Service
• A Prayer for Darfur — Prayer Card
• Darfur Reflection

Legislative/Political Advocacy Resources (see also the Resource Guide above):

• Sample letters to Federal Representatives (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer) The legislative situation can change rapidly so check the Darfur section (Click Here) of the Collaborative forum for the most current advocacy action.
• Sample Bulletin Announcements (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer)
• One-page Bulletin Insert on Darfur (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer)
• Two-page Bulletin Insert on Darfur (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer)

Display Board for Parish vestibules and meeting places can be made by downloading the following files containing complete instructions, photos, and text

• Instructions (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
• Darfur Title (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
• Facts on Sudan (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer)
• Map (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
• Photos with Captions (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Catholic Leader Quotes

Quotes from Catholic Leaders (Microsoft Word file — save this file to computer)

Also visit:

• Catholic Relief Services’ informative Web page
• U.S. Bishops’ statements
• Save Darfur, a coalition of which the U.S. Bishops are members