NCCW Meets in Jacksonville, Elects New Officers

►Crucifixes for St. Patrick’s Cathedral made under horrific sweatshop conditions In China. At a Nov. 20 press conference in front of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, the National Labor Committee released a 73-page report documenting the brutal sweatshop conditions under which crucifixes were made for Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity Church, and the Association for Christian Retail at the Junxingye factory in Southern China.

Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee, showed a crucifix, saying "This crucifix was made by young women, several just 15 and 16 years of age, who were forced to work 15 ½ hours a day, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., seven days a week, toiling for months on end without a single day off. . . . . Before the crucifixes had to be shipped to the U.S., there were also mandatory 22½ to 25-hour all-night shifts from 8:00 a.m. straight through to 6:30 or 9:00 a.m. the following morning.  Workers were paid just 26½ cents an hour, $2.12 a day and $10.61 a week, which is less than half China's legal minimum wage.  After deductions for primitive company dorms and food, the workers' take-home wages actually drops to just nine cents an hour."

Kernaghan also said, "I don't believe that Saint Patrick's Cathedral or Trinity Church had any idea of the abusive and illegal conditions under which their crucifixes were made, but I feel certain they will now respond immediately and with compassion."  Kernaghan will ask Saint Patrick's and Trinity to help clean up the factory in China and to guarantee that the legal rights of the workers will finally be respected.

The report, titled:  "Today, Workers Bear the Cross," can be found at http://www.nlcnet.org/.

►Check out The Wooden Bell, a CRS publication that will help you become more familiar with many of the issues that CRS encounters daily in its peace-building efforts around the world. Go to www.crs.org and enter "Wooden Bell" in the search window.

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►Faithful Citizenship. At their recent meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, the United States bishops issued a new statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." With the election year right around the corner, we should all be familiar with the bishops’ guidance in this area. The full statement can be found at http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/.

►Stem Cell Breakthrough. We all rejoice at the recent news of a breakthrough in stem cell research using regular adult cells rather than embryonic cells. On November 20, 2007, the following statement was released by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

"Studies published this week in the journals Cell and Science offer new hope for advancing stem cell research and therapies while fully respecting the dignity of human life.

"Scientists in Japan and Wisconsin used four genes to ‘reprogram’ ordinary adult human cells, creating ‘induced pluripotent stem cells’ (iPS cells).  James Thomson, head of the Wisconsin team and the founder of human embryonic stem cell research, says these cells ‘meet the defining criteria’ for pluripotent human embryonic stem cells, ‘with the significant exception that the iPS cells are not derived from embryos.’

"Thus the goal sought for years through failed attempts at human cloning – the production of ‘pluripotent’ stem cells that are an exact genetic match to a patient – has been brought within reach by an ethical procedure. This technology avoids the many ethical landmines associated with embryonic stem cell research: it does not clone or destroy human embryos, does not harm or exploit women for their eggs, and does not blur the line between human beings and other species through desperate efforts to make human embryos using animal eggs.  Ian Wilmut, head of the team that cloned ‘Dolly’ the sheep, now says he is abandoning efforts at human ‘therapeutic cloning’ to pursue this adult cell reprogramming avenue instead, because it is technically superior as well as ‘easier to accept socially.’

"I am grateful today for scientists who took up the challenge of finding morally acceptable ways to pursue stem cell research, and for government leaders who have encouraged and funded such avenues.  This advance reminds us once again that medical progress and respect for human life are not in conflict; they can and should support and enrich one another for the good of all."

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►A Successful Council Team. What helps a team be successful?

• Good leaders or coaches
• Enthusiastic and energetic members
• Some specific goals or focuses
• Members open to learning. If members are unwilling to change or grow, the team will not be too successful.
• Teamwork – "Webster defines teamwork as the quality whereby individuals unselfishly subordinate their own part to the general effort of the group with whom they are working or playing."

Make your council group a successful team!

It takes work but everyone will enjoy the results.

The message: When sharing your e-mail address with others, please make sure you print or type your e-mail address correctly and legibly. This is important; look what one wrong character did!

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