Get Informed, Get Involved.
Check out the resources below to learn about the progressive movement within the Catholic Church, the cash bail system (and dismantling it), Black-owned businesses, and immigration relief, as well as the option to purchase an Elefemme shirt to support critical justice work.
Progressive Catholic Resources
The Catholic Church is not how the USCCB* would have you believe. Rather, there is a huge schism in the American Catholic Church between traditionalists and progressives - those who cling to old structures rife with misogyny and racism despite mounting criticism and calls to action, and those who are challenging the racial and gender composition and history of the Church in order to create an equitable space of worship.
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“If you throw rocks and yell from outside, you are easy to dismiss. If you throw rocks from inside, someone has to clean up the mess.”
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It is with this saying that I remain in Catholic spheres, and that I duly share with you all the following resources to expand your knowledge and connection with the progressive Catholic communities in our region and our country, as well as internationally.
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Organizations:
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Progressive Catholic Church International
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Alternative Catholic Experience
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Catholic Organizations for Renewal
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Catholics for Change in Our Church (CCOC)*
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Association of Pittsburgh Priests (APP)*
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*local to Pittsburgh, PA
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Articles:
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"It's time to wrestle with the church's teaching on sex. Here's how."
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"Young progressive Catholics really do care about the church"
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"We are called to be anti-racist"
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'Our reckoning': US sisters take up call to examine their role in systemic racism
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"Addressing the US housing crisis must be a top priority for churches"
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"The Women Who Want to Be Priests"
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"Editorial: On racism, the chasm between Catholic sisters and bishops is vast"
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"The Virgin Mary returns as an icon for pop stars and social justice warriors"
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"The Seven Demons of Mary Magdalene…And Us"
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"Fr. Bryan Massingale: White nationalism is the greatest threat to peace today"
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Books:
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Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
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A Progressive Voice in the Catholic Church in the United States: Association of Pittsburgh Priests by Arthur J. MacDonald
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The Truth at the Heart of the Lie: How the Catholic Church Lost Its Soul by James Carroll
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The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by Father James Martin, SJ
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Cash Bail
The cash bail system penalizes our low-income community members for being poor. It is unjust to keep a person in jail while waiting trial for lack of funds - it effectively paints the picture that they are guilty until proven innocent. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, those incarcerated while awaiting trial have lost their constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial. To be incarcerated without a conviction is cruel and unusual punishment.
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To contribute to cash bail relief funds, check out these organizations:
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Please contact us with more resources, particularly for the Pittsburgh area and southwestern Pennsylvania, and we will add them to our list!
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Black-Owned Businesses
An important way to support POC is to put your dollar where your mouth is. That includes being mindful of where you spend your money. The impact of
Black-owned businesses on the economy is important, and we must patronize those places as much as - or more than - we patronize Big Box stores.
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Here are some resources to help us kick-start our mindful spending:
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Pittsburgh Black-Owned Businesses - CONSTANTLY UPDATED GOOGLE DOC
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Black-Owned Businesses in Pittsburgh
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African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania
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How to Spend a Day in Black-Owned Pittsburgh, PA
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Greater Pittsburgh Black Business Directory
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11 Black-Owned Vegan Businesses to Support that Ship Nationwide
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Please contact us with more resources, particularly for the Pittsburgh area and southwestern Pennsylvania, and we will add them to our list!
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Immigration Relief
We still have an ongoing border crisis. Families continue to be ripped apart when seeking shelter from violence in their home country.
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The Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)
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Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
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Florence Immigration and Refugee Rights Project
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Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
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Please contact us with more resources, and we will add them to our list!
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Elefemme shirts
If you'd like a provoking piece of wearable art for your donation, consider purchasing an Elefemme shirt.
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100% of the proceeds will be donated to the National Catholic Reporter and the National Juvenile Defender Center (you may select which upon your purchase).
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We order our shirts from local Pittsburgh print shop Revival Print Co.
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We currently have several sizes in both styles available.
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