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 From across
my desk...
"Torture
violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their
highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone
involved--policy-makers, perpetrators, and victims. It contradicts our
nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and
inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.
Nothing less is at stake in the torture
abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if
torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish
torture now--without exceptions."
So reads the Statement
of Conscience of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
Your Council's Board of
Directors agrees with this statement. Our own resolution supports it. CLICK HERE to
read our resolution.
Last week, the U.S.
Congress passed Bill H.R. 2082, the Intelligence
Authorization Bill. Section 327 contains important anti-torture
provisions requiring all intelligence agencies to abide by the
restrictions in the Army Field Manual while conducting
interrogations. The Army Field Manual prohibits torture and
other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
President Bush has
indicated that he plans to VETO this bill.
You can continue to raise
your voice on this issue by telling President Bush to NOT veto
this bill. Through the website of The National Religious Campaign Against Torture you can send President Bush your message.
Join Your Council in this
important advocacy for the moral high road. Work with us to end torture.
...that's the view today.
The Reverend Brenda
Kneece,
Executive Minister |
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Advocacy Day
Main Street United Methodist Church
1830 Main Street, Columbia
CLICK HERE for Church Website
March 27, 2008
Nurturing the Least of These:
Public School Funding
 Presentations include
- We Should Nurture
the Least of These: Moral and Ethical Imperatives
- We Can Nurture the
Least of These, Dr. Jim Rex, SC Superintendent of Education
- Political Barriers
to Nurturing the Least of These, Legislators Panel Moderated by
Mr. Fred Sheheen.
Legislators: Senator Wes
Hayes (R, York), Senator Vincent Sheheen (D. Kershaw), and
Representative Joe Neal (D, Richland)
Registration at 10:30 AM,
event concludes at 2:30 PM.
Registration fee: $20 per
person includes lunch ($10 without lunch). Pre-registration due on
or before March 20. Registration at the door $15--no lunch. To
download and print registration form CLICK HERE.
For more information
contact SCCAC.
Photo: March for Education Funding
Equity. Seated Mrs. Vivian Andrews, retired Christian educator;
standing left to right: Rev. Brenda Kneece, Mr. Walter Andrews, and Dr.
Arlene Andrews. |
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LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE
Your Council
continues to watch South Carolina 2008 Legislative activity and to
advocate on issues of concern to people of faith. Here is an
update on three issues.
IMMIGRATION
Thank you to all who
contacted your Legislators about your concerns that the
Immigration bill working its way through the Legislature be
moral and ethical, and that it contain protective language for clergy
and others who provide humanitarian aid with no intent to harbor.
Senate Bill 392 is
now assigned to Conference Committee. This committee is
comprised of appointed Representatives and Senators. These Legislators
will work to reach a compromise reconciling the Senate and House
versions of the Bill.
PAYDAY LENDER
REGULATION
From John Rouff at SC Fair
Share (to see web page CLICK HERE):
A bipartisan coalition
of Senators rejected the compromise version of payday lending
legislation and sent a much stronger version of S. 398 to the
House.
They marshaled the
votes to extend the cooling off period between loans from 2 days to 7
days, to limit loans to one at a time, to require that lenders maintain
documentation of their verification of the customer's income and to
prohibit payday lenders having electronic access to take money out of a
borrower's checking account.
In addition, the bill caps loans at 25 percent of a borrower's
gross income during the term of the loan and establishes a statewide
database to track loans.
We have been told
that the House LCI Subcommittee will hear a presentation on the
database and take up the bill in late March. The industry is focused on reducing the waiting period
from 7 days to 2 (or less), although their real goal will be to kill
the bill.
CIGARETTE TAX
H. 3567 is currently in a
Senate Finance subcommittee.
Timing is critical for YOU
to contact your Senator in support of raising the cigarette tax to
support health care. We encourage visits and calls this week sharing
this simple message: "Raise the cigarette tax to fund health
care."
YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
We encourage you to
contact your Legislators and voice your positions on these and other
current issues.
To contact your Legislator
or follow legislative activity CLICK HERE. |
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Support YOUR
Council
- Promoting dialogue among
diverse Christian traditions on matters of belief and practice.
- Listening to
each other.
- Inviting all Christians
of good will to our table.
- Worshipping
traditionally and contemporarily.
- Cherishing dialogue
and relationships with our Inter-religious world.
- Working in
partnership with other organizations for the common good.
- Pressing the call for
justice in all walks of life.
This is YOUR Council.
Together we are making a difference.
YOU can undergird the work
of You Council by volunteering to serve on a work group
(currently active: Christian Unity and Public Policy Advocacy),
inviting a Council representative to speak to your congregation or
a small group within your congregation, volunteering to respond when
public policy action alerts are sent, or by making a
financial contribution.
To volunteer in any
capacity CLICK HERE.
To engage a speaker or
trainer CLICK HERE.
To donate now CLICK HERE.
Don't wait, find a way
TODAY to support YOUR Council. |
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PUBLIC
HEARINGS
On access to civil legal
representation for South Carolinians of low income or with modest
means.
South
Carolina joins 26 other states who have already established Access to
Justice initiatives. The South Carolina Access to Justice (SCATJ)
Commission is conducting a needs assessment via public hearings
around the state to bring the issue into the public eye.
Speakers/potential
speakers are asked to contact Robin F. Wheeler directly to sign up to speak. Each speaker will
have 7 minutes to deliver their message. Hearings start at 4 PM and end
at 6 PM.
March 13: Charleston
County
March 27: Lexington
County
April 10: Colleton
County
April 17: Anderson
County
May 29: Lancaster
County
June 5: Florence
County
June 26: Spartanburg
County
The Commission is looking for service
providers to speak as well as individuals to speak about some of the
barriers to justice they have witnessed or experienced. Examples of
barriers include language, cost (court costs and attorney fees),
illiteracy, lack of transportation to the attorney and/or the
courthouse, lack of accessibility due to disability, cognitive
impairments, lack of childcare, etc.
Robin F. Wheeler, Esquire
Executive Director
South Carolina Access to Justice Commission
SC Bar
PO Box 608
Columbia, SC 29202-0608
803-799-6653 ext. 186
Fax: 803-799-5290
rwheeler@scbar.org |
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Ecumenism
Award Nominations
YOUR Council is looking
for a few great models of
ecumenical life and action
in South Carolina. The SCCAC Board hopes to present one or all of
the following awards at the SCCAC Annual Meeting on May 15, 2008 at
Zion Canaan Baptist Church.
The awards are as follows:
èThe Christian Action in Ecumenism Award recognizes a SC
individual or group providing significant leadership or action
in ecumenical or interfaith relations effecting understanding, respect,
and cooperation within the faith community.
èThe Christian Action in Service Award recognizes a SC
individual or group making a significant contribution of
advocacy and service in grassroots social ministry rendered as an
expression of faith in Jesus Christ, as a contribution to the community
and reflecting the command of Jesus to feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned.
èThe Howard G. McClain Christian Action in Public Policy Award
recognizes a SC individual or group providing significant
leadership or action in the area of Church and Society rendered as
an expression of faith in Jesus Christ, as a contribution to the
community, and which effects societal, systemic and structural change.
èThe Youth Ministry in Improving Race Relations Award recognizes
a SC individual or group providing significant leadership or action
in the area of Race Relations effecting understanding, respect, and
cooperation within the community.
Please CLICK HERE to download more information and the nomination
form. Nominations will be accepted until April 7, 2008.
Put your co-worker or neighbor
or pastor or youth group up for one of these awards.
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Mark Your Calendar
May 15, 2008
SCCAC Annual
Meeting
Faith in
Politics
Zion Canaan Baptist Church
Columbia
Click here for more information.
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