CASA CRY January, 2026
Recently, Human Rights Watch released its World Report evaluating each country’s human rights practices around the globe. The U.S. fared poorly in safeguarding the rights of its own population, with those hit hardest by abuse typically the most vulnerable in the society, including racial and ethnic groups, minorities, the poor, immigrants, prisoners and the elderly. The U.S. still executes people.Between the years of 1919 and 2002, The U.S. invaded Latin American nations 55 times and may soon invade Venezuela. These interventions were done primarily to gain access to oil or other resources. We remember the invasion of Iraq for oil under the guise of protecting people from weapons of mass destruction. Each New Years day we make resolutions to do good. but we usually fail at keeping them. May this year be different. Lets all of us make the world a better place by living nonviolent lives. ----Don Timmerman
“/Do not think that saintliness comes from occupation, it depends rather on what one is. The kind of work we do does not make us holy, but we make it holy.” ---Meister Eckhart
The Gospel takes away our right forever to discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving poor. ----Dorothy Day
DON’S JOKES
Do you know how much Santa spent on his sled? Nothing. It was on the house.
A hitchhiker had been trying to get a ride for hours with no luck. Finally, a car pulled to a stop. The hitcher ran up, threw his backpack in the back seat and climbed into the passenger seat.“Hitching long? “ the driver asked.“Hours and no one even slowed down,” was the reply.“Boy, society has changed,” the driver said. “People are so worried and scared now.”“I hear you,” the hitcher said. “I think they’re afraid of picking up a serial killer.”Then the driver laughed, the hitcher asked, “Didn’t you think about that when you picked me up?”While still laughing, the driver said, “No, what are the odds of two serial killers being in the same car?” Why are all the back pain medicines on the bottom shelf in the pharmacy?
What do you call someone who can’t stick to a diet? A deserter.A patient in the hospital was asked by the nurse how the surgery went for him. He said that he did not like the four-letter word he used. The nurse said, “What word did doctor say? The patient answered, “Oops “ How does an elephant get out of a tree? He just sits on a leaf and waits for the fall. Why didn’t the minnow go top lunch with the stork? He was afraid he’d be stuck with the bill. Why is it so noisy in Tibet?
INTERESTING FACTS
The U.S. bombs came after President Trump repeatedly claimed that a genocide against Christians was taking place in Nigeria. But the village that was bombed, Jabo in northwestern Sokoto state, has no recorded history of anti-Christian terrorism, according to locals. ----Drop Line News
A $2 billion pledge to the United Nations masks a historic collapse in U.S. humanitarian funding following the dismantling of USAID, as experts estimate more than 700,000 deaths linked to foreign aid cuts.---Nation of Change
In Gaza, a winter storm has compounded the misery of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in tents after Israel’s more than two-year bombardment destroyed or damaged most of the territory’s buildings. Recent;y, a 30-year-old woman was killed when a wall collapsed on her tent amid heavy rains. Several members of her family were injured. Others faced severe flooding, frigid temperatures and wind and rain that blew away tents. U.N. and Palestinian officials estimate at least 300,000 new tents are urgently needed for about 1.5 million Palestinians still displaced by Israel’s assault, as Israel continues to block the importation of shelters and other aid. Dr. Abu Safiya’s health has deteriorated while he’s faced cruel and inhumane treatment in prison. He’s among more than 430 health workers abducted by Israel from Gaza and the West Bank since October of 2023. The Trump administration has denied entry for Nigerian refugees, as well as virtually every other refugee group, with the exception of white South Africans. A total of 19 countries are now banned from all immigrant visas and all tourist, student exchange visitor visas, including Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa.
----Democracy Now
At least 717 US companies filed for bankruptcy through November 2025—the highest figure recorded since the aftermath of the Great Recession
As of November, according to the United Nations, more than 117 million people are forcibly displaced, which is more than double the figure 10 years ago. ----Common Dreams
The United States spent of around $23 trillion on aid to Ukraine. Last year CNBC
For the amount the US spent on nuclear weapons in 2023, over 2.6 million homes could have been powered by solar power or over 6.8 million homes could have .been powered by wind power. Additionally, over 343 BILLION trees could have been planted, or 958,000 clean energy jobs could have been created., And while you're at it, keep in mind that, according to the remarkable Costs of War Project, this country ended up spending at least $8 trillion on those wars.-----Green America
the NRA, despite being well known for its political lobbying and ties to the gun industry, is in fact a tax-exempt nonprofit organization-----The-Intercept
Percentage of Americans who believed that violence might be necessary to “get the country back on track” in 2024 : 19% In 2026: 31% Source: Marist Poll (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)In 2025
Estimated number of U.S. jobs created for every $1,000,000 the federal government spends on defense: 5. For every $1,000,000 it spends on education; 13 Source: Heidi Peltier, Brown University (Providence, R.I.)
NOTE
Needs of our four houses of Hospitality are 39 gallon of garbage bags, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, bleach, Milk (esp. shelf stable milk), pasta sauce, dish soap, pizzas, paper towels, and toilet paper.
January 19--- Martin Luther Day event -- 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church 1927 N. Vel Philips Ave. (4th and Brown St.)
Wednesday,,January 21-----Anti-ROTC Vigil from Noon to 1 p.m in front of Marquette library. Join us in opposing having military training on a Christian campus. Christians don’t train their young to kill or maim the youth of another country.
Wednesday, January 23 ----Vigil Opposing Solitary Confinement at the Detention Center on 9th & State. Prisoners are put in 23 hour solitary confinement. Correction should not include torture.
Wednesday,January 28-----Anti-Gun Vigil at Shooter’s Shop on 84th & Arthur Sts. from noon to I p.m .Please join us. Sellers of guns are responsible for the most killings and injuries in the U.S.
NOES ON 21ST STREET
The new year has arrived with freezing temperatures. Today, the 2nd of January, the sky is blue, the sun is shining but the temperature is 21 degrees. It reminds me of our nation at this time. Every one is trying to enjoy the season but our hearts are frozen by the sadness as our government continues to harm the immigrants, the LGBTQ community, other struggling Americans and wreaking havoc on other countries. The following is a poem by M. Reinsert called “Weavers”. It recognizes the importance of our actions for peace and justice in our world. “God sits weeping. The beautiful creation tapestry God wove with such joy is mutilated, torn to shreds, reduced to rags its beauty fragmented by force. God sits weeping. But look! God is gathering up the shreds to weave something new. God gathers our shreds of sorrow-the pain, the tears, the frustration caused by cruelty, crushing, ignoring, violating, killing. God gathers the rags of hard work, attempts at advocacy, initiatives for peace, protests against injustice, all the seemingly little and weak words and deeds offered sacrificially in hope, in faith, in love, and look! God is weaving them all with golden threads of jubilation into a tapestry, a new creation richer, more beautiful that the old one was! God sits weaving patiently, persistently with a smile that radiates like a rainbow on God’s tear-streaked face and God invites us not only to keep offering the shreds and rags of our suffering and our work but even more-to take our place at the Jubilee Loom and weave with God the Tapestry of the New Creation!”. May we each take a place at the loom and weave a New World. Peace, Roberta
