2021 chapter updates

Our New Orleans, Metro New York, and Maryland chapters sent us updates about the work they’ve done in 2021! If you’re in either city, we encourage you to connect with them. Check out our Chapter category to learn more about the work that all our chapters do throughout the year.

New Orleans

CTA New Orleans functions in a loose coalition with other national and local groups. We initiate some projects and support members who work in other contexts. Some are active with the Association of of US Catholic Priests, Women’s Ordination Conference, Fortunate Families, Catholic Relief Services, a new local chapter of Catholic Mobilizing Network against the Death Penalty, Ignatian justice teach-ins, local homeless shelters and food banks, and the Archdiocesan Office of Justice and Peace.

Several members are involved with immigration justice efforts through groups like NOLA Grannies, who gather at bus stations in the early morning to provide immigrants with food and supplies; Home is Here NOLA, which provides rides, hospitality, ESL education, and meals to immigrants; and a task force to support asylum seekers. New Orleans chapter members have also been involved with CTA’s national immigration working group. 

CTA Metro New York members advocate for the Child Victim’s Act in 2017

CTA Metro New York 

We are actively involved in criminal justice reform, racial justice, sexual abuse survivor justice, synodal participation, and LGBTQI justice. 

We have been rallying, protesting, educating and lobbying to reform and eventually end solitary confinement in NYS. In January, we presented a webinar on the dangers and inhumanity of solitary confinement. It featured two formerly-incarcerated people, a psychiatric medical expert, and was moderated by the VP of The Fortune Society. We are very pleased that a bill in the NYS Senate (HALT bill) was finally passed. A good beginning. We also supported a bill (Less is More) to reform probation statewide. This also has successfully passed.                                                        

We are currently supporting a bill, Adult Survivors Act, that would allow adult survivors of sexual abuse a one-year window above the statute of limitations to file a civil claim. 

In March, we sent a press release rejecting the Vatican’s statement regarding LGBTQI people.

In July, as part of our mission for racial justice, we presented a live Zoom from Tulsa, OK. on the Tulsa Massacre. The speaker was a leader in The Black Wall Street Alliance and gave us an informative and educational tour of the neighborhood where the massacre took place and the museum that commemorates it.

A long and intensive effort by board members Gerry and Art has led to a webinar called “Lessons from the Synodal Way.” In partnership with FutureChurch, we presented two women involved directly in the German Synod discussing issues important to all Catholics. James Martin, SJ moderated the event.

Speaking of Gerry O’Shea, he writes a very powerful and insightful blog addressing issues that Catholics and all who are interested in the human condition would find thought provoking: wemustbetalking.com

Board members have been involved with National CTA programs and initiatives. Two members have been mentoring two people from the Re/Gen project. Others have participated in various workshops and meetings, learning and sharing many perspectives.

We support and participate in many local and national groups who work toward equality and dignity for all people. You can learn more about our mission on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channel.

Art McGrath, Roe Sauerzopf, Marylee Raymond Diamond, Paula Acuti, Gerry O’Shea, Mary Sugrue, Juan Fonseca and Karen Jorgensen

Maryland

CTA Maryland’s Racial Justice Circle and Latino Racial Justice Circle have found ways to work within limits established by COVID-19. Zoom has become the norm for most gatherings of the groups.

The Racial Justice Circle has continued facilitating Honest Conversations on Racism. This four-week program of dialogue addresses anti-racism, privilege, white supremacy, history of slavery, and systemic racism in society and in our Catholic Church. There have been four series of the Conversations within Catholic parishes in the Baltimore Archdiocese during 2021. In addition, RJC responded to a request from the DE/MD Lutheran ECLA synod to do the same in one of their congregations. We have had an Honest Conversation within one of the Lutheran churches; these members are now facilitating similar conversations. In addition, a Baltimore Presbyterian church joined a neighboring Catholic parish for Honest Conversations on Racism.  Members of CTA National and Chapters joined these churches.

COVID-19 has presented a task for the Latino Racial Justice Circle. The group was successful in raising money which was distributed to undocumented citizens of Baltimore who received no COVID relief money from the federal government. In addition, the Circle has continued its efforts to provide funds for legal assistance for those seeking citizenship. Funds were also used to purchase books for Latino college students. The Circle has also used Zoom to present Honest Conversations on Immigration for local church members.

After the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, the RJC called for community action that developed into a local Black Lives Matter movement. After several BLM rallies, churches, synagogues, and community groups joined the movement and the name was changed to the Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition. Rallies continue to be held on the third Sunday of the month, and members have begun to identify needs of the community and collect items such as food or diapers to aid community groups.

The Racial Justice Circle has been pleased to welcome our new Auxiliary bishop, Redemptorist Bruce Lewandowski. Bishop Bruce has attended one of our meetings as well as one of our Honest Conversation sessions. He also requested help with the Synod on Synodality, and several our members will be facilitating dialogue sessions or speaking at some of the parishes.

We look forward to continuing our work mentioned above in 2022. We have plans to increase our Honest Conversations to a five-week series. CTA Maryland will work with the Racial Justice Circle to bring in a guest speaker for an exceptional event. Renowned Church Historian Dr. Shannen Dee Williams will present two sessions; the first will be based on her new book (to be out in May) entitled Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle, and the second session will focus on the historical effects of slavery within the Catholic Church and the need for reparative justice. Mark your calendar for this virtual event on February 12, 2022!