President calls for more troops in Iraq

Today, January 11, 2007, President Bush traveled to Ft. Benning, GA in Columbus, GA in order to promote his new 'plan' to increase US troops in Iraq by over 20,000. This site is a familiar one to the Ignatian family as it is the site of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the America, SOA. It is known for training military personnel from foreign countries in tactics that have caused severe human rights abuses. Is it a coincidence that this location, home of the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In in November, is now a symbolic pulpit for this administration to begin another military action? Where are we turning a blind-eye to the human rights issues (ie. civilian killings, torture, oppressive military presence) in Iraq that were made known to us graphically in the 80's and early 90's in El Salvador?

To read the President's full speech on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 about the 'troop increase' to Iraq, following the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6803354

Jan. 7-13, 2007 - National Migration Week

"Welcoming Christ in the Migrant"

January 7 - 13, 2007

Bishop Barnes, Bishop of San Bernadino and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, issued a letter about National Migration Week. You can read the full text at the following link: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw/bishopsletters.shtml.

Each year, this week means to draw our attention to all those in our society who face persecution in a 'migration experience' by remembering that the Holy Family

also faced their own 'migration' from Jerusalem to Egypt.

You can also receive further information on the USCCB's campaign, Justice for Immigrants, which deals with the advocacy and education surrounding the topic of comprehensive immigration reform at www.justiceforimmigrants.org

All Jesuits in the Detroit Province are invited to the Area Day on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at St. John's Jesuit in Toledo, OH; our topic is "Strangers No Longer, Immigration in the USA"... stay tuned for further info on the event!