A project of the Casa Maria Catholic Worker Community
It’s going to be outside so dress warmly.
If you don’t have $5.00 come anyway, tell them you are from Casa Maria
and they will let you in.
ACOMPAÑENOS AL CLUB CONGRESS, EVENTO GRATIS SI DICES QUE ERES DE CASA MARIA
Concierto donde grupos locales van a cantar canciones de Los Beatles.
¡Ven a disfrutar con Casa Maria!
Filas hasta de dos kilómetros de autos a la espera de cargar gasolina, cientos de gasolineras cerradas por falta de combustible, es el escenario en los últimos días en varios estados de México afectados por el desabasto de gasolina. El problema surgió después de el plan del nuevo gobierno para combatir las redes de robo de combustible creados en las últimas décadas, en las que según el gobierno de AMLO participan empleados de petróleo mexicano (PEMEX). Según datos oficiales el robo de combustible le provoca a el estado perdidas por alrededor de 60,000 millones de pesos anual (unos 3,000 millones de dólares). Era una vieja sospecha. Muchos creían que el creciente robo de combustible no podía realizarse sin la ayuda de empleados de Pemex. AMLO dijo que dentro de la empresa se encontró una red dedicada a robar hidrocarburos, especialmente gasolina. El grupo extraía diariamente el equivalente a 600 carros cisterna conocidos como pipas con capacidad de 15,000 litros cada una, independientemente del Huachicoleó (ordeña de ductos). Según el director de Pemex por el robo de combustible de sus ductos Pemex pierde mas de 30,000 millones de pesos anuales (aproximadamente 1,700 millones de dólares). Lo que no hicieron en los 18 años los tres presidentes anteriores Andrés Manuel López Obrador lo ah hecho en un mes, descubrir que el robo de gasolina a Pemex se gesta desde adentro con la ayuda de funcionarios de alto nivel directivo y sindical. Se menciona al general Eduardo León Trawis, subdirector de salvaguardar las propiedades de Pemex. Desde hace unas semanas AMLO anuncio medidas frontales para combatir el robo de combustible, el cual dio resultado con una reducción notable que significa un ahorro de 130 millones de dólares en tan solo unos dias para lograr esto que ha provocado desajustes en el subministro de varias regiones del país. Con el cierre de ductos se logra eliminar el suministro de gasolina robada y principalmente en la región de Guanajuato, Querétaro y Jalisco que son los estados con mayor robo de gasolina. Pemex revoco el permiso a 103 gasolineras. Pemex asegura que hay suficiente gasolina para surtir al país, pero como ahora se hace en pipas la distribución es mas lenta ya que no se usan los ductos.
El problema no para ahí, la tercera modalidad de robo es en barcos. Se han detectado decenas de embarcaciones que zarpan de Campeche (sur) y cruzan el golfo para llegar a Tamaulipas (noroeste). Estos grupos contratan exempleados de las plataformas petroleras y según López Obrador ya hay resultados. El martes 8 de enero, se registró el robo de 27 pipas. La cifra mas baja desde la expropiación petrolera de 1938.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, actual presidente de México, lo único que pide es calma a la población mexicana. Es preferible sufrir el desabasto de combustible y las incomodidades que eso causa a seguir sufriendo el robo tan sin medida que había estado ocurriendo durante las ultimas décadas.
Por: Angel Reyes
Rows of up to two kilometers of cars waiting to load gasoline, hundreds of gas stations closed for lack of fuel, is the scene in recent days in several states of Mexico affected by the shortage of gasoline. The problem arose after the new government’s plan to combat the fuel theft networks created in recent decades, in which, according to the AMLO government, Mexican oil employees (PEMEX) participate. According to official data, the theft of fuel causes the state lost about 60,000 million pesos annually (about 3,000 million dollars). It was an old suspicion. Many believed that the growing theft of fuel could not be done without the help of Pemex employees. AMLO said that within the company was found a network dedicated to steal hydrocarbons, especially gasoline. The group extracted daily the equivalent of 600 tank cars known as pipes with a capacity of 15,000 liters each, independently of Huachicoleó (milking ducts). According to the director of Pemex for the theft of fuel from its pipelines Pemex loses more than 30,000 million pesos annually (approximately 1,700 million dollars. What the last three presidents could not do in the last 18 years, Andrés Manuel López Obrador was able to do in a month, discover that the stealing of gasoline from Pemex is developed from within with the help of officials of senior management and union. General Eduardo León Trawis, deputy director of safeguarding Pemex properties, is mentioned. Since a few weeks AMLO announced frontal measures to combat fuel theft, which resulted in a significant reduction that means a saving of 130 million dollars in just a few days to achieve this that has caused imbalances in the sub minister of several regions from the country. With the closing of pipelines, it is possible to eliminate the supply of stolen gasoline and mainly in the regions of Guanajuato, Queretaro and Jalisco, which are the states with the highest theft of gasoline. Pemex revoked the permit to 103 gas stations. Pemex ensures that there is enough gasoline to supply the country, but as it is now done in pipes the distribution is slower since the pipelines are not used.
The problem does not stop there, the third type of theft is in boats. Dozens of boats have been detected that sail from Campeche (south) and cross the gulf to reach Tamaulipas (northwest). These groups hire former employees of the oil platforms and according to López Obrador there are already results. On Tuesday, January 8, the theft of 27 pipes was recorded. The lowest figure since the oil expropriation of 1938.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, current president of Mexico, only asks the Mexican population to remain calm. It is preferable to suffer the shortage of fuel and the discomfort that causes instead of continuing to suffer the theft without measure that had been occurring during the last decades.
By: Angel Reyes
by Brian Flagg
Kids in cages, kids separated from their parents, a hideous border wall, the hate whipped up around the issue of immigration…
Anyone who cares about morality or religion or being a Catholic or Christian has to care about it.
If you don’t believe me, ask Pope Francis, or read his new apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate “Rejoice and Be Glad”.
There is no way around it, we have got to get to the roots of it all, which is the historical policies and practices of our own government.
We can continue to decry the immoral practice of family separation, fight about walls and argue about border safety and security, but until we as a nation take a good look at ourselves and take responsibility for the extreme poverty and violence we have caused south of the border nothing will change.
So let us listen to words of wisdom from Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin, TX and the president-elect of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
From the National Catholic Reporter, June 15-28, 2018:
As Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, said in a statement June 1, “Family unity is a cornerstone of our American immigration system and a foundational element of Catholic teaching. … Rupturing the bond between parent and child causes scientifically-proven trauma that often leads to irreparable emotional scarring.”
“My brother bishops and I understand the need for the security of our borders and country, but separating arriving families at the U.S.-Mexico border does not allay security concerns,” Vásquez said. “Children and families will continue to take the enormous risks of migration — including family separation — because the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle remain: community or state-sanctioned violence, gang recruitment, poverty, and a lack of educational opportunity.”
“Policies should address these factors first as we seek to repair our broken immigration system,” the bishop said.
Vásquez has hit on the hard truth: The root causes of our “migration problem” lies on the other side of our borders and they are sown with the seeds of foreign policy mistakes the United States made in Central America over the last six decades — supporting dictatorships, quashing democracy and imposing imperialistic economic policies. The United States has never taken responsibility for the part we played in creating the violence, poverty and lack of opportunity that force our brothers and sisters south of our borders to uproot their families and flee north.
Eradicating the problems that force people to leave their homes is the best deterrent.
And from the AZ Daily Star, July 11, 2018:
“We know that the best way to tackle the migration phenomenon and the problems of safety … is to spur development in Mexico,” Lopez Obrador said.
Lopez Obrador said he wants the U.S. to join in an “alliance for progress” to bring development and jobs to Mexico and Central America, a call that hearkened back to President John F. Kennedy’s program launched in 1961.
Lopez Obrador has a bit of nostalgia for the 1960’s, Mexico’s last long sustained period of economic growth, and apparently hopes the U.S. will consider re-launching its own aid program from that era.
“What we want, from Panama to the northern border of Mexico and the United States to the Rio Bravo is for the people to have opportunities for jobs,” he said.
CAUSAS PRINCIPALES DE INMIGRACIÓN
por Brian Flagg
Niños en jaulas, separados de sus padres, un muro horrible, el odio agitado al rededor de la tema de inmigración…
Cual quiera persona moral, religiosa, católica o cristiana no lo puede ignorar.
Es lo que dice el Papa Francisco en su nuevo exhortación apostólica Gaudete et Exsultate “Alegraos y Regocijaos”.
No hay otra, tenemos que enfocarnos en las causas principales de inmigración, las que están causadas por las políticas históricas y practicas de nuestro gobierno de los estados unidos.
Podemos seguir condenando la practica immoral de separar familias, pelear sobre el muro y la seguridad y protección de la frontera, pero nada cambiara hasta que tomamos responsabilidad por las acciones de este país que esta causando la pobreza y violencia extrema que esta sucediendo sur de la frontera.
Eso es lo que dijo el obispo Joe Vasquez de ciudad Austin en Texas en el National Catholic Reporter, julio 15-28, 2018 . Nos dice que los estados unidos nunca an tomado responsabilidad de las políticas y practicas de los últimos 60 años, como apoyar dictaduras, aniquilar la democracia, y imponer políticas económicas imperialistas.
Ay que escuchar sus palabras de sabiduría, y también las del nuevo presidente electo de mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
El dijo en el AZ Daily Star, julio 11, 2018:
“Pensamos que la mejor manera de enfrentar el fenómeno migratorio y los problemas de seguridad… pasa por impulsar el desarrollo en México”, dijo.
López Obrador dijo que quiere que Estados Unidos se sume a una “alianza para el progreso” que traiga desarrollo y empleo a México y Centroamérica, un planteamiento que evoca el programa lanzado por el presidente John F. Kennedy en 1961.
El político izquierdista siente cierta nostalgia por la década de los 1960, el último periodo de crecimiento económico continuo de México, y al parecer espera que Estados Unidos reconsidere su propio programa de estímulo de aquella época.
“Lo que queremos es que desde Panamá hasta la frontera norte de México y Estados Unidos, hasta río Bravo, la gente tenga oportunidades de trabajo”, dijo. “Ese es nuestro planteamiento central”.
by Brian Flagg
The first of 3 sessions studying Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation ‘Rejoice and Be Glad’ took place last night at Guadalupe Capilla, in the heart of South Tucson (aka Barrio Libre). This project is co-sponsored by Casa Maria and Santa Cruz Catholic Church.
Approximately 100 people attended. A good time was had by all.
After listening to Padre Jose Luis from Santa Cruz expound the first 34 paragraphs of the book, followed by a lively discussion mostly in español, we all dined on a delicious barbecued turkey dinner prepared by Lorena Grijalva and her daughter Zoe.
Padre Jose Luis truly inspires. He knows a great deal about the history of our church and is really good about translating the text into a barrio context that makes sense to the people. Like the Holy Father, there is nothing pretentious about either of them.
Please attend the next 2 sessions on July 5 and July 12. (see above flyer)
Call Brian at (520) 624312 to obtain a copy of ‘Rejoice and Be Glad’.
¡ESTUDIO DEL LIBRO SANTO DE PAPA FRANCISCO EN EL BARRIO!
por Brian Flagg
Anoche fue la primera de 3 platicas del estudio de la nueva exhortación apostólica del Papa Francisco ‘Alegraos y Regocijaos’ que estamos teniendo en la Capilla Guadalupe, en el mero corazón de Sur Tucson (Barrio Libre). Este proyecto es co-patrocinado por Casa María y la Iglesia Católica de Santa Cruz.
Asistieron mas o menos 100 personas, y la pasamos muy bien.
Después de escuchar al Padre Jose Luis de Santa Cruz explicar los primeros 34 párrafos del libro, y una buena platica casi todo en español, todos cenamos una deliciosa barbacoa de pavo preparada por Lorena Grijalva y su hija Zoe.
El Padre José Luis realmente inspira. Él sabe mucho sobre la historia de nuestra iglesia y es muy bueno traduciendo el texto a un contexto de barrio que tenga sentido para la gente. Como el Papa Francisco, no hay nada pretencioso en ninguno de ellos.
Por favor asisten las próximas 2 platicas 5 de julio y 12 de julio. (ver el volante arriba)
Habla al Brian (520) 624-0312 para obtener una copia del libro ‘Alegraos y Regocijaos’.
por Brian Flagg
El Obispo Weisenburger dijo que todos nosotros necesitamos despertarnos y luchar a terminar las injusticias contra familias de inmigrantes. El insistió que esta tema es mas que todo una tema sobre moralidad.
BISHOP WEISENBURGER SPEAKS OUT!
by Brian Flagg
If you missed it you might want to check out Bishop Edward Weisenburger’s op-ed in the Daily Star, “Bishops Agree Family Separation Policy is Immoral” Wednesday, June 20, 2018.
He gained some national notoriety last week at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting for suggesting that they possibly consider ‘canonical penalties’ for those most responsible for separating families at the border. It was reported that canonical penalties include things from denying the Eucharist all the way to excommunication.
I thought his article was well written, passionate, and educational, especially about cannon law, the Church’s legal system.
But most importantly he talked about this being a huge moral issue and pledged that he and all his brother bishops will continue to seek every way possible to be of assistance to those suffering in our midst!
And the part I liked best was his admonition for all of us to awake from our slumber and walk in the ways of justice, truth and human rights!
Thanks Bishop!
By Poncho Moro
Poncho is a regular here at Casa Maria.
Most immigrants flee their country in search of a better future for their families. They search for a social justice that can rarely be found. A social justice that has been neglected in their country of birth. In some cases, these people cross three or four countries to reach their destination in the U.S. and to obtain the so called “American Dream.” For some, the American Dream is often broken and is nothing but a false illusion. Some lose their lives in their search, some are beaten, raped, imprisoned and robbed. At times, a great majority of undocumented people have US-citizen children and have adapted and created a culture of their own. These people have paid their taxes and helped enrich this country with many of their great abilities. Despite all the qualities that have helped form this country and made it so great, they are being arrested and being placed in detention centers regardless of how many years they have been living in this country and later on being sent to a place they no longer belong.
There are certain circumstances in which some of our young adults that were brought at a young age are being sent to a country in which they don’t even speak the language. Nowadays, the separation of families is so extreme that there have been over 1,500 kids the government has lost track of. Children are being separated from their parents and taken to places where they are being mentally abused, mistreated and even threatened to be raped. The people doing this shield themselves using the word of the Lord by saying that God once said to obey the government but I believe our Lord is merciful and we should not be doing this to innocent children. The immigration system is broken by hatred and racism.
No kid should be going through what these kids are going through. This is not what God would’ve wanted us to do. The government is stepping over every human right. Immigrants do not come to the U.S just for fun but out of necessity because their countries have been oppressed and monopolized, leaving them with extreme poverty, contamination, and with the very least necessities for survival. Not happy with monopolizing countries, they also make a corrupted government who steals away the little that the people have.
This country has become so heartless and inhumane to people in need. We no longer care about what those people have gone through. We are not merciful yet we still use the word of God to excuse us from our horrible behavior. Hundreds of families are being separated. Helpless mothers and fathers are being detained and imprisoned for a simple traffic stop in which there was a broken taillight or didn’t use their signals. It seems as if we stopped caring about our brothers and sisters. Recently, a family who was caught crossing the border was detained, and due to the frustration and not knowing where his family was, the father committed suicide. One of many Dreamers deported was assassinated three weeks after being sent to Mexico because he didn’t know anything. In Iowa, a nursery was raided, taking over 100 people and those people leaving their kids in day care. Those parents were never able to pick up their kids, they were forced to abandon their dreams. Will the nightmare ever end? Will undocumented families ever be able to reconnect with the loved ones they left behind in this great country? Our immigration system must change for future of our children. We are a wounded Pueblo in search of healing.
La mayoría de los inmigrantes huyen de su país en busca de un futuro mejor para sus familias. Vienen en busca de una justicia social que raras veces es encontrada. Una justicia social que se les fué negada en su País de orígen. En algunos casos, estas personas cruzan tres o cuatro países para poder llegar a su destino, los Estados Unidos y obtener el tan deseado “Sueño Americano.” Para algunos, el sueño americano es muchas veces quebrantado y termina siéndo nada más que una falsa ilusión. Algunos pierden su vida en esa búsqueda; son golpeados, violados, encarcelados y hasta robados. Una gran mayoría de indocumentados tienen hijos estadounidenses con los cuales se han adaptado y creado su propia cultura. Dichas personas han pagado sus impuestos y ayudado a enriquecer a este País con sus tantas buenas habilidades. A pesar de dichas cualidades que han ayudado a formar este País que lo han hecho grandioso, estas personas están siendo arrestadas, llevadas a centros de detención sin importar cuantos años llevan viviéndo en este País y después mandados a un lugar donde ya no pertenecen.
Hay algunos casos en que nuestros jóvenes adultos que fueron traídos a corta edad a este País están siendo mandados a un país en el cual no hablan el idioma. Hoy en día la separación de familias es tan extrema que hay más de 1,500 niños que el sistema ha perdido rastro. Los niños están siendo separados de sus padres y llevados a lugares en los cuales son abusados mentalmente, maltratados y amenazados con ser violados. La gente cometiéndo estas atrocidades se respaldan usando la palabra de Dios argumentando que la palabra de Dios dice que debemos obedecer al gobierno, pero yo siento que nuestro Señor es misericordioso y que no debemos de estar haciéndo esto a niños inocentes. El sistema de inmigración esta siéndo quebrantado por odio y racismo.
Ningún niño debería de estar pasando por este sufrimiento. Esto es algo que Dios no hubiera querido que hiciéramos. EL gobierno esta pisoteando todo tipo de derecho humano. Los inmigrantes no vienen a los Estados Unidos por diversión, están aquí por necesidad, porque en sus Países han sido oprimidos monopolizados, dejándolos en extrema pobreza, contaminación y lo mas mínimo para sobrevivir. Ya no contentos con monopolizar los Países más pobres, también hacen los gobiernos aún más corruptos y roban lo poco que la gente pobre tiene.
Este país se ha convertido tan cruel e inhumano hacia las personas con necesidad. Ya no nos importa por lo que otros han pasado. No tenemos misericordia y aun así utilizamos la palabra de Dios para justificar nuestros malos comportamientos. Cientos de familias están siendo separadas en este momento. Madres y padres indefensos están siendo detenidos y encarcelados por una simple infracción de tráfico en la cual tal vez solo tenían una luz quebrada o no usaron el direccional. Al parecer, nos dejaron de importar nuestros hermanos y hermanas. Hace algunos días, una familia fué detenida cruzando la frontera y por tanta frustración y por no saber dónde quedó su familia, el papá decidió suicidarse. Uno de tantos dreamers fué deportado a México siéndo asesinado tres semanas después por no saber donde estaba. En un invernadero de Iowa se hizo una redada y se llevaron a más de 100 personas que nunca pudieron regresar por sus hijos en las guarderías. Esos padres no se despidieron de sus hijos y fueron forzados a abandonar sus sueños. ¿Algún día acabará esta pesadilla? ¿Algún día las familias indocumentadas van a poder reconectarse con sus seres queridos que dejaron en este gran País? Nuestro sistema de inmigración debe de cambiar por el futuro de nuestros hijos. Somos un pueblo herido en busca de sanación.
Cesar Aguirre who lives and works hard on a daily basis at Casa Maria is an amazing rapper and makes his voice be heard by composing songs that expresses his feelings against injustice. Cesar has composed many mesmerizing songs that relate to every day struggles in the barrio.
From everyone at Casa Maria, we wish you an amazing year filled with joy along with your beautiful family. Happy Birthday Cesar!
Check out one of his many great songs, “Pink Sunrise”
by Brian Flagg
In case you missed it, the Daily Star had a story entitled ‘Seattle Backs Tax on Companies to Help Homeless’ (Tuesday, May 15, 2018).
City Council Members look on as members of the public speak at a Seattle City Council meeting where the council was expected to vote on a “Head Tax” Monday, May 14, 2018 in Seattle. the council is to vote on a proposal to tax large businesses such as Amazon and Starbucks to fight homelessness. The plan would tax large businesses about $500 a year per worker to raise about $75 million a year for homeless services and affordable housing. (AP photo/Elaine Thompson)
It tells how their City Council on Monday unanimously approved a tax on large businesses such as Amazon and Starbucks to fund the fight against homelessness after weeks of heated debate and raucous hearings. They will charge large businesses about $275 per full-time worker each year, lower than the $500 initially proposed. It will raise about $48 million a year to pay for affordable housing and homeless services.
Both Seattle and Tucson are filled with progressive voters.
The difference is that the elected officials in Seattle really support the interests and needs of the majority of their voters.
In Tucson the Democrats on the City Council march lock-step with the Mayor in his quest to do endless taxpayer giveaways (AKA incentives) to his developer buddies, with the end-product being the gentrification of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
Recent stories in the Star have documented how rents have skyrocketed downtown and how it is now impossible to purchase a downtown home for less than $350,000.
It’s time for us in Tucson to promote and elect some forward looking candidates who will represent a progressive agenda, one that aggressively fights poverty with meaningful amounts of public investment.
¿PUEDE SEATTLE REALMENTE TENER MUCHO MAS PROGRESO QUE TUCSON?
por Brian Flagg
¡Pienso que no!
Mi sueño y mi mete es que los politicos de Tucson sean como los politicos de Seattle.
Pienso que si es posible porque los votantes de los dos lugares son similares.
Esta semana los politicos de Seattle votaron para cobrar impuestos a compañías grandes como Amazon y Starbucks, para obtener dinero para viviendas para los pobres y también servicios para los homeless.
Los politicos en Seattle tienen corazón y están luchando por los derechos de toda su gente.
Aquí, nuestros politicos hablan como si tuvieran amor para los pobres pero ellos usan el dinero para recompensar a sus amigos ricos, especialmente en el downtown.
Ahora es mucho mas caro rentar o comprar una casa en el downtown.
Necesitamos encontrar candidatos nuevos en Tucson que van a apoyar a toda la gente.
If you didn’t already know Cesar Aguirre AKA Ceaze, who lives and works at Casa Maria with his two daughters, is also a rapper. But he doesn’t waste his talent rapping about nonsense, or glorifying drugs, alcohol and violence. He uses his talent to spread messages that matter, messages that impact the community. He raps about things that effect him and his kids… things like Red For Ed! Check it out here.
*Disclaimer- This song has not been endorsed or sponsored by Red For Ed, Arizona Educators United, Arizona Education Association, or any other association, union, group or organization. This is only the opinion of an angry parent!
This song goes out to all the teachers, parents, grandparents and community members that have sacrificed so much to make sure our kids are getting the education they deserve.
Voces de Casa Maria 