Bending the Arc

“Can you tell me more?”
“Thanks for explaining this. Do you mind if I share a different view?”
“I could be wrong, but it’s my understanding that…”
“Thanks for talking with me; a lot of folks won’t talk to people they disagree with.”

These are just a few of several suggested “Dignity Phrases” offered by The Dignity Index, an 8-point scale that measures how we treat each other when we disagree. Dignity.Us works in classrooms, universities, workplaces, communities, faith groups, and public life across the country. They teach and train on the Dignity Index, share dignity practices and skills, and nurture our growing dignity community.

On October 21 & 22, 2026, Alexa Merrill from The Dignity Index came to Fond du Lac and presented to students at Marian University and finished a 3-part speaker series for the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes at the Prairie Theater and Event Center.

Alexa explained the eight points on the scale, each one representing a particular mindset toward the other side, ranging from ONE - which sees no dignity at all on the other side - to EIGHT, which sees the dignity in everyone, no matter what.

You can watch Alexa’s 45-minute presentation on CSA’s YouTube channel and stay tuned in for the Q&A that followed.

In addition to reviewing a scoring guide, Alexa provided information for how one might be a Dignity Voter by challenging everyone to believe when we treat each other with dignity, we can ease divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems. This starts with ourselves - a personal commitment to treat others with dignity, even when we disagree. A second step is to ask political candidates to join us; challenge them to lead by example and treat all voters and other candidates with dignity. Finally, invite others to become dignity voters too. Find ways to engage and join the movement at dignity.us/dignity-voter
 

Faith leaders are encouraged to sign on to a letter urging their Senators to co-sponsor and support S.4814 that will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians for three years. The Department of Homeland Security terminated TPS for approximately 350,000 Haitians in the United States effective July 27, 2026.

Extending TPS would allow our Haitian neighbors to continue to live and work legally and safely in the United States while supporting their families and contributing to their communities. Without TPS, they face possible detention and deportation to Haiti, where rampant gang violence, food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and the breakdown of rule of law have created dire conditions.

Read the full letter.

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes continues to respond to those whose faith life or human dignity are threatened, and their Leadership Team has co-signed this letter. Other faith leaders, religious organizations, and congregations can join them by adding their name to the letter. Organizations are urged to sign on no later than 12:00 pm ET Tuesday, October 27.

A documentary debuted on PBS this week that includes firsthand footage in Haiti and interviews with Haitians there are locally in Springfield, OH. This film is highly recommended.
 

The group, Catholics in Communion, is offering a Virtual Election Novena to pray, reflect and act in communion November 1 through November 9 at 6:30 pm CT each of the nine evenings. Together, participants will pray utilizing the USCCB's Novena for Faithful Citizenship, share prayers of the faithful, check in with local communities holding vigil across the country, and hear about the latest election related news and opportunities to act to ensure all citizens can meaningfully participate and all legal votes are counted. Sign up for resources. You will be emailed the Zoom link after you register.

Additionally, The Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR) will be offering an Election Novena October 26 - November 5 with a virtual prayer vigil throughout the day on November 3 - Election Day. A 10-minute contemplative prayer will be posted for each day on the LCWR website. The daily prayer will be posted by 7:30 pm on the preceding day, with the first posting on Sunday evening, October 25. The daily posting will allow the prayer to be responsive to what is happening in our world, in our lives, and in our congregations. 

On Election Day, November 3, LCWR will also be offering a virtual 24-Hour Prayer Vigil. Simply join with this Zoom link any time during the day, 12 am - 12 pm. 

The USCCB offers these 10 Ways You can Take Action for Faithful Citizenship, which includes this novena. 
 

Jeffrey Weisheit is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Indiana for the murders of Alyssa and Caleb Lynch. Please hold Jeffrey, Alyssa, Caleb, their families, and the people of Indiana in prayer. 
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Michael Taylor is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Alabama for the murders of Ivan and Lucille Moore. Please hold Michael, Ivan, Lucille, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. 
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Jesse Guardado is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Florida for the murder of Jackie Malone. Please hold Jesse, Jackie, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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James Pavatt is scheduled to be executed on November 12 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Rob Andrew. Please hold James, Rob, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. 
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John Allen Rubio is scheduled to be executed on November 12 by the state of Florida for the murders of Julissa Quesada, John E. Rubio and Mary Jane Rubio. Please hold John, Julissa, John E., Mary Jane, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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Reinaldo Dennes is scheduled to be executed on November 19 by the state of Texas for the murder of Janos Szucs. Please hold Reinald, Jano, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution by the U.S. Military on December 3, for the Fort Hood shooting in Texas, in which he killed 13 soldiers and injured 32 others. Please hold Nidal and all service members and their families in prayer.

Nidal Hasan's stated motivation is to become a martyr. Executing him fulfills that wish, providing him a platform to inspire other religious extremists to replicate his action. Throwing away the key on him will provide severe punishment while not giving him a platform to inspire more terrorist attacks.

If carried out, this would be the first U.S. Military execution since 1961, and it comes at a time when the public is becoming more and more concerned about the use of the death penalty in light of recent failed executions, as well as with a number of other problematic issues regarding mental illness, race, intellectual disability, problematic attorneys and judges, and more.

Please sign the petition asking U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump to call off this execution.

Want to do more? Please consider attending First Friday Prayer Vigils with Catholic Mobilizing Network. The next vigil is scheduled for November 6, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT, featuring a Scripture reflection from Most Reverend Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento.  

You can also take action and oppose upcoming executions at https://catholicsmobilizing.org/our-work/death-penalty/executions/ 

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes goes on record as being opposed to the death penalty. 
 

A recent report from Midwest Environmental Advocates shares the great news that, with their help, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over the proposed use of an aquatic herbicide that threatened wild rice beds within the Menominee Reservation.

The case began in February 2025 when Legend Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District applied to the DNR for a permit to treat parts of Legend Lake with an herbicide known to harm wild rice. The Tribe challenged DNR’s decision to issue the permit, which led to months of negotiations.  

The Tribe’s connection to wild rice—and its interest in managing Legend Lake—is difficult to overstate. “Menominee” literally translates to “wild rice people.” Legend Lake was created in the 1960s as part of an economic development plan following the termination of the Tribe’s federal recognition. The project dammed and dredged eight natural lakes where wild rice had historically flourished. Legend Lake’s legacy remains intertwined with the Tribe’s sovereignty and efforts to restore wild rice.

Under the settlement finalized in September, the DNR will no longer permit chemical herbicides where wild rice is growing or being seeded, or in designated sensitive aquatic habitats. The agency also agreed to update sensitive area designations based on Tribal input and consult with the Tribe before approving future chemical applications.  
 

On Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11 am CT in the U.S. and 8:00 pm in Jerusalem, Lutheran Peace Fellowship is hosting a conversation with Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, former President of the Lutheran World Federation and retired Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. You are invited to attend. Registration required at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3FNwOh79TSKscSbU3QnnOg.

You can prepare by watching Stolen Stories | Episode 1: Nakba | ELCA Sumud

“Stolen Stories” is a 5-part educational video series, produced by ECLA Samud. In these short videos you can listen to the voices of Palestinian Christians as they recount their historical narrative from pre-1948 to present day. This series highlights the important perspectives of our Palestinian siblings in Christ and lifts up the experiences of Palestinians-- especially the indigenous Christians of Palestine and Israel-- in their own words. In “Stolen Stories”, Palestinian Christian pastors, bishops, and scholars offer important contextual, historical, and theological framework that continues to shape life in Palestine and Israel today.

After the administration ended a contract that paid attorneys to represent unaccompanied minors, more than 20,000 children have been left to represent themselves in immigration court, before a judge and government prosecutor speaking often in a language they don't know. The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act (HR 9259/S 1297) would ensure that every unaccompanied minor who faces immigration court is represented by a lawyer and not alone in the process. Join the United Church of Christ and tell Congress to pass this important legislation.

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Grist is an independent news magazine who reports on the climate and environment and their intersections with energy, policy, food, extreme weather, and more.

They’ve dug up a century of evidence that shows how fossil fuel companies sold a vision of prosperity - from the family care to the dream kitchen - that depended on their own products. 
We are literally prisoners of this system that fuels climate change and unhealthy conditions. How can we extricate ourselves and Earth from the ongoing damage? The following article by Grist Magazine's Kate Yoder examines how this happened to us under the radar in many pervasive ways. Read the full story.