Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
Subscribe to get Bending the Arc in your inbox.
Remembering Sister Dorothy Stang
October 15, 2025
On October 7, 2025, St. Mary Springs Academy theology teacher, Mary Gentile, invited CSA Sisters and Associates to her classroom to attend any one of the presentations made to her four groups of students throughout the day on Sr. Dorothy Stang, SSNDdeN.
Sister Dorothy was an American-born Brazilian Catholic Religious Sister and missionary. She spent nearly four decades defending the rights of poor settlers as well as working to save the rainforest from powerful ranchers bent on destroying it for profit. She also developed over 30 schools in the Amazon with an education model that allowed graduates to go on teaching new students. Sister Dorothy was murdered in Anapu, Para in the Amazon Basin in 2005. You can read more about Dorothy here: https://www.sndohio.org/sister-dorothy
The presentation was extra special as it was led by two men. One being David Stang, one of Dorothy’s younger brothers. His pride in his sister was undeniable. He spoke often about the value and power of women that often gets ignored in today’s culture. The other presenter was Jim McGarry, an educator currently in San Francisco, who served as the Director of the Sister Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement at Notre Dame de Namur University. Mr. McGarry has decades of experience teaching ethics, social justice, and Holocaust studies at Catholic high schools in the San Francisco Bay area.
Sister Patricia “Trish” Weidman, CSA attended a morning presentation with me. She also reflected on the passion of the presenters in the telling of Dorothy’s work for justice, the little food and shelter S. Dorothy and the indigenous peoples got by with, and a memory that has stuck with her - recalling that Sister Dorothy was holding her bible before being shot six times.
Sister Trish added to the conversation that her friend and classmate, Sister Maureen Courtney, CSA, was also shot and killed in 1990 during the Nicaraguan Sandinista-Contra war. She did not die a martyr as Sr. Dorothy did, but it does show the extent Catholic Sisters go to fulfill their gospel call and pursuit of justice. The students were attentive and reflective during the presentation.
Sister Josephine Goebel, CSA, also attended the morning presentation because she knew of S. Dorothy’s ministry and her death defending the people of the Amazon and their sufferings to preserve their life and the life of the diverse Amazon ecosystem. Hearing from Dorothy’s brother and viewing the film made S. Dorothy’s commitment and sacrifice more real for S. Josephine. She is glad the students are engaging in this learning and understanding the importance of preserving the delicate balance of Earth’s resources. Students were challenged to live simpler and to ask themselves what they need, not want.
CSA Associate, Renee Waters, attended an afternoon presentation and found it "informative and enlightening.” Renee was impressed with how much one woman with determination could accomplish at 70 years old besides!!
For me, a question that Dorothy often asked has settled in my head and heart. The question is: “Why is it that only humans have a right to live?” This of course refers to the massive loss of species in the rainforests due to a handful of global giants extracting billions of dollars of raw materials (trees and habitat) from it every year. I learned one mature mahogany tree has a value of about $100,000. I posed a question for the students to get them thinking how this massive deforestation affects them here in Fond du Lac, WI. Many could connect the magnitude of the amount of oxygen the Amazon rainforest releases and the carbon dioxide its trees store for our benefit, as well as the water they give to our universe. I hope it also planted the seeds for some environmental activists. I will be praying for them! It is a dangerous job.
The presentation included watching a film, created by students Sam Clements and James Newton (as videographer), both from England. This is the only footage of Dorothy ever captured, but it has been used in the making of several documentaries since. The film, in four parts, can be accessed from here: https://www.sndohio.org/sister-dorothy/the-student-the-nun-and-the-amazon-film
Posted in
Cosmology & Creation
From Nadir to the Light of New Beginnings
October 15, 2025
In a September 27, 2025, article in the Gary [Indiana] Crusader, Rev. John Jackson shares an inspirational message about finding light in the darkness of our times. He starts by quoting the late Dr. Frederick G. Sampson who said, “There are times in life when we feel overcast by dreadful and foreboding shadows.” Shadows of insecurity, shadows of uncertainty, shadows of anxiety and fear. Yet, Dr. Sampson said, “Try not to get fixated on the shadows, because no solid object can cast a shadow itself. If there are shadows, that just means that a light is shining from somewhere. Find that light and focus on the light.”
Rev. Jackson goes on to list several Black trailblazers who overcame the nadir/darkness of our U.S. history as he acknowledges that we are experiencing another nadir in this “yet to be united states of America.” He suggests that “the nadir we are presently in cannot stop the light that has passed on to us to create a new beginning of light and hope. Shadows are still non-substantive, and the light is still shining. The death of the way things used to be will lead to the birth of a new reality if we focus on building as a community, rather than individually.”
He concludes by reminding us that “the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). We are the light of the world, my people, so shine! Be authentic, Be Encouraged and Stay Woke.”
Rev. Dr. John E.Jackson, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Gary, Indiana. Read his full article here: https://chicagocrusader.com/from-nadir-to-the-light-of-new-beginnings/
Posted in
Equity & Human Dignity
God Loves the Poor, Do We?
October 15, 2025
Per a National Catholic Reporter (NCR) article of October 9, 2025, the same date as the release of the apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te ("I Have Loved You"), Pope Leo XIV bluntly calls out inequality and indifference to the plight of the poor in the first major teaching document of his pontificate.
"In a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people," the pope wrote. “We must not let our guard down when it comes to poverty.”
Released on Oct. 9, the apostolic exhortation sets the tone for Leo's pontificate with a passionate call for solidarity with those on society's margins and calling charitable works "the burning heart of the Church's mission."
Read the full article at https://www.ncronline.org/pope-leo-blasts-elitism-indifference-toward-poor-first-major-document
Posted in
Poor & Vulnerable
The Way Home
October 15, 2025
The Franciscan Peace Center is offering a series of Movies that Matter. October’s screening is “The Way Home: We’re in This Together.”
View the documentary trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8as3EdNvbsA&t=1s
This mini-documentary focuses on how sustainable housing initiatives work to alleviate the problem of homelessness within our communities. Screening and discussion will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Register Here
Upon registration, you will receive a Zoom link to join the virtual group screening and conversation for The Way Home: We're in This Together.
If you have any questions about October's programming, please contact Director of Programming at the Franciscan Peace Center, Marsha Thrall, at mthrall@clintonfranciscans.com.
Posted in
Poor & Vulnerable
A Symbol of Solidarity
October 15, 2025
When the students of Tennessee’s Whitwell Middle School began studying the Holocaust as a way to learn about tolerance and diversity, nobody could have predicted the results. In 2001, the Paper Clip Project culminated in a unique memorial that changed the lives of those who created it, as well as touching Holocaust survivors and countless communities.
Because Norwegians invented the Paper Clip and used it as a visual of solidarity against the Nazis, students started collecting them to help visualize such vast numbers of victims. As word spread online and in the media, paper clips poured in from around the world, 11 million of which are enshrined in an authentic German railcar standing in the school yard.
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes will be showing this film on Tuesday, November 11 at 5:30 pm. This is being offered as an in-person screening only. The public is invited to join us. For those unable to attend in person, the DVD will be added to our JPIC Resource Library and can be checked out for personal use. Registration is Required. Please sign up here.
The Paperclip Resistance Movement has been revived in the United States. The paperclip represents the concept that we are bound together and has become a visual symbol of unity and resistance.
- Show the world you are not afraid to defend our democracy… wear a paperclip!
- Never allow yourself to normalize abuses of human rights… wear a paperclip!
- Never stop fighting for your rights and freedoms and the rights and freedoms of others… wear a paperclip!
Guests will be given a handful of paperclips to work on creating their own necklace during the film. We hope you can join us!!
Posted in
Peace & Nonviolence
Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue
October 09, 2025
Attention Milwaukee area residents...
People of all faiths and no faith, all spiritualities & theologies gather in small groups to share a meal & participate in a moderated discussion using a proven model, evoking deep exchanges about lived experiences & the role of faith &/or spirituality in their lives. Through exploration & dialogue, participants learn about the beliefs & traditions of others within an atmosphere of respect & understanding, & are empowered to stand as witnesses for tolerance & inclusion.
The next dinner is scheduled at Good Shepherd Trinity Church in Milwaukee on October 30 at 6 pm. Click here for more information and to register.
Posted in
Unity & Common Ground
Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition
October 09, 2025
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes endorsed the Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day, September 26. The number, breadth and diversity of endorsements is exciting. More than 560 organizations and 1100 individuals from 98 countries, covering all regions of the world, endorsed the appeal (see the list of countries below).
Endorsing organizations are from a range of fields including peace, disarmament, human rights, environment, sustainable development, youth and faith-based organizations. Endorsing individuals come from all walks of life – including parliamentarians, local body representatives, religious leaders, Nobel Laureates, former government ministers and UN officials, academics/scientists, medical professionals, youth leaders, business leaders, educators, retirees and more.
The appeal was presented to UN member States at the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting on September 26 by Dr. Deepshikha Kumari Vijh, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy and Coordination Team Member of NuclearAbolitionDay.org. Dr Vijh was one of only two civil society representatives invited by Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, to speak at the High-Level Session. The other civil society speaker was Satoshi TANAKA, Executive Board member of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
Please see Stop Nuclear Weapons: Leaders of the UN and Member States, Celebrities and Civil Society Called for Action on Nuclear Abolition Day, September 26, for a blog report on the presentation of the Joint Appeal to the UN, plus some other actions and events on Nuclear Abolition Day. If you are interested, you can watch the video of the September 26 UN High-Level Plenary meeting. The meeting was opened with speeches by the UN Secretary-General and President of the UN GA, followed by Presidents, Prime Ministers, foreign ministers and ambassadors, with the two civil society reps speaking near the end.
The Joint Appeal will be presented again to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on October 17. This committee, which includes representatives from all UN Member States, considers disarmament resolutions for adoption by the UNGA. The Joint Appeal will remain open for further endorsement until then. Sign on here.
Endorsements came from 98 countries, covering all regions of the world:
Aotearoa/New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cymru (Wales), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Erub/Yuwibara Territory (Australia), Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia/ Ma'ohi Nui, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Scotland, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tokelau, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Posted in
Peace & Nonviolence
Faith & the End of the Death Penalty
October 09, 2025
The Felician Sisters of North America's Justice & Peace and Integrity for Creation (JPIC) Office and Felician Services, Inc. (FSI), invite you to participate in a webinar with the captivating Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, whose Ministry Against the Death Penalty continues the momentum it built upon the publishing of Dead Man Walking in 1993. The webinar will occur at 6PM CDT on Tuesday, October 14.
The Abolition of the Death Penalty is a Corporate Stance of the Felician Sisters of North America. The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes has a similar corporate stance opposing the Death Penalty (visit https://www.csasisters.org/our-values/death-penalty.cfm for more information).
This webinar will be recorded and available to people who register. Please click here to register.
Posted in
Death Penalty & Restorative Justice
World Day Against the Death Penalty
October 09, 2025
Observed every 10 October, the World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global abolitionist movement and mobilizes civil society, political leaders, lawyers, public opinion and more to support the call for the universal abolition of capital punishment.
The day encourages and consolidates the political and general awareness of the worldwide movement against the death penalty.
On October 10, 2025, the World Day will be dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer. Learn more at https://worldcoalition.org/campagne/22nd-world-day-against-the-death-penalty/
Unfortunately, on this very day, October 10, 2025, an execution is scheduled in Michigan City, IN. Five more executions are scheduled for next week.
You are always invited to join Catholic Mobilizing Networks’s monthly virtual prayer vigils held the first Friday of every month at 1:00 pm CT to lament upcoming executions and to bear witness to the inviolable dignity of all human life. Register here.
Posted in
Death Penalty & Restorative Justice
National Migration Week
September 22, 2025
“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today I invite you to join us as keepers of hope - a hope that our Holy Father, Pope Leo, reminds us can be seen in the faithful witness of migrants and refugees. With one voice, we proclaim: every person, regardless of where they are born, is created in the image of God and has an inherent dignity that deserves respect.”
Bishop Mark Seitz
Watch Bishop Seitz’s video, introducing the Cabrini Pledge, a reminder of our Church and nation’s immigrant heritage, and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events. You can sign and share the pledge here: https://www.usccb.org/cabrinipledge
National Migration Week (NMW) runs Monday, September 22 — Sunday, September 28. Here is the USCCB press release and the Justice for Immigrants NMW page and toolkit.
Throughout the week, NMW will post daily on social media with themes related to migration and share interviews with bishops. Please follow and reshare these posts and videos.
Posted in
Trafficking & Migration