Bending the Arc

Wear Orange Weekend is a gun violence advocacy event that occurs during the first weekend of June. Wear Orange Weekend 2025 is from June 6 to June 8.

WHY WEAR ORANGE? 

In January 2013, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. To honor her memory, Hadiya’s family and friends chose to wear orange – the color that hunters wear to protect themselves by staying visible. Since 2015, Hadiya’s loved ones and advocates all over the country wear orange on the first weekend of June – still seeking to be visible, to be seen. Wear Orange Weekend serves as a call to action, to make our voices heard, and to remember the victims of gun violence in our country.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

• Wear Orange: Show your support by wearing the color of the movement. You may choose to wear your orange stoles during this weekend. You can also shop for official Wear Orange merchandise.
• Social Media Advocacy: Share photographs of yourself in orange, post stories about gun violence prevention, or use hashtags like #WearOrange to connect with others online and spread the message of gun violence prevention advocacy. You may also choose to post from the Wear Orange Weekend social media package.
• Talk About Gun Violence and Wear Orange Weekend in Your Church: You can access the Wisconsin Council of Churches’ “Who Is My Neighbor?” study action guide on our website at this link. This guide works as a great resource to plan worship services and lead discussions in your church about gun violence. Denominational sources on gun violence prevention below. You may choose to put our Wear Orange Weekend insert in your church bulletin, which can be found for download here.
• Connect with Local Groups in Your Area: Try connecting with local groups, especially if you would like to collaborate on an event. You can reach out to other churches in your area, as well as groups like Moms Demand Action and WAVE.

This information was shared by the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Their Wear Orange Weekend 2025 Packet is now available for download.

**Fond du Lac area Sisters and Associates are encouraged to wear orange on Thursday, May 29 and meet at the Court and Center Dining Room at Noon for a group photo!
 

On April 1, the Interfaith Peace Working Group of Wisconsin offered a special presentation called, “To Whom Does the Land Belong.” This featured Dennis Olson, who served as a professor of Old Testament Theology and Chair of the Biblical Studies Department at Princeton Theological Seminary.

The four areas Professor Olson addressed are:

What are some of the key Old Testament texts related to the people Israel and the land of Canaan/Palestine, and how have they been used on various sides of the conflict?

How do some Palestinian Christian scholars read and interpret the Old Testament promises of the land to Israel? The discussion includes the debate between OT scholar Walt Brueggeman and Palestinian scholar Mitri Raheb.

What are some Old Testament texts that seem to reject the notion that Israel alone is God’s chosen people or that the land of Canaan rightfully belongs to them?

What are other OT texts that might contribute to work toward peaceful or multi-state solutions for this conflicted land?

You can hear Professor Olson’s responses to these questions and more with this recording
 

In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that companies were voluntarily phasing out the use of “forever chemicals” or PFAS, in food packaging, including fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and takeout containers. In a February 28, 2024, Washington Post article, Jim Jones, deputy commissioner for human foods at the time, said “the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS is from food packaging.”

The article also suggests these ways you can minimize your exposure to PFAS from the foods you eat:

• Cut back on fast food (and greasy wrappers)
• Skip microwave popcorn
• Avoid nonstick cookware
• Store leftovers in glass containers
• Drink filtered water
• Check the source of the fish you eat

One of the biggest concerns is when harmful food packaging ends up in a landfill. PFAS are called forever chemicals because of their ability to persist in the environment for hundreds, even thousands of years. As the paper disintegrates over time, the PFAS collects in the landfill leachate, which can end up in water supplies and irrigation water, and thus our drinking water and into our environment. Read more here.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 158 million Americans are exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. A landmark water standard was implemented last year, limiting public exposure to six common PFAS contaminants. The regulations gave the 66,000 public water systems in the U.S, until 2029 to comply with the new standards.

Last June, trade associations representing water utilities filed suit against the EPA, challenging the science and data underlying the drinking water standard and its timetable for meeting it. According to the agency’s estimates, the standard would cost utilities about $1.5 billion a year.

Unfortunately, just this week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their plans to rescind and reconsider drinking water standards for four forever chemicals that have been linked to a range of illnesses. The EPA said these changes will “protect Americans from PFOS in their drinking water while providing common sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance.” The deadline for compliance extended from 2029 to 2031. Read more here.

Some argue that while this is a win for chemical companies, it isn’t a win for American public health.

In May 2005, under a rushed and undemocratic process, the U.S. Congress passed the REAL ID Act, requiring all states to check immigration status before issuing a driver’s licenses or state ID, and to only issue driver’s licenses to persons who are US citizens or have legal status. Despite community efforts led by groups like Wisconsin’s Voces de la Frontera to block implementation, the state passed a state law in March 2006 entitled Act 126, which took effect on April 1, 2007, in anticipation of the REAL ID Act. Under Act 126, undocumented immigrants and people who do not have a social security number can no longer renew or obtain a driver’s license or state identification. Since then, the struggle to restore state driver licenses and state IDs for immigrants has been an ongoing struggle in Wisconsin and nationally.

A lack of access to driver’s licenses is not limited to undocumented individuals, however. Low-income US citizens, especially people of color, have also been affected by stringent laws that limit access to affordable driver’s education and penalize those who do not have the funds to pay their traffic and parking tickets. In 2016, 60% of license suspensions were due to unpaid fines rather than infractions related to unsafe driving. These harsh practices have disproportionately criminalized Black, Brown and low income working class drivers, fueling mass incarceration, voter disenfranchisement, and creating barriers for people to access healthcare, school and other vital services that require an ID. 

Throughout his first four-year term as Governor of Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers championed the restoration of driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.  His efforts have been met with opposition.  
Winning drivers licenses for all would not just benefit immigrants, it would have a major impact on all Wisconsinites. The Wisconsin Budget Project, an initiative of Kids Forward, noted in their Widen the Roads report the benefits of providing driver licenses to undocumented individuals, such as lower insurance costs for all drivers, greater access to gainful employment, and safer roads overall.

Voces de la Frontera continues to work with Governor Evers and pressuring the Wisconsin State Legislature to pass legislation restoring access to driver’s licenses for all regardless of immigration status, and ending the practice of suspending licenses solely due to inability to pay fines. To achieve this goal will require a year-round bottom up organizing effort to lobby our state legislators, continued participation in the electoral arena to support candidates that support access to driver licenses, and building alliances with others to challenge discriminatory policies that undermine public safety. After decades of organizing, there is broad community support for restoring driver licenses for immigrants that cuts across party lines.

If you’d like to join this effort, visit https://vdlf.org/driver-licenses-for-all/. There are opportunities for community sign-on letters for business owners, farmers, religious leaders, law enforcement, and elected officials.

It is time to make Wisconsin’s roads safer and more accessible for all. Visit https://wisconsinforsaferoads.org/ 
 

Braver Angels is a nonpartisan organization uniting “red and blue” citizens in a working alliance to depolarize America. They envision an American with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation. They embrace values of respect, humility, honesty, and responsible citizenship. The goal of Braver Angels conversations is not to change people’s views of issues, but to change their views of each other.

One thing Braver Angels (BA) does incredibly well is host online debates. In national debates, participants join from across the country to share their perspectives on hot political issues affecting us all. Debates are moderated in which persons on all sides of the issue are able to equally speak in a shared, safe space. Just last week, BA hosted an inaugural Wisconsin-only debate, which was a huge success.

You can participate in the next National Debate on May 20 at 7 pm CT. The topic will be Resolved: Social media companies should fact-check users’ posts. What do you think? Register to participate or just watch, listen and learn. 

To learn more about the principles that guide debates, check out this short intro video. To learn more about the structure of debates, watch this short sample debate or watch a highlight reel.

Register here for may 20

On May 31 at 1 pm CT, you are invited to a special BA national workshop called Families & Politics. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Participants will learn what (often combative) roles family members typically play in conversations about politics. If you want to preserve important family bonds while staying true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop will give insights into why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging, and offer you strategies and skills for handling family political differences in a constructive way. It won’t be all as super-serious as it sounds; be prepared for some fun during this workshop too!

Register here for May 31

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Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life invites us to a dialogue on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 6:00-7:00 pm CST. This will be livestreamed and recordings are available afterwards.

Latinos are a major force in the U.S. Catholic Church that will define the direction of U.S. Catholicism for generations. At the same time, in the midst of deepening polarization, the role of Latinos in shaping U.S. culture and politics is complex and evolving. 

This dialogue will explore what it means to engage in public life as Latinos/as and Catholics in a society shaped by ideological, political, and social fragmentation. As the Church weighs how to engage the country in defense of immigrants, in support of poor children and families, to prevent the destruction of the environment, and to protect the life and dignity of all, Latino Catholic ministry, media, education, and intellectual life can offer distinctive ways forward.

Focusing on the ecclesial and cultural institutions built and sustained by Latino Catholics in the United States, this conversation will explore a vision for the future of Latino pastoral and political action, considering how Latinos can guide the Catholic Church into a new era of engagement in U.S. political life.

Please RSVP
 

One of Francis' popemobiles, which the late pontiff used to greet thousands of people, will be turned into a mobile health clinic to help the children of Gaza.

Following a request by Pope Francis, the vehicle used during his visit to Bethlehem in 2014 is being refitted with everything needed for frontline care in a war zone, charity organisation Caritas, which is overseeing the project, said.

"There'll be rapid tests, suture kits, syringes, oxygen supplies, vaccines and a small fridge for storing medicines," it explained in a statement.

The Vatican said it was the pope's "final wish for the children of Gaza" before he died last month. The vehicle is currently in Bethlehem, and will enter Gaza if and when Israel opens a humanitarian corridor. Let’s pray the late Pope Francis gets his wish.

Read more in this BBC article earlier this week.

Wisconsin’s Interfaith Peace Working Group invites you to an in-person presentation by Rev. Khader el-Yateem called, Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide.

Thursday, May 29 at 7 pm at Midvale Lutheran Church, 4329 Tokay Blvd, Madison.

Israel’s extreme violence in Gaza and the West Bank is uprooting entire communities, destroying homes, displacing civilians, many of them children, and depriving inhabitants of food, water, shelter and medical care. This violence is putting the continued existence of the entire Gazan people at risk and making each day a struggle for their survival. The question is no longer when peace will come, but whether the people of Gaza and the West Bank will survive long enough to see it. This presentation aims to shed light on the lived experiences of Palestinians under siege, the international silence surrounding their suffering and the resilience they continue to show in the face of what many are calling a slow, unfolding genocide. It will also lift up some of the resistance to Israel’s action in Gaza that is going on around the world.

If you cannot make it to Madison, please familiarize yourself with what is happening from this one-page debriefing from The Week about “The West Bank Settlers.”

Rev. El-Yateem, a highly respected Arab-American leader and community organizer, was born in Bethlehem in 1968 and emigrated to the United States in 1992. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and a bachelor’s degree from the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. One of Rev. El-Yateem’s primary focuses is promoting open dialogue and unity, especially among Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Rev. El-Yateem serves as Executive Director for Service and Justice at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prior to this appointment, Rev. El Yateem served as the Assistant to the Bishop and the Director for Evangelical Mission in the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA.

CO-SPONSOR: South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA