Bending the Arc

According to a December 10 article from CommonDreams.org, The richest 0.001% now own three times more wealth than the poorest half of humanity combined.

A landmark report on global inequality published Wednesday shows that the chasm between the richest slice of humanity and everyone else continued to expand this year, leaving the top 0.001%—fewer than 60,000 multimillionaires—with three times more wealth than the poorest half of the world’s population combined.

The global wealth gap has become so staggering, and its impact on economies and democratic institutions so corrosive, that policymakers should treat it as an emergency, argues the third edition of the World Inequality Report, a comprehensive analysis that draws on the work of hundreds of scholars worldwide. Ricardo Gómez-Carrera, a researcher at the World Inequality Lab, is the report’s lead author.

The choices we make in the coming years will determine whether the global economy continues down a path of extreme concentration or moves toward shared prosperity.

Read the full article here
 

Pope Leo’s response to the recent international meeting on climate change (COP30) was “This (Paris Agreement) has delivered progress, but not enough. Hope and determination must be renewed, not only in words and aspirations but also in concrete actions.” He also stated “creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat. One in three people lives in great vulnerability because of these climate changes. To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity.” “There is still time to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5°C (2.7° F), but the window is closing. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift he entrusted to us.”

Slow progress has been documented since the original adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The Rhodium Group, an independent research organization, released a 2025 report that shows the world has missed the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target (for 2100) and predicts a warming in the range of 2.3 – 3.4 degrees Celsius by 2100. According to the report, the United States has not substantially altered/lowered its global emissions trajectory, while a number of other countries have improved. However, their future prediction for the US is optimistic. “We find the US is on track to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 26-41% in 2040 relative to 2005 levels. On the way to 2040, we estimate GHG emissions levels will decline 26-35% in 2035.” However, the country cannot return to mining more fossil fuels to reach these goals.

Most people do not view carbon emissions reductions as part of their responsibility; many people are simply overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. Some basic ways individuals can reduce carbon emissions include:

• driving less
• using public transportation when its available
• flying less
• turning off lights and devices and unplugging devices
• buying less
• supporting local farmers and businesses
• eating less meat
• composting food waste (non-protein based)
• opting out of gas-powered devices when possible
• voting for elected officials who support environmental and human health protections.

Start off 2026 with some of the above New Year’s resolutions!

Pope Leo’s statement is worth repeating: “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift entrusted to us.”
 

On December 8, Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) hosted a very special “fireside chat” with two families who were brought together by a tragedy - a daughter was shot by her fiance. In the wake of her death, the daughter’s parents were moved to forgiveness through their Catholic faith. Hear the powerful stories of how the Grosmarie and McBride families’ own experience with restorative justice led them to work for the benefit of the community and social justice nationwide.

The recording is now available here

If you’re not familiar with these amazing people, you are also encouraged to listen to their episode of CMN’s Encounter With Dignity podcast. 
 

The following article was written on December 9, 2025, by Rev. Jeffrey S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee:

“Before his passing, the late Pope Francis designated December 14, 2025, as a Jubilee for Prisoners, inviting the Church to lift up our sisters and brothers who are incarcerated and to renew our commitment to mercy, dignity and hope.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is blessed to have its own Office for Jail and Prison Ministry which is shepherded by Dcn. Jim Matthias and Ms. Susan McNeil along with the generous support of a number of priests and deacons who accompany those who are incarcerated by administering the sacraments and providing pastoral care.

Additionally, we are favored by the presence of the Thrive for Life Prison Project which is a Catholic prison ministry whose mission is to transform lives both behind and beyond the prison walls. Founded by Fr. Zach Presutti, S.J., Thrive for Life offers a continuity of care model for highly committed and motivated individuals who choose to continue their education while living in a supportive residential community. Learn more here.

This past March, Thrive for Life opened the first House of Studies in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Joseph House. There, individuals re-entering from incarceration are able to live in a stable, supportive community as they pursue their education and take the next steps toward rebuilding their lives.

With these ministries in mind and in an effort to respond to the call for a Jubilee for Prisoners, next weekend, December 13-14, will be observed as Prison Ministry Weekend throughout the archdiocese.

I am aware that some of our parishes will be hosting volunteers from Thrive for Life and Joseph House who will speak briefly at Masses to share about the prison ministry taking place here in the archdiocese.

The goals envisioned for Prison Ministry Weekend by Thrive for Life are fourfold:

1. To share the mission of Thrive for Life and raise awareness about their ministry within the archdiocese.
2. To identify families and friends who have loved ones currently incarcerated so that they can receive a monthly newsletter and experience a pastoral connection.
3. To galvanize and form a volunteer base willing to participate in days of reflection and retreat ministry behind the walls.
4. To build a clear pathway of continuity of care for all those returning home from prison who desire to continue their education in a supportive living community at Joseph House.

Moreover, our Office for Jail and Prison Ministry has made available bulletin notices and flyers with information concerning the following:

Dismas Ministry

Through free Bibles, prayer books, catechisms and Scripture-based study courses, Dismas Ministry supports chaplains, volunteers, and our sisters and brothers in prison. Their mission is to restore dignity, offer hope and nurture spiritual healing through God’s Word. Learn more here.

Friends Through Pens

A simple but transformative pen-pal ministry that connects volunteers with incarcerated women and men through handwritten letters. A small gesture of friendship can ease isolation, encourage personal growth and remind someone that they are not forgotten. Learn more here.

Ultimately, my hope is to raise awareness and help others to recognize that the Catholic Church’s mission is also one of accompanying our sisters and brothers who are behind prison walls. They too deserve to hear the Good News.”

As I do for you, please pray for me,

Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee

This article can be viewed online here.

Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life offered yet another wonderful conversation on December 4. Latino Leaders gathered for “Making Life Unbearable: The Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Families and Communities.” If you missed it, the recording is now available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9C1OfFPXL8

A version of the recording with Spanish subtitles will be available on the dialogue’s webpage next week. You can view other resources from the dialogue here.

“The fear is something that has honestly shaken the community to our core, and it's a fear that follows you. It follows you everywhere. Into your kitchen, into your workplace, into your church. And you see it a lot. We've seen a lot of the raid activity. At one point it was every single day, back to back. You would open up social media and hundreds of sightings, hundreds of recordings. We've seen helicopter raids, apartment complexes being raided while families were sleeping. Babies being zip tied in the middle of the night. Hundreds of warrantless arrests. My home parish back at home was surrounded by federal officers during the Mass service, and just imagine the fear of the people who are there in hopes of having some sense of community in a place that feels safe, in a place that unites us where we're united, where we're together. That was deteriorated.”

—Roxana Rueda Moreno, community leader at Iskali, in the December 4 Latino Leader Gathering on “‘Making Life Unbearable’: The Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Families and Communities.
 

Our country is more divided than ever, with too many of us isolated from those who hold different views. This division damages our communities, disrupts our families, and stops us from working together for the common good. Braver Angels works hard to change that. Braver Angels is leading the nation's largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. They believe our nation can survive and thrive for every American who contributes to the effort. 

Of the numerous programs Braver Angels offers us, one of my favorites is the 1:1 conversation experience. My first 1:1 conversation was a “Red/Blue,” meaning, I was paired with someone with different political views than I. His name is Paul and he lives in Connecticut. Braver Angels provided us a well-outlined guide for the two of us to engage in self-directed, non-facilitated conversation. Our conversations were one hour each and we met via Zoom. We became friends so easily that we have continued to meet beyond the two initial conversations encouraged. We look forward to our conversations. We take turns developing ideas for questions and then agree on three of them ahead of our meeting. We both appreciate how refreshing it is to talk civilly about views we see differently on without feeling like we are going to be attacked. As you might imagine, we even find quite a bit that we agree on!

Braver Angels offers several 1:1 conversation types including:

• Conversations Across Generations - connecting one person 18-30 with one person 61+
• Immigration - connecting two people with differing views on immigration
• Race, Ethnicity and Culture - connecting two people from different racial, ethnic or cultural groups
• The Golden Rule - connecting people from different states for a discussion on The Golden Rule
• … and more!

Another experience that I have appreciated quite a bit are the national debates. These are offered online and in person. I found that by attending the online debates, I was able to sit and simply listen to what each side was saying. After a few, I got brave enough to insert a question to someone with a different view than me.

I highly encourage EVERYONE to browse the website to learn more and find an experience that feels right for you.

Braver Angels also has local alliances with two here in Wisconsin, one in Milwaukee and one in Green Bay.

Give yourself a gift this holiday season. Give Braver Angels a try! You can become a member for only $12/year. 

 

Abiinooji Aki, Inc. announces their 2026 Women and Water Indigenous Clean Water Summit September 24-27, 2026 in Lac Courte Oreilles, WI. Early Bird Registration open NOW through January 3, 2026.

This summit is for all nations, all ages, all walks of life, but there is a special call for Catholic Sisters this year.

Native American Grandmothers and Aunties will be opening their hearts, thoughts and spirits to your needs and offering you methods that can help you gain strength and wisdom for the struggles of life. We need, as women, to come together for the sake of Mother Earth. We need each other for strength and fortitude to combat the lack of support for clean water. Women are the life givers and our responsibilities go deep. We are looked upon to maintain life in all forms. We provide life for the future and we make sure life continues, just as Mother Earth does.

Learn more here: https://www.spiritofthewater.org/ 

December 10 is International Human Rights Day. The 2025 theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials.” Learn more here.

December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron of the Americas. During this time of heightened anxiety amongst the immigrant community in the United States, when we see appalling displays of violation of human dignity, Pax Christi USA invites you to consider praying especially for immigrants using this prayer service. Feel free to adapt it in whatever way is useful for you and your community.

Use this link to download the PDF

In a December 10 reflection from Josephine Garnem, Chair of the National Council for Pax Christi USA, she writes: “As we move into this holy season of Advent, we remember another migrant family—young, vulnerable, seeking refuge from violence to protect the life of their unborn child. This sacred story echoes in the lives of families here in the United States who have crossed deserts, oceans, and borders with nothing but hope in their hands and the desire for a future for their children. They, too, are seeking peace, hospitality, and the chance simply to rest.

So we must ask ourselves, as peacemakers: What is ours to do, right now? How do we embody the pope’s call for a less violent Middle East and a world that is hanging onto peace by fraying threads? How do we stay awake, alert, and open-hearted to the migrants at our own doorstep? How do we cultivate the courage of that innkeeper who, despite all limitations, said: ‘Come. I can help. In my home, all are welcome.’”

Here are additional resources from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns:
Advent Reflection Guide: Walking with God
Faith-filled Resistance to Immigration Enforcement