WASHINGTON, DC – This week, more than a dozen faith leaders and organizers with the PICO National Network from across the U.S. will head to the Vatican for a series of meetings with Pope Francis’ top advisors to pull the veil off economic exclusion and racism and to deepen the narrative, in advance of the papal visit, about what is really hurting families in America.
The visit is part of PICO’s ongoing, national efforts through its “Year of Encounter” campaign intended to offer context around economic exclusion, racism and some of the most pressing issues at the center of family struggles in the U.S., including low wages, criminalization of people of color, the immigration deportation machine and detention, and police brutality.
Sarah Nolan, Executive Director for NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFé) points out, “The purpose of our visit to Vatican City is to deepen the narrative about what is really destroying families in America and offer context to the racial, social and economic issues that families battle in their everyday lives.”
The interfaith delegation represent a cross section of visitors, including a pastor and member of the Ferguson commission, a formerly undocumented priest from California, a DREAMER from Florida and a protestant African American bishop from Philadelphia- the poorest big city in the country and the location of the World Families meeting and mass in September.
Their visit comes just after a meeting last month with Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez at the Year of Encounter’s kickoff meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
Nolan added, “Our Roman Catholic Bishop, Oscar Cantu, and our Catholic leaders are excited to form Year of Encounter study groups that will begin this summer in their congregations.” She explained, “We live in a culture of exclusion and division. The only way to combat this is to pull the veil off economic exclusion and racism by sharing our stories.”
Faith leaders will share personal stories and experiences from New Mexico and other states. Several delegation members will Tweet live, share video blogs and other updates. We welcome you to follow their trip via@PICOnetwork.
**Below you will find a list of the delegation members**
-Father John Baumann (CA), PICO's Founding Director & Director of Special Projects
-Rev. Traci Blackmon (MO), Pastor Christ, The King United Church of Christ
-Sr. Maureen Brown, (CA) Faith leader with the San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP)
-Joe Fleming (NJ), Executive Director, Faith in New Jersey
-Rev. Alvin Herring, Deputy Director, PICO National Network
-Michael-Ray Mathews, (CA), Director of Clergy Organizing, PICO
-Pastor Michael McBride (CA), Director, LIVE FREE Campaign
-Father Jesus Nieto-Ruiz, (CA) Our Lady of Rosary Church, Oakland Community Organizations
-Nancy Palacios (FL), Lead Community Organizer. Faith in Florida
-Bishop Dwayne Royster (PA), Executive Director, Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower & Rebuild (POWER)
-Doran Schrantz (MN), Executive Director, ISAIAH
-Sarah Silvafierro (Nolan), Executive Director, CAFé, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe
-Deacon Allen Stevens, (LA), St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, New Orleans
-Scott Reed, (CA), Executive Director, PICO