Justice Declaration of the 2005 Provincial Chapter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Province

We Felician Sisters, empowered by our mission of cooperating with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world, declare our commitment to live the words of our Constitutions, Response to Love:

“In response to the call of the Church and the signs of the times, we work to alleviate injustice and collaborate in the mission of human advancement.” (Chapter V, p. 67)

Moreover, we seek to fulfill the Congregational goal:

“To promote the Gospel of Life by promoting the dignity of the human person especially that of women and children.” (Statement of the Biennial Assembly, 2002)

Therefore, as Franciscan women,

• We direct our efforts to alleviate the plight of marginalized children -- orphans, migrants, refugees, victims of poverty and abuse-- emulating the compassion of our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela.

• We believe that every person has a right to a life of dignity. Therefore, we strive to be educated about human trafficking , especially of women and children, and support all efforts to eliminate it.

• We affirm the sanctity of life from conception until natural death and reject the use of public funding for embryonic stem cell research, while supporting the use of adult stem cells for research. We deplore experimentation in human cloning.

• We commit ourselves to the preservation and sustainability of the gift of creation in our corporate and personal practices.

We, the chapter delegates of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Province, pledge ourselves to fulfill these resolutions with compassion, integrity, and in collaboration with others, so that the justice of God may reign.