Conscious Of The Injustices

I came across this article in the Washington Post, written by Amanda Erickson, "Women are poorer, more hungry and more discriminated against than men, according to a new U.N. report. The report, called "Turning Promises Into Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" looks at how women around the world are faring. There are 122 women ages 25 to 34 who live in extreme poverty for every 100 men in that group, the report said. The percentage of women living in poor households hovers at about 12.8 percent. For men, it's 12.3 percent. That means about 5 million more women are struggling. It's harder for women to escape poverty, the report said, because women have less access to jobs and economic opportunities. In many places, the laws make it impossible for women to inherit wealth, own land and access credit. And when women do find jobs, they are often paid less than men. Maternal death continues to be a major problem. Globally, 303,000 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2015. And low-income women are particularly vulnerable. This is true in the US, too, the only developed country where the rate of maternal deaths is growing.   The U.N. also said that 1 in 5 women and girls ages 15 to 49 reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner in the last 12 months. The report also found that women are more likely to face legalized discrimination. "While progress has been significant, discriminatory constitutional and legislative provisions remain in place in many countries," the report concluded. As the Christian community prepares for Holy Week, I invite us to be more conscious of the injustices that exist on a daily basis in our current world. As the rhetoric of our current political landscape continues to yield disrespect for many of our sisters and brothers, may we double our efforts and passion for equality and respect for all people. -James Cassidy, AIAIA Peace Prayer of the Open Heart.... Let us open our hearts to the love of God. Let us break open the doors and let the stranger in. Let us embrace rich and poor, the beautiful and the bruised, both tears and laughter, for God's arms are wide and in Her there is no stranger! Let us walk the way of the open heart...have a blessed Holy Week and Passover.....