Catholic Sisters from ten religious communities based in the Upper Mississippi River Valley are hopeful that the words of Jesus will get the attention of Iowa residents, political candidates and ultimately the President and Congress on an issue near and dear to them – immigration.

On Monday, (Dec. 12) the sisters are launching an effort to draw attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The effort, called “Welcoming Communities,” will involve a statement issued by the Sisters (see attached) and supported by billboards, posters and prayers services in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Clinton, Iowa.

The billboards and posters (see attached) share a message about immigration based on the words of Jesus taken from the gospel of Matthew 25:35:  “I was a stranger an immigrant and you welcomed me.” The signs will go up on December 12 and remain through early January.

“We declare ourselves ‘Welcoming Communities’ in affirmation of our Catholic tradition that holds sacred the dignity of each person,” the Sisters said in their statement, “and we invite other communities and people of faith to join us in becoming ‘Immigrant Welcoming Communities’ through prayer, reflection, education and action.”

“Our ‘Welcoming Communities’ stance is a direct response to the government’s ‘Secure Communities’ program which has transformed local police officers into a primary gateway for deportation,” explained the Sisters. “The results have been hundreds of thousands of detentions and deportations, serious civil and human rights concerns, due process violations and damaged trust between immigrant communities and local police.”

They further noted that “the ‘Secure Communities’ process was marketed to local law enforcement agencies as a way to deal with serious and dangerous criminals. In fact, low-priority, non-violent offenders or even lawful permanent residents are being funneled into this program which is breaking up families, promoting racial profiling, and fueling a fear-filled and hateful anti-immigrant atmosphere.”

National immigration reform organizations assert that the “Secure Communities” program has actually made communities less safe because many individuals are afraid to report crimes that they experience or witness for fear of being deported or having neighbors, family members or friends deported.  As a result, they state, crimes are going unreported and communities, rather than becoming “secure” are living in fear.

“Failure on the part of the federal government to reform the present unworkable immigration system has resulted in states passing legislation that is punitive and harmful to human rights,” noted the Sisters.

“We understand that enforcement of law is part of any immigration policy,” the Sisters emphasized.  “However, the present policy of involving state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration law, such as in the ‘Secure Communities’ program, is not achieving that goal.  True security lies in building relationships and respecting human rights and only true, comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform can deal with the crisis in our nation.  Therefore, we are declaring ourselves “Immigrant Welcoming Communities.”

The following ten congregations of Catholic sisters are coordinating this public awareness campaign: Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, Ia., the Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, Wis.; Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Ia.; Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Ia.; Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Ia.; Sisters of the Visitation, Dubuque, Ia.; Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Ia.; Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, Ill.; Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wis.; Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community, Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/catholicsisters.

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Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment regarding his intention to place a hold on two nominees for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) when the nominees are placed on the Senate calendar for consideration.

“More than seven months ago, I started asking the FCC for information that would shed light on the agency’s apparent rush to approve the LightSquared project.  The agency has provided none of the information and found excuses not to provide the information.  Even the private companies involved, LightSquared and Harbinger Capital, have promised to be more forthcoming than the FCC as a public agency funded by the taxpayers.  LightSquared and Harbinger Capital promised to provide me with requested documents on their dealings with the FCC this week.  As a last resort to try to exhort more transparency and accountability from the FCC, I’ll place a hold on consideration of the agency nominees on the Senate floor.  This agency controls a big part of the economy.  It conducts the public’s business.  And the public’s business ought to be public.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on recent interest from President Obama and his education secretary in the cost of higher education.

“It’s good to see the Administration is at last recognizing the problem of high college tuition, at least verbally.  If the Administration wanted to take action, it could have taken seriously the mandate to study colleges’ use of tax-preferred arrangements to house their assets.  The Treasury Department’s study on donor-advised funds and supporting organizations, released this week, highlighted that colleges heavily use these vehicles, yet the study stopped there.  The Administration could and should find ways to get educational institutions to help the people they’re supposed to help instead of hoarding assets at taxpayer expense.  In addition to the benefit of income tax exemption, private, tax-exempt colleges and universities are able to raise capital through tax-exempt bonds and tax-deductible contributions.  It’s important to understand whether these tax benefits are fueling the tuition increases by subsidizing high salaries for college leaders and rock-climbing walls and other non-educational amenities to try to attract students.  The Administration should follow through on the proposal to require new disclosures for tax-exempt colleges and universities, similar to the schedule required for tax-exempt hospitals.  Additional transparency related to revenues and expenses would give us all a better handle on how tuition is set.  Colleges that have well-funded endowments, including money housed offshore to avoid taxes, should tap more of those resources before raising tuition.”

LINCOLN, RI, Dec. 7, 2011 – Christmas trees come in all sizes, shapes and colors. But if you’re looking for a real Christmas tree, it’s important to know how to choose and care for it.

“Nothing beats the look, smell and feel of a real Christmas tree,” said Lisa Melton, an assistant vice president with Amica Insurance. “But they require extra care and attention if you want them to last safely through the holidays.”

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that Christmas trees account for about 250 fires a year, resulting in 14 deaths, 26 injuries and nearly $14 million in property damage.

“That’s why it’s important to take extra care with real trees, whether you select your own at a local tree farm or buy pre-cut Christmas trees from a holiday lot or retail store,” Melton said.

Some of the most popular Christmas trees include fir, spruce, cypress and pine, with different varieties of each grown around the world, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. 

Diane Duquette, whose family owns Duquette Tree Farm in Chepachet, RI, said the single most important factor when it comes to selecting a Christmas tree is to make sure the tree is fresh. Run your hand along the branch, she suggested. If it’s a fresh tree, the green needles should not come off when they’re touched.

When you take a tree home, whether it’s fresh cut or has been standing outside in a lot, store it outside in a bucket of water, sheltered from the sun and wind, until you’re ready to bring it into the house, Duquette said. Before bringing it inside, cut about an inch off the end of the trunk. This fresh cut will allow the tree to absorb water more easily. Make sure you check the water supply frequently – at least once a day. If the stand runs out of water, the trunk can seal and will need to be cut again.

When you’re ready to decorate your tree, here are a few reminders:
• Never place a tree near a heat source, such as a woodstove, fireplace, radiator or heat vent.
• Check the lights before you put them on the tree, to make sure they’re working and to make sure there are no loose bulbs or frayed wires.
• Connect no more than three strings of mini lights together, and do not overload extension cords or electrical outlets.
• Never use lit candles on a Christmas tree.
• Always turn off the lights before leaving the house or going to bed. Never leave a lit tree unattended.
• Dispose of the tree when it begins dropping its needles, since a dried-out tree is a fire hazard.

With proper care, Duquette said, a real Christmas tree should last at least a month indoors – giving families plenty of time to enjoy it through the holidays.

“The right tree can be the perfect centerpiece for your holiday decorations,” Melton said.  “But make sure you take care of it, to keep you and your family safe this Christmas.”