PUC Chronicle

Issue date: 12/11/06 Section: News

Catholic and Jewish speakers from Baltimore, New York and the Region encouraged an audience about 150 strong in Alumni Hall to take action against the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan Monday.
Bishop Dale Melczek of the Catholic Diocese of Gary, Mathew Emry of the America Jewish World Service and Scott LeFevre of Catholic Relief Services spoke to increase awareness and urge those in the audience to donate and stop investing in companies profiting from the conflict in Sudan.
PUC, Calumet College, the Catholic Diocese of Gary, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana sponsored the event.
Melczek said over 100 faith-based organizations are now involved in ending the atrocities and are looking for signatures on a unity statement given to each person in attendance along with Save Darfur ribbons and stickers.
Photos of burning villages and displaced refugees and statistics of the violence were shared.
"Darfur is quickly becoming the symbol of genocide in the world," said Melczek.
LeFevre, who flew in from Baltimore for the presentation, shared stories and photos of his time spent in the embattled African nation. He is the CRS regional representative for the Horn of Africa and is responsible for the Darfur region.
He gave a list of things people can do to help, including sharing information with friends and relatives and pressuring congress to act.
Emry, the senior program officer for conflict, post-conflict and emergency relief for the AJWS, flew in from New York City to show Regionites how to help.
"A humanitarian crisis needs a humanitarian response," said Emry.
Emry discussed the millions who have fled to the wilds of Sub-Saharan Africa to escape persecution, rape and murder carried out by the Sudanese government-backed Janjaweed militia.
"When we think about the various times the Jews fled into the wilderness, about Mary and Joseph fleeing into the Wilderness, it hits home," said Emry, who focused mostly on the religious implications of helping.
According to the Save Darfur Coalition, more than two million civilians have been forced to leave their homes and go to refugee camps in Sudan or Chad and more than three million are completely reliant on international aid. More than 400,000 have been killed.
"We have the opportunity now," said Emry. "Do not forget. The moment we forget about the people of Darfur, the genocide will be complete."

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