My latest book, The Ethics of Protection: Reimagining Child Welfare in an Anti-Black Society, documents Casa Maria’s support for families with open cases with Child Protective Services (CPS) and the work of parents to keep their families together.
I realized the gravity of this problem when we were providing housing for a mother with a teenage daughter and triplets who were a little too young for solid food. The teenager was helpful and thoughtful. Unfortunately, the triplets got the flu and began vomiting all their formula. After a couple days, mom gave them a little chicken in desperation, which they also vomited. At Children’s Hospital, the doctor provided the care, but reported this wonderful African American mother to CPS for feeding them hard food. The children were removed and it was almost two years before the family was reunified.
This situation is too common. Thankfully, Casa Maria has had Amada Morales providing information and support to parents. She is a regular fixture at Children’s Court and graciously shared the stories of several families, which are featured in the book.
Compared to white children, Black children are twice as likely to be named “victims” by CPS and three times as likely to be removed from the home. The first year of COVID provided insight into CPS’s effectiveness. Every time a child dies, experts determine if the death resulted from child maltreatment. The year before COVID, child deaths attributed to child maltreatment were 1,830. This number dropped to 1,750 in 2020, even though fewer children were entering the CPS system because fewer children were coming into contact with mandatory reporters. The logical conclusion: even though CPS separates over 200,000 children from their parents every year, this does not result in fewer children dying. The main result is trauma for parents and children.
The book obviously dives much deeper into the issue and offers possible solutions. The book can be ordered through any bookstore or on Amazon. If you would like myself and Amada Morales to come and speak to a group on this issue, do not hesitate to email me at [email protected] -----Lincoln Rice
DON’S JOKES
A man felt he was being chased by a coffin. He became fearful and started running here and there to try and get rid of the coffin. Then he came upon a bottle of cough syrup. He threw it at the casket, and the coffin stopped. Three years ago, the doc told me I was going deaf. I haven’t heard from him since. Doctor, come quick my child has swallowed my ink pen. Doctor: I’ll be right there. What are you doing in the meantime? Woman: I’m using a ballpoint. Mother: I’m sorry, darling, we can’t keep Rover in the house. Just think of the smell. Junior: That’s okay, Mom. He will get used to it. I have a doctor named Dr. Duck. Too bad he is a quack.
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Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker said that there is no need of any special theology of peace. You just need to look at what the gospel asks and what war does. The gospel asks that we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the homeless, visit the prisoner, and perform the works of mercy. War does the opposite. It makes my neighbor hungry, thirsty, homeless, a prisoner and sick. –Don Timmerman
Michael, a long-time Catholic Worker at Casa Maria, did another sit-in inside Chase Bank to protest Chase being the largest funder of fossil fuels as well as a large investor in Enbridge pipelines. During the sit-in, he read excerpts from Laudate Deum, a document recently released by Pope Francis which calls for an end to our dependence on fossil fuels. If anyone is interested in helping pay for his $187 ticket so he doesn't have to serve time in jail, feel free to send checks to Casa Maria with a note saying it is for Michael's ticket or you can donate online by clicking HERE. Thank you in advance!
I realized the gravity of this problem when we were providing housing for a mother with a teenage daughter and triplets who were a little too young for solid food. The teenager was helpful and thoughtful. Unfortunately, the triplets got the flu and began vomiting all their formula. After a couple days, mom gave them a little chicken in desperation, which they also vomited. At Children’s Hospital, the doctor provided the care, but reported this wonderful African American mother to CPS for feeding them hard food. The children were removed and it was almost two years before the family was reunified.
This situation is too common. Thankfully, Casa Maria has had Amada Morales providing information and support to parents. She is a regular fixture at Children’s Court and graciously shared the stories of several families, which are featured in the book.
Compared to white children, Black children are twice as likely to be named “victims” by CPS and three times as likely to be removed from the home. The first year of COVID provided insight into CPS’s effectiveness. Every time a child dies, experts determine if the death resulted from child maltreatment. The year before COVID, child deaths attributed to child maltreatment were 1,830. This number dropped to 1,750 in 2020, even though fewer children were entering the CPS system because fewer children were coming into contact with mandatory reporters. The logical conclusion: even though CPS separates over 200,000 children from their parents every year, this does not result in fewer children dying. The main result is trauma for parents and children.
The book obviously dives much deeper into the issue and offers possible solutions. The book can be ordered through any bookstore or on Amazon. If you would like myself and Amada Morales to come and speak to a group on this issue, do not hesitate to email me at [email protected] -----Lincoln Rice
DON’S JOKES
A man felt he was being chased by a coffin. He became fearful and started running here and there to try and get rid of the coffin. Then he came upon a bottle of cough syrup. He threw it at the casket, and the coffin stopped. Three years ago, the doc told me I was going deaf. I haven’t heard from him since. Doctor, come quick my child has swallowed my ink pen. Doctor: I’ll be right there. What are you doing in the meantime? Woman: I’m using a ballpoint. Mother: I’m sorry, darling, we can’t keep Rover in the house. Just think of the smell. Junior: That’s okay, Mom. He will get used to it. I have a doctor named Dr. Duck. Too bad he is a quack.
++++++++++
Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker said that there is no need of any special theology of peace. You just need to look at what the gospel asks and what war does. The gospel asks that we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the homeless, visit the prisoner, and perform the works of mercy. War does the opposite. It makes my neighbor hungry, thirsty, homeless, a prisoner and sick. –Don Timmerman
Michael, a long-time Catholic Worker at Casa Maria, did another sit-in inside Chase Bank to protest Chase being the largest funder of fossil fuels as well as a large investor in Enbridge pipelines. During the sit-in, he read excerpts from Laudate Deum, a document recently released by Pope Francis which calls for an end to our dependence on fossil fuels. If anyone is interested in helping pay for his $187 ticket so he doesn't have to serve time in jail, feel free to send checks to Casa Maria with a note saying it is for Michael's ticket or you can donate online by clicking HERE. Thank you in advance!
INTERESTING FACTS
In 2022, the U.S. sold weapons to 57% of the world’s autocracies. ----The Intercept
In the U.S. a whopping 81% of plastic is not recycled. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. ---National Geographic
The “lungs of North America,” the Tongass National Forest, is the Earth’s largest intact temperate rainforest. Protecting it means protecting the entire planet.---Nation of Change A damaged and leaking three-inch pipe of Xcel Energy’s single reactor at Monticello MN on the Mississippi River is causing a radioactive pollution problem. On August 24, Japan began pumping millions of gallons of stored radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s devastated triple reactor meltdown site at Fukushima-Daiichi. ---- Nukewatch
There have been 500 mass shootings so far in 2023. That’s nearly two per day. ---Guns Down America Pfizer is charging $1,390 for lifesaving Covid drug that costs just $13 to make. Some 385,000 babies are born in the world every day. ---Int. Facts
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by London police at a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum, a major oil and gas industry conference.
Israeli forces have killed at least 8.000 Palestinians over a 12-day period. Around a third of those killed were children. --Democracy Now
Six months of war in Sudan have plunged the country into “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history,” killing up to 9,000 people and displacing 5 million. –U.N.
EVENTS
Sat. November 11th -- DOROTHY DAY TALK & MASS 9am to 11:30am St. Ben's 930 W. State Street
Mon. November 13 --- 53rd Anniversary of St. Ben’s Community Meal for those in need
Tues. November 14 -- Why Nuclear Power is NOT the answer to Climate Change presented by Bill Christofferson, former director of Nukewatch and a member of Veterans for Peace @ First Unitarian Society 1342 N. Astor St. Milwaukee (zoom option available) 7-8:20pm 350milwaukee.weebly.com
Tues. November 28 -- CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER TO END RACISM 11:30am-1pm at St. Bakhita Catholic Worker 3138 N. 2nd Street
Weds. Nov. 22 -- ANTI-ROTC VIGIL, Noon to 1 p.m. in front of M.U. Library on Wisconsin Ave.
Weds. Nov. 29-- ANTI-GUN Vigil , Noon to 1 p.m. at Dunham Sports store, 2027 S. 108th St. Dunham advertises and sells guns and assault rifles.
“A hero is one who makes one’s enemy a friend.” —The Talmud
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: There has been overwhelming tragedy in the world. It is difficult to feel a sense of hope. I continue to pray that a change of heart occurs in the people of the world. Where we will love and understand one another. This change of heart, I believe, comes from suffering with and acknowledging the pain of another. I saw such an exchange occur while watching a show on PBS, “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston”. Baratunde travels to various destinations in the U.S., talking with people and highlighting the activities in the area. On this particular episode he was meeting a naturalist in the woods. The naturalist climbs trees to check on the health of the forest. Baratunde planned to join him in the upper part of a tall tree. Baratunde was in full gear to accomplish the task. For safety he had a rope attached to him. Halfway up the tree he lost his grip and was saved by the safety rope. In that moment he was overwhelmed by the vision of the many African Americans that had been hung from trees in the south and other places and it was not a safety rope for them. He signaled that he wanted to go back to the ground. When the forester joined him, he shared the great sadness that had come over him. The forester and Baratunde hugged as he cried. The forester did not share the same history but truly felt the others pain. May we all open ourselves to feel the suffering of others. We will then have a change of heart and work to alleviate their pain. Peace, Roberta
In 2022, the U.S. sold weapons to 57% of the world’s autocracies. ----The Intercept
In the U.S. a whopping 81% of plastic is not recycled. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. ---National Geographic
The “lungs of North America,” the Tongass National Forest, is the Earth’s largest intact temperate rainforest. Protecting it means protecting the entire planet.---Nation of Change A damaged and leaking three-inch pipe of Xcel Energy’s single reactor at Monticello MN on the Mississippi River is causing a radioactive pollution problem. On August 24, Japan began pumping millions of gallons of stored radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s devastated triple reactor meltdown site at Fukushima-Daiichi. ---- Nukewatch
There have been 500 mass shootings so far in 2023. That’s nearly two per day. ---Guns Down America Pfizer is charging $1,390 for lifesaving Covid drug that costs just $13 to make. Some 385,000 babies are born in the world every day. ---Int. Facts
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by London police at a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum, a major oil and gas industry conference.
Israeli forces have killed at least 8.000 Palestinians over a 12-day period. Around a third of those killed were children. --Democracy Now
Six months of war in Sudan have plunged the country into “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history,” killing up to 9,000 people and displacing 5 million. –U.N.
EVENTS
Sat. November 11th -- DOROTHY DAY TALK & MASS 9am to 11:30am St. Ben's 930 W. State Street
Mon. November 13 --- 53rd Anniversary of St. Ben’s Community Meal for those in need
Tues. November 14 -- Why Nuclear Power is NOT the answer to Climate Change presented by Bill Christofferson, former director of Nukewatch and a member of Veterans for Peace @ First Unitarian Society 1342 N. Astor St. Milwaukee (zoom option available) 7-8:20pm 350milwaukee.weebly.com
Tues. November 28 -- CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER TO END RACISM 11:30am-1pm at St. Bakhita Catholic Worker 3138 N. 2nd Street
Weds. Nov. 22 -- ANTI-ROTC VIGIL, Noon to 1 p.m. in front of M.U. Library on Wisconsin Ave.
Weds. Nov. 29-- ANTI-GUN Vigil , Noon to 1 p.m. at Dunham Sports store, 2027 S. 108th St. Dunham advertises and sells guns and assault rifles.
“A hero is one who makes one’s enemy a friend.” —The Talmud
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: There has been overwhelming tragedy in the world. It is difficult to feel a sense of hope. I continue to pray that a change of heart occurs in the people of the world. Where we will love and understand one another. This change of heart, I believe, comes from suffering with and acknowledging the pain of another. I saw such an exchange occur while watching a show on PBS, “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston”. Baratunde travels to various destinations in the U.S., talking with people and highlighting the activities in the area. On this particular episode he was meeting a naturalist in the woods. The naturalist climbs trees to check on the health of the forest. Baratunde planned to join him in the upper part of a tall tree. Baratunde was in full gear to accomplish the task. For safety he had a rope attached to him. Halfway up the tree he lost his grip and was saved by the safety rope. In that moment he was overwhelmed by the vision of the many African Americans that had been hung from trees in the south and other places and it was not a safety rope for them. He signaled that he wanted to go back to the ground. When the forester joined him, he shared the great sadness that had come over him. The forester and Baratunde hugged as he cried. The forester did not share the same history but truly felt the others pain. May we all open ourselves to feel the suffering of others. We will then have a change of heart and work to alleviate their pain. Peace, Roberta