Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, Washington D.C.

The Jesuits believe in "a faith that does justice". As a Jesuit Institution, it is our duty, here at Canisius to carry out this faith that does justice. A major resource for social justice is the Ignation Solidarity Network, or ISN. ISN's purpose is to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of existing social justice and advocacy efforts that are currently present in here at Canisius and at Jesuit institutions across the nation. The Ignatian Solidarity Network will serve as a channel to help each of us to become men and women for others. The Vision of the Ignatian Solidarity Network states that, "We are a Network actively facilitating and promoting communication, education, and social justice awareness and action among Jesuit member institutions and individuals".

On November 16, 1989, six Jesuits and two women were murdered in El Salvador for speaking up and acting for justice.  They were killed by soldiers trained at the US Army School of the Americas (SOA) in Fort Benning, Georgia. The SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Initiative for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) in 2001 but it continues to train Latin America soldiers with American tax dollars. The SOA has been in existence for over 60 years and has trained over 60,000 soldiers. These graduates have been responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of innocent people including Archbishop Oscar Romero, Jesuit priests, and American church women.

Campus Ministry will be sending a delegation of students and staff down to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Ignatian Family Teach-In, a gathering of students from Jesuit schools from across the nation. The Teach-In consists of a variety of speakers talking about justice issues like closing the SOA, immigration reform and environmental justice. Past speakers have included Father Roy Bourgeois, founder of the SOA watch and demonstration, and Sr. Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking." There is a variety of break-out sessions to attend. The Teach-In closes with a mass. Last year approximately 1,200 participants attended the teach-in. 

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