Press Release: Not on Our Watch Catholic Companion and Discussion Guide

For Immediate Release
February 27, 2009

Contact
Eileen White Read, 202.741.6376
eread@enoughproject.org

RELEASE:  Not on Our Watch Catholic Companion and Discussion Guide

WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 27, 2009 – The Enough Project’s Darfur Christian Action campaign today launched a new study guide designed to introduce Roman Catholics to Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond by Enough Project Co-chair John Prendergast and actor/activist Don Cheadle.

The study guide was written to foster deeper engagement and action by the 67 million American Catholics, the nation’s largest religious community – which has a strong tradition of social justice and faith in action based on Catholic social teaching - to bring justice and peace to the people of Sudan. The 47-page Catholic study guide, a companion to the 2007 bestselling book, is available for free at www.DarfurChristianAction.org. Click here to download a pdf of the study guide.

“As a Catholic, the underlying notion that I am my brother's and sister's keeper is fundamental to the way I live my life,” said Mr. Prendergast, a longtime expert on Africa and a co-founder of the Enough Project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. “There may be no more compelling test for this than how we respond to the ultimate crime of genocide. We need to strengthen Catholic participation in building a sustained anti-genocide movement, beginning with ending the crisis in Darfur,” he added.

The study guide, which is entitled Not on Our Watch Catholic Companion and Discussion Guide, was written by Jane Deren and Sister Katherine Feely, SND, with Bill Griffin and Elizabeth Leipold. Cory Smith, Faith Outreach Advisor at the Enough Project, served as contributing editor. The guide was published by the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress and the Education for Justice campaign at the Center of Concern.

Not on Our Watch Catholic Companion and Discussion Guide is designed to help Catholics understand the issues of Darfur from a Catholic perspective. With quotations from Catholic scriptures and from Catholic social teaching documents, the readings and related questions will help Catholics reflect on what is happening, why it is happening, what has been done, and what still needs to be done to bring justice and peace to the people of Darfur. Each segment includes short prayers with which to begin and end each group or individual session of study and reflection.