From The Observer:

The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team furthered its social justice initiative with a Playing for Peace game followed by an interhall tournament Sunday.

Kevin Dugan, director of Men’s Lacrosse Operations, said they held the tournament to show Notre Dame’s unceasing support of Sudan. The initiative began fall semester with a three-on-three basketball tournament and Stand with Sudan peace rally.

“It’s a follow-up to make sure we didn’t just have this one event in the fall and check it off the list of things to do,” he said. “We want there to be a continuous call to awareness on the situation in Sudan.”

Read the full story here.

Join the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team at Arlotta Stadium at the Playing for Peace game against Georgetown on April 10th at 12:00.

Get all the details here.

Excerpt from the Caritas blog:

We the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, gathered in Extraordinary Plenary assembly in Juba, South Sudan, from 1st – 7th April 2011, have prayed and reflected together on the situation in our beloved Sudan. Mindful of our responsibility as prophets and shepherds at this crucial time, we offer you these words of encouragement and advice during the Season of Lent as we anticipate the Easter Joy of the Resurrection.

In a previous statement, we said, Sudan will never be the same again. This has come to pass in the most concrete way, as we await the formal Declaration of Independence of the South and the formation of two new countries on 9th July 2011. However it is also true in a deeper way. The people of the South have had the opportunity to determine their own political future. This is a basic expression of human dignity. We call upon all the citizens, politicians, security forces and leaders of the two countries to respect human life and dignity, and to build the future based on these God-given values.

Read full post here.

The March 2 and 5 attacks in the contested oil rich region of Abyei, Sudan, have led to estimates of more than 100 dead and 20,000-25,000, nearly half the population, deserting Abyei town. Abyei is proving to be one of the most difficult areas to resolve between northern and southern Sudan: both lay claims to the land.

Previous incidences in May, 2008, in which Abyei town was attacked and burned have left people concerned that the violence might escalate. According to our church contacts in the region, people are moving south of Abyei, along the Kiir River.

While the city has been almost completely evacuated, the security situation in the areas south of Abyei where people have set up temporary homes remains stable. Initial reports show that the majority of people have fled to the neighboring community of Agok. Many of the people who fled are carrying numerous household items with them, which leads members of the Catholic Relief Services’ team on the ground to believe that they may have recently arrived to Abyei from northern Sudan. Returnees from northern Sudan could be the most vulnerable group and the ones with the greatest need for shelter and food assistance. Some former Abyei town residents set up homes in Agok the last time there was a flare up of violence in 2008.
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Catholic Relief Services cordially invites you to an exhibit of southern Sudan photos by Karen Kasmauski, a renowned photographer who has shot 25 major stories for National Geographic magazine.
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Malual Deng Duot, a Lost Boy of Sudan, made the most of his new beginning. He fled his homeland as a 9 year old to escape the horrors of a violent war.  After living in a refugee camp in Kenya for the rest of his childhood, Malual came to America. Now, Malual is preparing to graduate with a master’s degree from Villanova University this year, and he is a husband and father of two young girls.

Read about Malual’s new beginning, and view the chat transcript below.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has worked in West Darfur, Sudan since 2004 and has established strong partnerships with the community and local government in the area. CRS remains committed to meeting the immediate and long-term development needs of more than 500,000 people of Darfur regardless of race, religion or nationality.

Recently allegations have been made that CRS has distributed Bibles in West Darfur. CRS strongly denies these allegations. CRS does not distribute Bibles. The distribution of Bibles would be a violation of our policy. CRS provides assistance to people in need, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS has worked without complaint for decades in numerous countries where the majority of the population is Muslim. CRS designs all its programs to ensure that our assistance is given in accordance to international humanitarian standards and appropriate cultural sensitivities.

CRS also does not engage in military or partisan political activities. We have consistently worked in compliance with the Sudanese government and the United Nations in our humanitarian efforts in West Darfur. This is the first time accusations have been made regarding the neutrality of our work or the manner of our conduct.

The allegations have resulted in perceived safety threats to our staff and CRS was forced to temporarily close our Darfur offices and relocate staff. We hope to resume our critical aid and development work in West Darfur as soon as possible.

Malual Deng Duot was an innocent child playing with his friends near his home in Wangulei, Sudan, when he heard the first gun shots and screams. He and his friends had only one choice. Run.

Malual was one of thousands of boys across southern Sudan who fled the violence in their neighborhoods during a civil war that lasted from 1983 to 2005.

He left with the clothes on his back and no food or water. He walked for months until he finally settled in a refugee camp in Kenya, where he lived for 8 years.

Now, Malual is a 28-year-old husband and father of two young girls living near Philadelphia while he completes his master’s degree in political science at Villanova University. He has stayed involved in Sudanese news and politics from afar, and he proudly voted in the recent referendum to decide the fate of southern Sudan.

Malual arrived in the United States as a young man who fled his native Sudan as a young boy. He was apart from his family, walked for months without food or water and saw many young boys die along the way. Now, as southern Sudan prepares to become Africa’s newest nation on July 9, 2011, Malual looks toward the bright future for his native southern Sudan. He dreams of returning to his hometown, Wangueli, to start a program to improve the education for local children.

Now, you have an opportunity to chat with Malual about his childhood fleeing Sudan, growing up in Kenya and starting over in the United States. Catholic Relief Services is partnering with Villanova University to host a live one-hour online chat with Malual and CRS Sudan experts on Wednesday, March 2 at noon eastern.

You can sign up for a reminder e-mail for this live chat below.

The final results of the south’s self-determination referendum were officially announced on Monday after no appeals were filed. Out of nearly 4 million votes cast worldwide, 98.8 percent voted for secession. There are no reports of violence associated with the announcement.

This is a great step forward in the peaceful transformation of Sudan, but critical issues including border demarcation, the status of the border community Abyei, oil-revenue sharing, currency, debt allocation and citizenship, must be resolved as the south moves toward independence on July 9.

Both the violence in Darfur and protests in Egypt could complicate the remaining negotiations of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, but the apparent acceptance of the outcome of the referendum is a very welcome, positive development for Sudan.

There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure the transition process remains peaceful, and with your help and support, Catholic Relief Services will continue to promote peace and development across Sudan.

CRS President Ken Hackett and Bishop Howard Hubbard, Chairman of the USCCB International Justice and Peace Committee express the Church’s thanks for the Obama Administration’s hard work and dedication to the cause of peace and Sudan and urge ongoing engagement.

The Honorable Hillary Clinton Secretary of State

Dear Secretary Clinton:
As Chairman of Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and President of Catholic Relief Services, we wish to express our gratitude to you and the entire Administration for working to ensure a successful referendum for the people Sudan. Only weeks ago it seemed unlikely the people of southern Sudan would have the opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination. That such an exercise was possible, let alone as successful and peaceful as it was, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Administration and others of goodwill.
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