EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Eleven, Number Four May/June 2002 THE ECONOMIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS: A LENTEN EVENT On Sunday, March 24, about 50 people, including 20 clergy wearing purple stoles, walked through downtown Santa Cruz CA in an Economic Stations of the Cross procession. Readings, songs, and stories related the death of Jesus of Nazareth to the unjust suffering of women, men, and children throughout the world today. The group carried a large cross, symbol of the cross that vulnerable people bear today through war, racial and economic injustice, and environmental devastation. Participants carried smaller white crosses with the names of poor indebted countries and the amount of debt they owe written on them. The "stations" included symbols of power such as the County Building, Post Office, jail, and transnational corporations, where walkers offered reflections from the perspective of the powerless, oppressed, and impoverished. They stopped at the Collateral Damage statue, reflecting upon the economic links to war. The procession also stopped in San Lorenzo Park to consider the value and pain of creation, at Elm Street Mission, Santa Cruz Aids Project, a community credit union, and Santa Cruz stores dedicated to fair trade, in gratitude that compassion and hope are still alive. This event was sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence and Earth Justice Ministries, an interfaith group dedicated to working for a peaceful, just, and sustainable world, in coordination with the Jubilee Campaign, a church-based movement calling for the cancellation of the debt of the world's poorest people. Readings and songs available from Rev. Sharon Delgado, Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95066; 831/ 423-1626, ext. 302; revsher@earth-justice.org or www.rcnv.org. Home     Table of Contents