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 Unit Activities & Answer Key With Your Group Unit Resources  
Entries relate to BLEST ARE WE FAITH & Word Edition © 2008 and BENDECIDOS © 2008. Titles that refer only to BLEST ARE WE © 2002 and ©2004 are indicated in parentheses.    Catholic Social Teaching - Rights and Responsibilities More than 300,000 child soldiers have been used in more than twenty-five countries around the world. The children who survive the fighting may be disabled by their injuries. They are also robbed of their families, of fun, of innocence, and of education. In 2007, over fifty countries approved "The Paris Commitments," to end the use of child soldiers. Come of the participating countries were Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, and Somalia where many child soldiers live. It was also ratified by members of the European Union. The United States did not participate. Children living in countries where wars are taking place need to be protected. The children need to be healed and comforted, then returned to normal society. Otherwise, they will grow up to be violent and unstable. Some of the countries do not have enough money to help the children on their own. Catholic missions have special recovery homes for children who were forced to fight or who were harmed by war. Organizations within the United Nations currently work to protect children and help them recover. 
 As individuals, have the young people within your group write letters to government officials, asking them to support a worldwide increase in the minimum age for participation in war. Consider also writing letter to leaders of Sudan, Uganda, and the United Nations, asking them to stop the armies from forcing children to become soldiers. Letters to newspaper and magazine editors can also be effective.  Identify rights that all young people should have: family, shelter, food, education, freedom of religion. Ask the young people to identify responsibilities they have that accompany these rights. Links Catholic Social Teaching Themes Guide to serving those in need through acts of justice Catholic World News Awareness of social issues relevant to Catholics Books A Prayer Primer for Catechists and Teachers - For Personal and Classroom Use Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-89622-922-X Many Faces in God's House - A Catholic Vision for the Third Millennium #5-421 Available through the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 800-235-8722, www.usccb.org Videos An Overview of the Old Testament: Session 2 - Tribes and Territories/ Kings and Conquests (60 min.) An overview of the Bible's account of the early kingdom of Israel for adult formation. Available through St. Anthony Messenger Press Music "I Say, 'Yes," Lord/Digo "Sí," Señor" BLEST ARE WE Music CD 6 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36382-5 "I Have Called You by Name" BLEST ARE WE Music CD 5 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36381-7 BLEST ARE WE Song Book Words and melodies for songs on the BLEST ARE WE music CDS, Levels 1-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 BLEST ARE WE Accompaniment Book Accompaniment music for songs on the BLEST ARE WE music CDs, Levels 1-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 "Let the Power of Heavens Exult" Roc O'Connor, SJ Available through OCP Publications "We Remember" Marty Haugen Available through GIA Publications |
