8th Day Center for Justice
Encyclopedia
8th Day Center for Justice is a Roman Catholic non-profit organization
based in Chicago, Illinois. Named after the Christian concept of an "eighth day", it was founded in 1974 by six congregations of religious men and women. Currently the center is advocacy-centered (primarily around Catholic Social Teaching
) and is associated with over 40 religious communities, allowing the congregations to pool their resources for the work.
According to its mission statement, the center exists to promote "a world of right relationships in which all creation is seen as sacred and interconnected. In such a world all people are equal and free from oppression, have a right to a just distribution of resources, and to live in harmony with the cosmos."
The center and its staff have sponsored weekly silent peace vigils since 2001's September 11 attacks. It also hosts a radio show called "The 8th Day" on WLUW
, Chicago. Over the years since its founding, 8th Day Center has also been involved in issues of homelessness
, human trafficking
, nuclear disarmament
, labor rights
, inclusive language, and LGBT rights.
8th Day Center for Justice has a special consultative relationship with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
. In April 2010, the center was named a Human Rights Champion by the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America.
In addition, 34 other congregations serve as member friends or contributing members.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
based in Chicago, Illinois. Named after the Christian concept of an "eighth day", it was founded in 1974 by six congregations of religious men and women. Currently the center is advocacy-centered (primarily around Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
) and is associated with over 40 religious communities, allowing the congregations to pool their resources for the work.
According to its mission statement, the center exists to promote "a world of right relationships in which all creation is seen as sacred and interconnected. In such a world all people are equal and free from oppression, have a right to a just distribution of resources, and to live in harmony with the cosmos."
The center and its staff have sponsored weekly silent peace vigils since 2001's September 11 attacks. It also hosts a radio show called "The 8th Day" on WLUW
WLUW
WLUW is a college radio station owned and operated by Loyola University Chicago, serving Chicago, Illinois and its northern suburbs. WLUW was founded by Jim Wagner and Michael Russo in the 1970s and they ran the station until Loyola University offered more funding and support...
, Chicago. Over the years since its founding, 8th Day Center has also been involved in issues of homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
, nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, labor rights
Labor rights
Labor rights or workers' rights are a group of legal rights and claimed human rights having to do with labor relations between workers and their employers, usually obtained under labor and employment law. In general, these rights' debates have to do with negotiating workers' pay, benefits, and safe...
, inclusive language, and LGBT rights.
8th Day Center for Justice has a special consultative relationship with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. In April 2010, the center was named a Human Rights Champion by the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America.
Member congregations
Sponsoring members of 8th Day Center for Justice are:- Claretian Missionaries of the US Western Province
- Divine Word MissionariesDivine Word MissionariesThe Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
of North America - Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin MarySisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin MarySisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known by their initials BVM, is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the United States by Mother Mary Frances Clarke. BVM Sisters work in twenty-five U.S...
- Priests of the Sacred Heart
- Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsSisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsThe Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
- Sisters of St. Joseph, Third Order of St. Francis
- Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual AdorationFranciscan Sisters of Perpetual AdorationThe Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women whose motherhouse, St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, is in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration founded Viterbo University and staffed Aquinas...
In addition, 34 other congregations serve as member friends or contributing members.