Civil action for health care, immigration reform, and more

UU activists campaign for health care reform in N.C., Vt.

Religious leaders in North Carolina, including the Rev. Tom Rhodes, a Unitarian Universalist minister, held a service outside the office of Sen. Kay Hagan to promote healthcare reform. Rhodes said the "religious community must do its part to make sure that Sen. Hagan and other elected officials understand that health care reform is an urgent moral imperative. (Associated Press - 9.15.09)

The group Vermont Interfaith Action, comprising religious leaders from various faiths and communities in Vermont, including Unitarian Universalist minister the Rev. Gary Kowalski, urged a call-in Tuesday to their congressional representatives as part of a national health care reform initiative. (The Burlington Free Press - VT 9.15.09)

Vigils held to protest immigration policies

"Children's vigils" were held Tuesday in New Jersey communities to protest federal immigration policies that advocates say separate immigrants from their U.S.-born children. "What our country had done has imposed the intentional breakup of the family or a dislocation of the children from their homeland," said the Rev. Charlie Ortman at a vigil at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair. (The Star-Ledger - NJ 9.16.09)

UUA president calls Maine UUs to support same-sex marriage law

UUA President Peter Morales issued a joint statement with the group Protect Maine Equality calling on Unitarian Universalists to fight against legislation that would repeal the same-sex marriage law currently in place. "I know that Unitarian Universalists in Maine will continue to be at the forefront of the struggle for equality," Morales said in the statement." (EDGE Boston - MA 9.14.09)

Also in the media:

UUA president Peter Morales will head to the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene, Ore., where he first discovered Unitarian Universalism, for its centennial celebration Sunday. (The Register-Guard - OR 9.17.09)

Every week at the meeting house of the Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley, Pa., spare change is collected for their Change for the World program, with all the money going to a different charitable organization each month. (The Sentinel Online - PA 9.17.09)