The Thomas Merton Center has signed The Chambersburg Declaration, which calls for self-government and denounces the concentration of "wealth and greater governing power through the exploitation of human and natural communities," according to a press release sent out today.

The Declaration is issued by the Community Rights Network, a project of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which is calling for a constitutional convention with representatives of each municipality in Pennsylvania. The Merton Center also signed on to join the Pennsylvania Community Rights Network, according to the release.

"Not one of our 12.5 million Pennsylvanians enjoys the fundamental right to self-government in the communities where they live," said Ben Price, Projects Director for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, in the release. "In January 2008, attorney general Tom Corbett's office declared in Commonwealth Court that 'there is no inalienable right to local self-government' Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly think he's wrong, and it's time for our State Constitution to reflect the will of the people."