A presentation on mobilizing the Catholic community towards civic participation and legislative advocacy

2. St. Ignatius
of Loyola “Love ought to manifest itself in
deeds rather than in words.... love
consists in a mutual sharing of
goods, for example, the lover gives
and shares with the beloved what
he possesses, or something of that
which he has or is able to give; and
vice versa, the beloved shares with
the lover. Hence, if one has
knowledge, he shares it with the
one who does not possess it; and
so also if one has honors, or riches.
Thus, one always gives to the
other.”
– Spiritual Exercises 1524 AD

3. Pope Benedict XVI
“Deus Caritas Est”
The Church's deepest nature is
expressed in her three-fold
responsibility: of proclaiming the
word of God (kerygma-martyria),
celebrating the sacraments
(leitourgia), and exercising the
ministry of charity (diakonia).
These duties presuppose each
other and are inseparable. For
the Church, charity is not a kind
of welfare activity which could
equally well be left to others, but
is a part of her nature, an
indispensable expression of her
very being. #25

4. 2012 Motu Proprio:
“On the Service
of Charity”
• The service of charity is also a constitutive
element of the Church’s mission and an
indispensable expression of her very
being; all the faithful have the right and
duty to devote themselves personally to
living the new commandment that Christ
left us (cf. Jn 15:12), and to offering our
contemporaries not only material
assistance, but also refreshment and care
for their souls (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 28).
The Church is also called as a whole to the
exercise of the diakonia of charity,
whether in the small communities of
particular Churches or on the level of the
universal Church.

5. Caritas in Veritate #6
 The Common Good
Besides the good of the individual,
there is a good that is linked to living
in society: the common good… To
desire the common good and strive
towards it is a requirement of justice
and charity. To take a stand for the
common good is on the one hand to
be solicitous for, and on the other
hand to avail oneself of, that
complex of institutions that give
structure to the life of society,
juridically, civilly, politically and
culturally, making it the pólis, or
“city”. The more we strive to secure a
common good corresponding to the
real needs of our neighbors, the
more effectively we love them.

6.  Every Christian is called to practice this charity, in a
manner corresponding to his vocation and according
to the degree of influence he wields in the pólis. This is
the institutional path — we might also call it the
political path — of charity, no less excellent and
effective than the kind of charity which encounters the
neighbor directly, outside the institutional mediation
of the pólis. When animated by charity, commitment
to the common good has greater worth than a merely
secular and political stand would have. – Caritas in Veritate #6

7. Advocating for Justice
 Parishes need to promote a
revived sense of political
responsibility calling
Catholics to be informed and
active citizens, participating
in the debate over the values
and vision that guide our
communities and nation.
Parishes as local institutions
have special opportunities to
develop leaders, to promote
citizenship, and to provide
forums for discussion and
action on public issues.
- Communities of Salt and Light

8. Advocating for Justice
 The voices of parishioners need to be
heard on behalf of vulnerable
children-born and unborn-on behalf
of those who suffer discrimination and
injustice, on behalf of those without
health care or housing, on behalf of
our land and water, our communities
and neighborhoods.
Parishioners need to bring our values and
vision into the debates about a changing
world and shifting national priorities.
Parishes and parishioners are finding
diverse ways to be political without being
partisan, joining legislative networks,
community organizations, and other
advocacy groups.

9.  Life and Dignity of the Human
Person
 Call to Family, Community, and
Participation
 Rights and Responsibilities
 Option for the Poor and
Vulnerable
 The Dignity of Work and the
Rights of Workers
 Solidarity
 Care for God’s Creation

10. On single issue focus
• We can take on with passion specific
issues that call on us and organize, in
coalition with others, to address that
issue. However, always remember to
promote and defend all our Catholic
social issues.
• The Gospel message cannot be
compromised. It would be great and
easy for us to simply take those
passages that fit within our comfortable
lifestyle and ignore the ones that
challenge us.
• “If you believe what you like in the
gospels, and reject what you don’t like,
it is not the gospel you believe, but
yourself.”
• St. Augustine: Sermons 20,2
• “The Christian faith is an integral unity,
and thus it is incoherent to isolate some
particular element to the detriment of
the whole of Catholic doctrine. A
political commitment to a single isolated
aspect of the Church’s social doctrine
does not exhaust one’s responsibility
towards the common good. Nor can a
Catholic think of delegating his
Christian responsibility to others; rather,
the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives him this
task, so that the truth about man and the
world might be proclaimed and put into
action.” #4
• 2002 Doctrinal note “Participation of
Catholics in Political Life”

11. Civil Discourse
O Catholics should try to
cooperate with all men
and women of good will
to promote whatever is
true, whatever just,
whatever holy, whatever
lovable (cf. Phil. 4:8).
They should hold
discussions with them,
excel them in prudence
and courtesy, and initiate
research on social and
public practices which
should be improved in
line with the spirit of the
Gospel. (Apostolicam
Actuasitatem #14)
O Ground Rules:
O Make sure everyone has an
opportunity to speak
O Share your personal experience not
someone else’s.
O Listen carefully and respectfully. Do
not play the role of know it all,
convincer or corrector. Dialogue is not
a Debate.
O Don’t interrupt unless for clarification
or timekeeping
O Accept that no group or viewpoint has
a monopoly on the truth.
O “Be more ready to give a favorable
interpretation to another’s statement
than to condemn it.”
O Be cautious about assigning motives
to another person.

12. Being a Faithful Citizen
 VOTE… (Make a Moral Decision)
but don’t stop there!
 Develop an ongoing relationship with
your local, state and federal elected
official:
 Visit, Write/email, Call (take copies of
our “Contacting Your Elected Official”
handout.
 Vote with your money.
 Be a conscientious consumer
 Be a socially responsible Investor

13. What Can Catholics Do?
 Organize Prayer or Faith Sharing Groups related to
Catholic social teaching
 Develop or join a Parish advocacy/social justice
Committee
 Organize a Parish Voter’s registration where you offer
resources from the USCCB or NY State Catholic Conference
(NYSCC)
 Promote upcoming advocacy events
 Take part in advocacy campaigns that are sponsored by the
USCCB

14. Advocacy Event
• Catholic Social Ministry
Gathering
• Join this excellent opportunity
for leaders in Catholic social
ministry to Connect – Learn –
Pray – Advocate! Exciting
plenary presentations,
briefings, workshops, and
strategy sessions will address
current topics essential to our
various ministries, and better
prepare you and your
colleagues for challenges
ahead.
• http://www.usccb.org/about/
justice-peace-and-human-
development/catholic-social-
ministry-gathering/

15. Advocacy Events • Catholics at the Capitol –
Wednesday March 20, 2013
• Join with the Cardinal
Dolan and the Bishops of
New York State for a day of
workshops and advocacy
on issues of grave
importance. Many
participants will meet with
their legislators and
everyone will participate in
Mass with the Bishops.
Lunch will be provided.
• http://www.nyscatholic.org/
public-policy-day-
information/
2013 Advocacy Issues
• Oppose the radical abortion bill which expands abortion and
threatens religious liberty
• Preserve Catholic schools and provide equitable resources for
all school children
• Ensure that Medicaid redesign provides benefit to consumers
and does not diminish quality of care
• Develop affordable housing for low-income and vulnerable
populations
• Support humane treatment for incarcerated individuals

16. Advocacy Campaign
Respect Life Program
 The Respect Life Program
begins anew each year on
Respect Life Sunday, the first
Sunday in October. The program
is highlighted in liturgies and
marked by special events. The
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life
Activities publishes a program
packet each year to call
attention to numerous human life
issues. These materials are
especially helpful for priests,
parish groups and other
organizations.
 http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-
life-activities/respect-life-
program/
Pocket folder contains Respect Life
flyers (English and Spanish) and eight
pamphlet-length articles (perfect for
bulletins and vestibule pamphlet racks)
covering major pro-life issues.

17.  Poverty USA Campaign
• Learn: Listen to real stories
about people living in poverty,
learn the facts about poverty in
the United States and
understand the root causes.
• Act: Join our Action Network
and we’ll send you updates on
issues that impact people living
in poverty along with
opportunities to advocate.
• Connect: network with others
and help build a national
movement to end poverty.
• Pray: resources to pray and
reflect over these issues.
 http://www.povertyusa.org/

18. Advocacy Campaign
 Justice for Immigrant
Campaign
◦ The primary objectives of the JFI
campaign are:
◦ To educate the public, especially
the Catholic community, including
Catholic public officials, about
Church teaching on migration and
immigrants;
◦ To create political will for positive
immigration reform;
◦ To enact legislative and
administrative reforms based on
the principles articulated by the
bishops; and
◦ To organize Catholic networks to
assist qualified immigrants obtain
the benefits of the reforms.
 http://www.justiceforimmigrants.
org/index.shtml

19. Advocacy Campaign
• Catholic Mobilizing Network
(CMN) Against the Death Penalty
- proclaims the Church’s
unconditional pro-life teaching
and its application to capital
punishment and restorative
justice.
• What We Do
• Educate the lay community through
our programs and materials on the
Church’s teachings on the death
penalty.
• Facilitate respectful and informed
discourse within the Catholic
community and the community at
large.
• Encourage informed Catholic
involvement in the public debate.
• http://catholicsmobilizing.org/

20. Advocacy Campaign
 The Catholic Climate Covenant
 The Coalition has also focused its
work on providing a forum to
explore the issues and faith
implications of climate change
through hosted hearings around
the country. It also works to
connect Catholics by staying in
touch with state and diocesan
leaders who are promoting
climate change activities and
partners with other national
Catholic organizations to assist
them in connecting the issue of
climate change within their
institutions.
 http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
The Coalition also promotes participation and
partnerships between Catholic dioceses and
Catholic organizations to develop programs at
the local level often by offering small grants.

21. Advocacy Campaign
 Catholics Confront Global
Poverty
 We seek to educate and mobilize
Catholics in the United States to
defend the lives and dignity of
people living in poverty
throughout the world, and urge
our nation to act in response to
the many faces of poverty.
 Advocate with us to confront the
root causes of poverty
worldwide—hunger, disease,
conflict, and injustice—which
disproportionately affect the
lives of our impoverished
brothers and sisters around the
globe.
 http://www.confrontglobalpover
ty.org/

22. Advocacy Resources
 Your Catholic Charities PSM
Developer on advocacy and special
projects: John Gonzalez
 (516) 733-5827
 gonzalez.john@catholiccharities.cc
 Catholic Legislative Action Alerts:
 USCCB action center:
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-
action/take-action-now/capwiz/
 NYSCC Catholic Action Network:
https://ssl.capwiz.com/nyscatholicconferen
ce/mlm/verify/
 Local Community Organizations
 LI Congregations, Associations and
Neighborhoods: http://www.li-
can.org/index.html
 Micah/Island Harvest:
http://www.islandharvest.org/page.aspx?id
=171&name=Advocacy
 LI Index: http://www.longislandindex.org/
 Legislative resources:
 Pop Vox:
https://www.popvox.com/
 Gov Tracks:
http://www.govtrack.us/
 Congress.org (communicating
with Congress):
http://www.congress.org/news/
communicating-with-congress/
 THOMAS:
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/tho
mas.php
 DC and Hill media:
 The Hill: http://thehill.com/
 Politico:
http://www.politico.com/
 Roll Call:
http://www.rollcall.com/
 National Journal:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/

23. COMMUNICATING WITH CONGRESS
 Vehicles of Communication:
 Letter writing
 Phone calls
 Emails
 Social networking
 Rule #1: Contact only your law
makers, let them know you are
their constituent.
 Rule #2: Keep it short simple
and sweet, Be polite (When
texting AVOID ALL CAPS)
 Is it representative of the mail that
is coming in?
 Is it something represented in the
news?
 Is it a compelling message?
 Rule #3: Get personal; avoid
form letters from advocacy
groups
http://www.congress.org/news/co
mmunicating-with-congress/

24. “Do not close your eyes to the
wrongs which your officials
commit through bribery or
neglect of the poor. Be a father to
the impoverished as an almoner
of what God has given you. See to
it that the crimes committed in
your kingdom are punished and
that the good deeds are exalted
and rewarded. All this is part of
divine justice.” - Letter: 1374 AD
St. Catherine
of Siena