The document discusses Catholic teachings on charity and social justice. It outlines that charity is a core part of the Church's nature and mission, and all Catholics have a duty to practice charity through both direct assistance to those in need as well as through participation in social and political issues that promote the common good. The document advocates that parishes should encourage Catholics to be informed and active citizens who advocate on issues consistent with Catholic social teaching, such as protecting human life and dignity, rights of workers, care for creation, and option for the poor and vulnerable. However, it notes Catholics should pursue these issues through civil discourse and cooperation with people of good will of all political persuasions.

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

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

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
2013 Advocacy Issues
• Oppose the radical abortion bill which expands abortion and Mass with the Bishops.
threatens religious liberty
• Preserve Catholic schools and provide equitable resources for
Lunch will be provided.
all school children
• Ensure that Medicaid redesign provides benefit to consumers
• http://www.nyscatholic.org/
and does not diminish quality of care public-policy-day-
• Develop affordable housing for low-income and vulnerable
populations information/
• 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. Pocket folder contains Respect Life
flyers (English and Spanish) and eight
 http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-
life-activities/respect-life- pamphlet-length articles (perfect for
program/ 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.o
rg/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.
The Coalition also promotes participation and
 http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/ partnerships between Catholic dioceses and
Catholic organizations to develop programs at
the local level often by offering small grants.

21.  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/
Advocacy Campaign

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

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? http://www.congress.org/news/co
 Is it something represented in the mmunicating-with-congress/
news?
 Is it a compelling message?
 Rule #3: Get personal; avoid form
letters from advocacy groups

24. St. Catherine
of Siena
“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