Advocacy

“The Institutional Path of

Charity”

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

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

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.

Caritas in Veritate #6

The Common GoodBesides 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.

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

On Advocacy

Advocating for JusticeParishes 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

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.

Catholic Social Teachings 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

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”

Civil DiscourseO 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 speakO 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.

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

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

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/

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

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.

Advocacy Campaign 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/

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

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/

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.

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.confrontglobalpoverty.org/

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/nyscatholicconference/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/thomas.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/

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/communicating-with-congress/

“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