Justice & Advocacy

Our faith calls us to work for justice; to serve those in need; to pursue peace; and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all our sisters and brothers. This is the call of Jesus, the urging of his spirit, the challenge of the prophets, and the living tradition of our Church.

Our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the sorrowing, console the bereaved, welcome the stranger, and serve the poor and vulnerable must be accompanied by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering and injustice. We are also called to help change the policies, structures, and systems that perpetuate injustice through legislative advocacy, community organizing, and work with social change organizations. Direct service needs to be coupled with action for justice so that we can work to change the system that keeps people in need. Justice and service are central to who we are as God's people and to how we live our faith at home, in our communities, and in the world.
 
The central message is simple: our faith is profoundly social. We cannot be called truly "Catholic" unless we hear and heed the Church's call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace.

~adapted from USCCB, Renewing the Vision

The ministry of advocacy engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community. It places people first by analyzing every policy and program—domestic, parish-based, diocesan, and international—for its impact on all. Those living in poverty, the vulnerable, and those at-risk have first claim on our common efforts. The ministry of advocacy struggles against economic and social forces that threaten family life, such as poverty, unemployment, lack of access to affordable health care, lack of decent housing, and discrimination. The ministry of advocacy supports policies and programs that support and empower members of our community to overcome poverty, provide decent jobs, and promote equal opportunity. In all advocacy efforts we must remember to focus on persons in the greatest need. This is the "option for the poor" in action.

As a Church, we need to provide strong moral leadership; to stand up for the voiceless and powerless in society. We call upon all ministry leaders and faith communities to use the resources of our faith community, the resources and talents of all our people, and the opportunities of this democracy to shape a society more respectful of the life, dignity, and rights of all.

~adapted from USCCB, Renewing the Vision