Advocacy at St. Francis
“We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.” – Pope Francis
Catholic Advocacy basics – “Advocacy is defending or supporting a cause or action consistent with justice and the common good” (US Bishops).Morality applies not only to ourselves but also to groups, institutions, and countries. This is why the Catholic church has such a strong voice around issues that affect the common good. Some very visible issues we often hear about in the news include immigration reform or anti-abortion legislation, but there are many other issues that we are called to address through prayer and also advocacy. Some ways we can advocate (or put our energy and voice around a cause) are voting, contacting our governmental representatives, attending town halls or rallies, and financial backing/boycott. Here is more information about Catholic advocacy.
Learn about the issues
Catholic Social Teaching – This site offers an overview of Catholic moral guidance in the public sphere.
Explore information by topic: Here are some places where you will find information and resources to learn more about what the Church teaches and how to live out your faith.
Advocacy at St. Francis – The office of Justice & Peace engages in advocacy primarily through parishioner-led “issue teams” (links below). If you are interested in an issue that is not listed, please reach out to the Justice & Peace office and we will try to connect you with others who are engaged withthat issue.
Advocacy Alerts
There are some Catholic organizations that offer email alerts about current issues that need a Catholic voice. This can be helpful because these websites outline the problems/opportunities, connect the issues to Catholic Social Teaching, and even provide speaking points for your phone call, letter, or email. The hyperlinks take you to action alerts:
USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Catholic Charities USA (U.S. Bishops domestic org)
Catholic Relief Services (U.S. Bishops international org)
Faithful Citizenship (U.S. Bishops on voting, public policy, common good)
For more information and questions about advocacy at St. Francis, contact Director of Justice and Peace, Mary Ellen McGuire at 919-847-8205 X270.