Catholic justice lobbyists focus social teaching
for election year
by Tara K. Dix
Before John Carr, Director of the U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) Department of Social Development and World Peace, dispatched delegates Feb. 29 to scheduled visits with U.S. Senators and Representatives, he quoted Sen. John McCain: "It's hard to do the Lord's work in the City of Satan." "But," said Carr, "we are here to do the Lord's work."
The occasion was the USCC-sponsored annual Social Ministry Gathering Feb. 27 to March 1 in Washington, D.C. Some 450 peace-justice leaders and social service staff from U.S. dioceses were there. CTA attended for the 15th year in a row to get a reading on the social justice climate on Capitol Hill, with co-director Dan Daley and new staff member Tara Dix taking in speeches, workshops, and conversation with policymakers and justice advocates. While the gathering always applies Catholic social teaching to current justice issues, a particular emphasis is given to civic responsibility in election years. Featured at this year's conference were representatives of both political parties and a wide range of viewpoints. Among the Republicans were editor William Kristol and former Congressman Vin Weber. Democrats included White House political advisor Paul Begala and Congressional leader David Bonior of Michigan. But as Carr put it, "There is no one political party and very few candidates who truly represent Catholic social teaching." This idea was hammered home throughout the conference. Both Republican and Democratic platforms fall short on many Church principles.
Election year guidance
The "Faithful Citizenship" document was designed as nonpartisan policy guidance for Catholic voters . Published by the U.S. Bishops and their policy arm at USCC, "Faithful Citizenship" is the 2000 version of what the bishops have issued in every presidential election year since the 1970s: a guide for applying Catholic social teaching in everyday life and in the voting booth. Without telling Catholics whom to vote for, it frames the issues we are called to address as Catholic Christians. The document states, "We believe every candidate, policy, and political platform should be measured by how it touches the human person; whether it enhances or diminishes human life, dignity, and human rights; and how it advances the common good." It lists ten questions that people can use to arrive at this measurement, including how the candidate will address issues like poverty, violence, health care, discrimination, human life and dignity. An resource packet is available for use in parishes, schools, or any faith community.
Attendees at the conference were congratulated by Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) for the tremendous impact Catholics and other people of faith have had on recent debt relief legislation. Other speakers praised Catholic dedication to questions of capital punishment, poverty and hunger relief, pointing out that it is unlikely that these issues would get the attention they receive without the Catholic justice lobby. Leach said that what may be most important about this progress is the realization that "we can have as much influence by being compassionate as we can by being aggressive."
Accordingly, delegates from the convention visited legislators from their respective states on Capitol Hill. Daley and Dix visited the offices of Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Peter Fitzgerald. Target issues included hunger relief and the minimum wage (details), and international debt relief (story).
Action Resources
Faithful Citizenship
Copies of Faithful Citizenship, the 28-page statement from the Bishops on political responsibility in the election year, are available from USCC. So are summary 8-panel color brochures posing ten questions for the campaign. In most dioceses, these materials were mailed to every parish in January, with parish resource packets for adult education and liturgy. Order these and many other materials on Catholic social teaching and peace-justice concerns from USCC: 800 235-8722. On the Web: www.nccbuscc.orgNETWORK and candidates
The Jan.-Feb. issue of NETWORK CONNECTION published voting records of all federal legislators on select domestic and international peace-justice issues in the last session of Congress. NETWORK-minded people use the chart to write their elected representatives and hold them accountable in this election year.
In the fall, NETWORK staff will come to parishes and communities to conduct three-hour non-partisan seminars comparing the positions of the presidential candidates with Catholic social teaching on major election issues.
NETWORK: 202 547-5556. network@networklobby.orgResources against sweatshops
More information on United Students Against Sweatshops can be found on their website at: www.umich.edu/~sole/usas, and on the Workers' Rights Consortium at: www.workersrights.org .
Statistics provided by the National Labor Committee, www.nlcnet.orgNational Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (NICWJ) has a Challenging Sweatshops Organizing Guide, with bulletin inserts, prayers and other resources to help your parish, school, faith community or family challenge sweatshops. The packet is $5. Call NICWJ at 773 728-8400. On the Web: www.nicwj.org
How to reach legislators
You can phone your Senators and Representatives through the U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121. Or get their individual phone numbers and e-mail addresses from the Web: Senate: www.senate.gov House: www.house.gov