Some of the best materials for activating your parish or faith community to take action for justice come directly from the U.S. Catholic Conference.

Economic Justice for All
For the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Bishops' pastoral on this topic, its 10 key points have been boiled down and reissued on posters and cards entitled, "A Catholic Framework for Economic Life." An accompanying parish resource packet has a wealth of ideas for liturgy, homilies, education, outreach, legislative action, organizing, plus bulletin inserts, and cross-references to related passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There is a training program for leaders. It all comes from the USCC Department of Social Development and World Peace: 202 541-3381. They can also point you to other programs on the topic coming from dioceses and state conferences. The Minnesota Catholic Conference, for example, has produced a 54-minute video, "On the Outside Looking In: The Struggle for Economic Justice." 612 227-8777

Environmental Justice
Launched in 1993, the USCC Environmental Justice Program is part of the larger interfaith National Religious Partnership for the Environment. EJP seeks to engage Catholics at the parish level in dealing with environmental problems, especially as they affect the poor. Nearly 30,000 parish resource kits are distributed, a different one every year. The latest contains descriptions of a wide range of environmental activities being carried out by parishes and dioceses, plus articles, prayers, homily and other resources. EJP also distributes small cash grants annually ($750 to $1,500 each), to boost local projects that are imaginative, replicative, and broad in impact. Among the 1997 grant winners announced in February: Urban Ecology and Earth Work, creating a work-jobs program in one of Detroit's poorest neighborhoods for residents and the elderly. Another: Save Our Water, a project to change the behavior of residents in Rockville Center, NY, so chemicals on the one million suburban lawns on Long Island don't endanger the water in underground aquifers.
Order materials from the USCC Office of Publishing and Promotions: 1 800 235-8722.

Tell Congress: Hunger has a cure
That's the theme of the 1997 Offering of Letters to Congress from Bread for the World, the non-partisan Christian citizens' movement against hunger at home and abroad, with 44,000 members in 45 denominations. Last year BFW asked all candidates for Congress to sign a pledge that once elected they would support legislation to address childhood hunger in the U.S. More than 600 signed. BFW now challenges them and colleagues to enact legislation to improve nutrition programs. There are also action networks in state capitals as welfare programs have shifted to the states. BFW has the best four-page summary you'll find of the 1996 Welfare Law, and of specific advocacy issues to pursue in your own state government. Internationally, BFW is lobbying Congress to restore recent cuts in foreign aid to the world's poorest citizens, especially in Africa. The latest cutbacks slashed these programs 33 percent, to a 50-year low. Membership is $25.
Bread for the World, 1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1000, Silver Spring MD 20910 301 608-2400. E-mail: bread@igc.org Web: http://www.bread.org

NETWORK
This national Catholic social justice lobby has worked the issues of budget priorities, economic equity and world peace for 25 years. As in past election years, CTA in October mailed NETWORK's Election Chart to all its members, with summary analysis of presidential candidates' positions on key peace-justice issues. The bi-monthly newsletter is packed with actionable information, phone and postcard alerts also go out to members, and many materials are available. NETWORK is now generating letters to Congress for campaign finance reform. Membership is $30.
NETWORK, 801 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 460, Washington DC 20003. 202 547-5556. E-mail: HN5236@Handsnet.Org

Dollars and Democracy Project
This first interfaith initiative on campaign finance reform was launched Feb. 5. Sponsored by the peace/justice offices in the archdioceses of Chicago and Cincinnati and the diocese of Cleveland, along with the American Friends Service Committee, the project plans town hall forums and 300 citizen dialogues in Illinois and Ohio, evaluating campaign finance reform initiatives to make sure they serve the common good over special interests, increase accountability between candidates and citizens, and reinforce honesty in politics through expanded disclosure. "The debate on the role of money in elections has involved politicians and reporters, but rarely citizens and people of faith," says Tom Choquette of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
James Kales, Coordinator, Archdiocese of Chicago: 312 751-8316.

Women Connecting Beyond Beijing
This is a project of Center of Concern to keep building the global women's movement that was so evident when 40,000 women converged on Beijing for the U.N. Women's Conference in September 1995. Goals for women are full human rights, an end to poverty and violence, and eventual transformation of the structures that marginalize women in all parts of the world. WCBB is a process, but also a product: a Facilitator's Guide ( $15) and Participants' Workbooks ($3 each) whereby women can be led to greater involvement through guided discussion and group activities. Maria Riley, OP coordinates the project and wrote the materials. Your local group is led through three sessions (not unlike the old observe-judge-act of the Catholic Action movement): unpacking the meaning of Beijing, then putting a local face on issues, and finally, moving toward action.
Center of Concern, 3700 13th St., NE, Washington DC 20017. (202) 635-2757. Web: http://www.coc.org/coc

Refugee Women Emergency Fund
Fact: Taking only what they can carry on their heads and backs, women flee from persecution, war and famine at all hours of the day and night.
Fact: 48 million of the world's 60 million refugees are women and children.
Catholic Relief Services is the voice of U.S. Catholics for overseas humanitarian aid and development, but USCC provides the umbrella under which various agencies in the U.S. Catholic Church can work together. An example is the Refugee Women Emergency Fund, operated by the National Council of Catholic Women in partnership with CRS. Women's groups in dioceses and parishes raise money, stage "Work of Human Hands" Third World craft sales, and promote donations to the fund through local media. A gift of $50 translates into emergency food, clothing and shelter for 20 women and their children. With $500, psychological counseling can be provided for one year to 35 severely traumatized victims of rape and torture.
NCCW, 1275 K St. NW, Washington DC 20005. 202 682-0334.

Catholic Releif Services, 209 W. Fayette St., Baltimore MD 21201-3443. 800 235-2772