“In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. All believers are called to faithful citizenship, to become informed, active, and responsible participants in the political process.”
- From a statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility
Elections 2024: Pursuing the Common Good with a Mind like Christ
As Catholics, we are called to participate in public life in a manner consistent with the mission of our Lord, a mission that he has called us to share. On this mission, we “take up the task of serving the common good with joy and hope, confident that God, who ‘so loved the world that he gave his only Son,’ walks with us and strengthens us on the way”. As missionary disciples, we are accompanied by the Holy Spirit who works in each of us and in every human situation, guiding our hearts, thoughts and actions to build a “civilization of love”. A civilization in which “all human beings have the freedom and opportunity to experience the love of God and live out that love by making a free gift of themselves to one another” (Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, pg. 13). Christ’s love for us let’s us see our human dignity in full clarity and compels us to love our neighbors as he has loved us.
This summer we encourage the Faithful to use the following resource to:
- Understand what the Church teaches about issues affecting public policy
- Develop a well-formed conscience to be able to address political and social questions
- Engage in genuine dialogue and openness to others
USCCB's Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: https://www.usccb.org/offices/justice-and-peace/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship
California Catholic Advocacy Network
Join the California Catholic Advocacy Network Today! Together, our voices will be heard. Join with thousands of our members who are standing up for life and dignity.
- Receive our free weekly e-newsletter, Public Policy Insights - you will be up to date on the key public policy issues happening in California.
- You will receive periodic Action Alerts which make it easy for you to voice your opinion on crucial issues. In less than a minute your letter will be sent to your elected representative!
- You can use the network at any time to easily send e-mails to your elected representatives.
- Your contact information will not be sold or given to any other entity.
Visit the Action Alerts page and make your voice heard on priority bills in California: https://cacatholic.org/action-alerts
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops-Action Center
Sign up for Action Alerts from the USCCB! View current action alerts and sign up for future alerts so that you can contact your elected representatives to express your concerns and opinions on upcoming legislation
Catholic Charities USA Advocacy
Sign up to receive the Washington Weekly and receive Advocacy Alerts from CCUSA!
CCUSA Advocacy and Social Policy team advocates for policies that uphold human dignity and promote integral human development. Informed by the experience of local Catholic Charities agencies, CCUSA urges policy makers to see the faces of those in need in their communities and to create policies which assist and support them.
Catholic Climate Covenant
In 2006, to address growing ecological awareness and the need to implement Catholic social teaching on ecology within the US Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops helped form the Catholic Climate Covenant. Through advocacy, the Catholic Climate Covenant lifts a united Catholic voice to support sensible, faith-informed climate public policies. Sign up for Alerts!
Religious Freedom Week 2024
Religious Freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts.Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect and act to promote religious freedom.
June 22: Respect for Sacred Spaces: Pray that all people of faith would be free to gather in houses of worship without fear.
June 23: Blasphemy and Apostasy Laws: Pray for all people of faith who live in fear of persecution under unjust blasphemy laws.
June 24: Freedom to Speak the Truth: Pray that the Holy Spirit would give us the courage to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel, even in the face of social and legal pressure.
June 25: Service to Immigrants: Pray that the Lord would protect all migrants and refugees, and that all those who work with people on the move would be free to serve.
June 26: India: Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in India, who face harassment and violent attacks.
June 27: Faith at Work: Pray that business leaders would be free to promote a culture of life in their workplaces.
June 28: Civility: Pray that God would give us the grace to remember the dignity of all and invite others to do the same.
June 29: Catholic Healthcare: Pray that governments will respect the consciences of all individuals and institutions that care for the sick and vulnerable.
Programs
Deacon Legislative Advocacy Team
In order to facilitate more engaged legislative advocacy in the Diocese, Bishop Soto has appointed Deacon Legislative Advocacy Coordinators who organize regularly meetings with state representatives to advocate on important social issues. If you are interested in meeting with your state legislator, you may contact Miriam Sammartino at msammartino@scd.org or click here to see the Deacon Legislative Coordinator in your area.
Resources
The following are useful brochures published by the California Catholic Conference:
- How To Lobby
This brochure contains useful information for letting your legislator know what you think through a constituent visit and through phone calls and writing letters. Also includes a summary of the process for how a bill becomes a law.
- Guidelines for Candidates’ Forums
This brochure includes specific guidelines for hosting or sponsoring a political forum. See the USCCB Guidelines for more detail.