Our Catholic faith emphasizes the need for both outreach and advocacy, that is, charitable works and social justice.
This page includes information about the Church's Social Teachings as well as organizations that specialize in key issues, with opportunities to engage in advocacy. Click on the link or image to be redirected to their website.
If you would like opportunities to put your faith into action, please visit our Outreach Ministries page.
As missionary disciples, we are called to respond to God’s love through both Charitable Works and Social Justice.
Catholic Social Teaching
The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
As Catholics, we are part of a community with profound teachings that help us consider challenges in public life, contribute to greater justice and peace for all people, and evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and candidates’ promises and actions in light of the Gospel in order to help build a better world.
Our mission is rooted in the Catholic community's belief in the dignity of the human person, our tradition of service to the most vulnerable of society, and our firm commitment to a just and peaceful world.The WSCC represents the Catholic Bishops of Washington in their efforts to support public policies that promote the common good.
In 2004, the Catholic bishops of the United States committed to immigration reform as a priority of the U.S. Catholic Church, and to creating a culture of welcome in which all migrants are treated with respect and dignity. A diverse group of Catholic organizations with national networks joined the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign (JFI) in an effort to unite and mobilize a growing network of Catholic institutions, individuals, and other persons of goodwill in support of immigration reform.
We Are Salt and Light includes resources intended as a catalyst for both the New Evangelization and the continuing development of vibrant communities living the Gospel in the United States. Communities that strive to be salt and light share God's love with others, as we encounter Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit's transforming presence. Inspired by the Trinity's dynamic of community, we Pray Together, Reach Out Together, Learn Together and Act Together.
The Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center acts for justice in the church and in the world. IPJC is sponsored by twenty-two religious communities and collaborates with Catholic, ecumenical, interfaith and other organizations in carrying out this mission.
From Maryknoll Missionary Disciples: Our challenge as front line parish and diocesan ministers: helping the people of God realize their vocation as missionary disciples. It begins in their hearts by accepting God's love, it is nurtured and grows in the family, and then it extends out in ever widening circles to the neighborhood, parish, school, workplace and beyond. It seeks encounter and crosses the situational and geographical borders that limit God's love. It brings us together in growing awareness of our interconnectedness with each other through global solidarity. It grounds us in compassion for each other and in our care for our common home.
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, we urge policymakers to see the faces of those in need in their communities and to create policies which assist and support them.
Catholic Mobilizing Network is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and all people of goodwill to value life over death, to end the use of the death penalty, to transform the U.S. criminal justice system from punitive to restorative, and to build capacity in U.S. society to engage in restorative practices. Through education, advocacy, and prayer, and based on the Gospel value that every human is created in the image and likeness of God, CMN expresses the fundamental belief that all those who have caused or been impacted by crime should be treated with dignity.
Advocacy is one of the most effective ways to ease human suffering and end global poverty. When an unjust policy or system is changed because of our collective advocacy efforts, millions of people living in poverty around the world are able to lead dignified lives and thrive. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) regularly raise the Church’s concerns about global poverty issues with members of the U.S. Congress, the White House and other government officials. CRS invites you to pray and learn more about the global issues affecting our brothers and sisters around the world. Together, our faith in action can change existing unjust policies and create new policies that benefit the common good. Join these campaigns and be part of the movement to lead the way to a more just world by lifting your voice and taking action!
Catholic Climate Covenant inspires and equips people and institutions to care for creation and care for the poor. Through our 19 national partners, we guide the U.S. Church's response to climate change by educating, giving public witness, and offering resources. Catholics do care about climate change and they're working hard to create solutions. Catholic Climate Covenant is at the center of these efforts. With the approval and support of the United States bishops, the Covenant helps guide the US Church's response to the moral call for action on climate change by sharing authentic Catholic teaching on creation and the poor and by informing and inspiring community leaders to take action (education); by sharing stories of those most affected by climate impacts in the public square (public witness); and by providing concrete tools, techniques, and technical assistance to help Catholic peoples and institutions reduce their carbon footprint and to work for justice (resources). Catholic Climate Covenant can help you answer the call to care for creation and the poor through the sharing of Church teaching, our resources, and our programs. Loving God's creation and God's most vulnerable is at the heart of who we are as Catholics.