RESOURCES: Catholic Social Teaching and Public Policy

“No Longer the ‘Best Kept Secret’” (Sojourners, July 2014), by Tom Allio, describes how Pope Francis has played a vital role in the resurgence of Catholic social teaching. Through scripture and church teachings, this social tradition continues to guide Catholic communities and other people of faith who seek to create a more just society.

Check out how Catholic social teaching informs the work and mission of these organizations.

• Catholic Charities USA provides leadership and support for local agencies committed to reducing poverty, supporting families, and empowering communities. Each year, Catholic Charities serves more than 10 million people worldwide. On this site, you will find issue priorities as well as Catholic social teaching principles and other practical resources. www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
   
• Catholic Climate Covenant uses Catholic social teaching to educate and mobilize individuals, families, parishes, schools, and other organizations in caring for creation. www.catholicclimatecovenant.org
   
• Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community. Through relief, development, and peacebuilding activities, CRS reaches more than 100 million people in 91 countries on five continents. www.crs.org
   
• The Center of Concern researches, educates, and advocates from the Catholic social tradition to create a world where economic, political, and cultural systems promote the sustainable flourishing of the global community. www.coc.org
   
• Education for Justice, a project of the Center of Concern, helps teachers, social action directors, parish members, campus ministers, and others in leadership roles to promote Catholic social teaching and to bring greater awareness to social justice issues. www.educationforjustice.org
   
• JustFaith Ministries seeks to inspire people and expand their commitment to social ministry. Through a variety of programs, curriculums, and presentations, JustFaith helps churches and small groups to study, explore, and experience Christʼs call to care for the poor and vulnerable. www.justfaith.org
   
• The Office of Social Justice for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis serves parishes and the broader community as a resource and catalyst in the pursuit of social justice. Its site features the encyclicals of various popes and other helpful resources on Catholic social teaching. www.cctwincities.org/CatholicSocialTeaching
   
• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops promotes and advocates for the public policy priorities of the U.S. bishops. Various documents and issue papers, as well as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development—the USCCB’s domestic antipoverty initiative—can be accessed through this site. www.usccb.org