Speak out for those who cannot speak, Defend the rights
of the poor and needy.
--Proverbs 31: 8-9
WHY ADVOCACY?
As people of faith and
conscience, we can and should remind leaders of their
responsibilities to their people and offer constructive
alternatives. We can bring about public policy changes that will
end hunger and poverty in our lifetimes. It's not a difficult
thing to do, and it doesn't take a lot of time. It just takes
the will to act and speak out on behalf of hungry and poor
people.
Catholic Social Teaching
Our Teaching offers clear moral
guidance for setting national priorities. It insists people
living in poverty or suffering from diseases or disasters have a
compelling moral claim. For the Church, even the federal budget
is more than just numbers; it is a moral document, reflecting
our moral priorities. (Hill Notes-February 2011-Preserve
Poverty-focused Development and Humanitarian Assistance USCCB)
The Biblical Vision
Concern for the the poor echoes
through the Scriptures—in the passion of the prophets, the words
and witness of Jesus, and the example of the early Church. The
Church has lived out this concern in every age and every land.
Our commitment to those who are in greatest need is rooted in
the biblical vision of the sacredness of all human life. In the
Old Testament, the Book of Genesis teaches us that every person
is made in God's image and likeness and endowed with inalienable
dignity, regardless of who we are, where we are born, or what we
accomplish. As believers, we are called to treat all
people—especially those who are suffering—with respect,
compassion, and justice. (A Place at the Table USCCB
2002)
DOES ADVOCACY WORK?
Recent research by the
Congressional Management Foundation confirms that advocacy does
make a difference. Virtually all the Capitol Hill staff surveyed
(96%) reported that if their member of Congress had not reached
a firm decision on an issue, individualized letters would
influence the member's position. (“Advocacy 101” Bread for the
World)
CHECKLIST FOR LETTERS TO
LEGISLATORS
If you cannot communicate
in person,
handwritten, mailed letters
are still the best way to communicate your message.
-
Include your postal address.
Otherwise, the office has no way of knowing that you are a
constituent.
-
Personalize your message. As
one House correspondence staff person put it, “One hundred
form letters have less direct value than a single thoughtful
letter generated by a constituent.”
-
Be concise. Express your
request clearly in one or two paragraphs.
-
Request specific action. When
possible, give the name of pending legislation or specific
bill numbers.
-
Be informative. Tell why this
issue is important. Draw on your own experience and
knowledge to make the letter your own.
-
Be courteous.
Local
Advocacy Groups
Congregations for Social Justice
(CSJ)
is
a coalition of Raleigh faith communities committed to advocating
for public policies that create a better Raleigh for all people;
working for social justice in solidarity with our most
vulnerable neighbors; and building a sustainable, diverse
network of relationships across our faith communities and with
other partners. Among its 28 members are Pullen Baptist Church,
First Baptist Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Francis of
Assisi Church, Raleigh Mennonite Church and UUFR. CSJ consists
of a core group plus task groups on affordable housing and
community corrections. Meetings: The core group meets on second
Wednesdays 8:30-10:00 a.m. at rotating locations. To add your
voice, contact Jay Butler at
jaybutler@parkerpoe.com.
CSJ Housing Task Force
is a sub-committee that advocates for affordable housing. Group
meets second Mondays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of Raleigh on Wade Ave. Contact Barbara Quinby at
socialconcern@sacredheartcathedral.org.
NC Second Chance Alliance
The NC Second Chance Alliance is a
growing statewide alliance of advocacy organizations, service
providers, faith-based organizations, community leaders and
interested citizens that have come together to achieve the safe
and successful reintegration of adults and juveniles returning
home from incarceration by promoting policies that remove
barriers to productive citizenship. Nearly 50 groups, including
the NC Justice Center, and a host of individuals have signed on
to support the campaign. North Carolinians of all political
perspectives believe that crime and punishment must go hand in
hand, but they want to see a prison door that isn't a revolving
door.
For more
information and to get involved in the NC Second Chance
Alliance, contact: Louisa Warren at the NC Justice Center by
phone (919) 856-2183 or by email at
louisa@ncjustice.org.
Advocacy
Resources
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Other Social Justice
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