How Issues Are Analyzed

NETWORK's mission of education and lobbying on behalf of justice for those who are poor and marginalized directs our choice and analysis of issues.

We use three primary lenses to critique legislation:

I. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel Message:

• respect for the dignity of each individual person;
• the common good as interrelated with the good of each person and the health and future of the planet;
• the dignity of work;
• the special claim of those who are poor and vulnerable;
• the dignity of all creation;
• participation as a basic human right.

II. Life experiences of people who are poor.

III. A feminist / womanist / mujerista perspective that:

• promotes mutuality, equality and collaboration;
• values and promotes women as contributing members of society;
• respects the diversity of women's experiences in moving from oppression to liberation;
• acknowledges that the largest number of people worldwide living in poverty are women.

Results of Congressional Votes

Find out how your Representative or Senators have voted on issues we follow by using our Legislative Action Center. For other issues, use "Thomas" at the Library of Congress website and click on Roll Call Votes for either House or Senate.