FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2008

CONTACT:
Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org
John Gehring, 202-429-9683, jgehring@catholicsinalliance.org

CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR THE COMMON GOOD

National convention draws over 800 Catholics to address key moral and political issues

Washington, DC: During an election year when Catholics are being aggressively courted by both political parties as key swing voters, national Catholic social justice organizations are launching a new campaign – Faith Can Move Mountains: Vote the Common Good-- that will empower Catholics to put the common good before narrow partisan agendas. More than a dozen organizations including NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby; Pax Christi USA; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious have joined the campaign at http://www.votethecommongood.com/.

The web site includes voter education resources from several Catholic organizations, opportunities for media training and tools for disseminating common good messages. The Campaign was launched at an unprecedented Convention for the Common Good held July 11-13 in Philadelphia, attended by over 800 Catholics. The Convention delegates also affirmed a Platform for the Common Good that will be sent to both presidential candidates and national political parties. Over 2500 Catholics in more than 40 states contributed to the platform over the last several months.

The campaign will also include print, broadcast and online advertising this fall that will highlight Catholic teaching about economic justice, humane immigration reform, universal health care, peace and building a consistent culture of life that honors human dignity at all stages.

Inspired by the values of Catholic social teaching, the convention was convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and over 15 sponsoring organizations. The first-of-its kind gathering featured leading Catholics in public life including Senator Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania; Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio; former Rep. Charles Dougherty of Pennsylvania; E.J. Dionne, Jr. of the Washington Post; Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO. Delegates participated in panel discussions on a range of key moral and political issues, and pledged to disseminate common good messages in their local communities. Prominent legislators who sent videotapes acknowledging the important work of the convention delegates included Senators Arlen Specter and Barack Obama.

“This historic gathering makes it clear that Catholics are hungry for a new kind of politics that transcends ideological turf wars and partisan divides,” said Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and author with Chris Korzen of A Nation for All: How the Catholic Vision of the Common Good Can Save America from the Politics of Division. “A campaign for the common good is not about electoral winners and losers, but really about the kind of nation we want to be.”

Sister Simone Campbell, NETWORK Executive Director, stated: “The Convention is a step in the process of the people in the United States reclaiming their Constitutional role. It is “We the People” who must insist that government act to fulfill its mission as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. We are excited to see this message take hold as ordinary citizens take action in order to ‘form a more perfect union.’”

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Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and its core values of justice, dignity and the common good to Catholics, the media and Americans of all faiths. Through communications, grassroots outreach and strategic coordination, Catholics in Alliance works to advance the common good in the American public square. For more information please visit www.catholicsinalliance.org.

NETWORK—a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace—educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. For more information, see www.networklobby.org

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