"Attorney for the Poor"
Catholic Charities serves as a local advocate for the most vulnerable in our community including the elderly, children, immigrants, the poor, and all those in need.
Advocacy is an integral part of all program services at Catholic Charities, but the Community Relations and Advocacy Department reaches beyond direct services to bring attention to unjust policies and structures that perpetuate poverty in our communities.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy means supporting and defending a cause that you believe in. Advocates work for justice by impacting the public conversation about issues affecting the poor and vulnerable with the hopes their efforts will lead to positive and just change.
Be an Advocate
Learn the Issues
Contact Your Elected Officials
Stay Informed
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Want to get involved or find out more about advocacy and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston?
Contact Advocacy and Community Relations
713-874-6672
Why Does Catholic Charities Advocate? Why Should I Advocate?
Call and Commitment
The teaching of the church and the guidance of Church leaders inform Catholic Charities commitment to advocacy and the pursuit of social justice.
Scripture Commands Us to Work for Social Justice
The mission of Catholic Charities is based on the word of God and the traditions of the Church. Both the Old and New Testament make it clear we are called and commanded to defend the needs of the poor and vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17).
We must fulfill this call not only through acts of service and charity, but also by speaking out and calling attention to issues and unjust structures (Proverbs 31:8-9) We must never forget the measure of a moral and just society is how it cares for the least of its members (Matthew 25:34-40)
Catholic Social Teaching Calls Us to Build a Nation
Church leaders call us to advocate for social justice. Catholic social teaching outlines the fundamental principles necessary for a just society.
View Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Faithful Citizenship Reinforces Our Duty
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces the duty we have as citizens and as a faithful body to work with the government for justice and solidarity. Citizens have the right and the duty to voice their criticism of policies and structures that harm the dignity of the person and the good of the community.
Advocacy Does Make a Difference
Effective advocacy enables us to get our message across; to enlist allies to work and build momentum for change; to improve services and policies at many levels; to hold ourselves and others accountable for actions take that affect in greatest need; and ultimately, to improve conditions and lives of the poor.
Advocacy Helps Policy Makers
Advocacy helps elected officials make better and more informed decisions and to eliminate harmful policies. Policy makers want to hear from you. The better policy makers know their constituents the better they are able to represent the voters which helped get them elected in the first place. Remaining responsive to community needs is important to remaining in office.
How Does Catholic Charities Advocate?
Catholic Charities works in partnership with local and national organizations such as Catholic Charities USA, Texas Catholic Conference, Center for Public Policy Priorities, the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston Office of Peace and Justice, the Young Institute at the University of St. Thomas and many others.
Activities include establishing and supporting a network of ministers in parishes and religious communities committed to advocating for social justice and human needs.
Parishioners may engage in non-partisan efforts to create or change state and federal legislation to reflect just and compassionate social policies.
Who Else Advocates?
Advocacy takes place on multiple levels. Professional lobbyists advocate for special legislation, nonprofits advocate for their clients and legislation that affects them, and individual citizens advocate for community needs and causes.
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