Get Equipped

Act for Justice

Upcoming events and current issues

Archbishop Schnurr Calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform!

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr has released a statement calling for a comprehensive reform of our immigration laws and sharing the Church's moral principles on this issue. "It is my hope that Catholics in particular answer this call to support our migrant brothers and sisters during these difficult times," the Archbishop states. He encourages "priests, teachers, religious and lay leaders do what they can to offer educational opportunities for Catholics of this Archdiocese to hear the stories of immigrants in our communities and to understand the Church’s rich teaching on this matter." To read the full statement ...

The next few weeks are crucial to get comprehensive immigration reform legislation moving in Congress! Please visit the U.S. bishops’ Justice For Immigrants website to learn more about the Church’s teaching on this important issue and about how to get involved: www.justiceforimmigrants.org.

The Catholic Social Action Office has prepared a summary of areas of the immigration system that the bishops would like to see fixed. For an outline, please download “Immigration in the United States: An Overview of the Current System and the Catholic Church’s Response”

Catholic Social Action sponsors “Welcoming Prosperity through Welcoming Immigrants” event at Cincinnati USA Chamber.

Apply now for the Operation Rice Bowl 2010 Challenge grant of up to $500

Did your parish or school participate in Operation Rice Bowl this year? You may be eligible for a grant to further Social Justice activities in your faith community. Click here to find out how.

The Church’s Teaching on Health Care: Access for All; Respect for Life.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have created a new website to inform Catholics about the Church's position in the current health care debate: www.usccb.org/healthcare. In addition, Archbishop Pilarczyk has also issued a local reflection by the Catholic Social Action and Family Life offices reiterating the U.S. bishops' points on this issue. Download reflection....

Foreclosure: The Crisis Next Door!

Building on past success in addressing the foreclosure issue, the Catholic Social Action Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, representing a network of 25 parishes, and the non-profit agency Working in Neighborhoods continue to sponsor foreclosure forums for parishes throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.

The forums will explain the causes behind the foreclosure crisis, inform homeowners behind on their mortgages where they can turn for help, and provide members of churches and community organizations information about what they can do to respond to address the crisis and support their neighbors in need.

For more info....

Salt and Light Faith Formation Program

Salt and Light is a program designed adult Catholics to facilitate the integration of the Church's social mission into the life of the parish. The program, consisting of five two and a half hour sessions, focuses on Catholic social teaching, prayer, and skill development for social justice ministry. Click here to view a list of dates and locations for this program!

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)/Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Parish Promoters

Parishioners from at least 45 parishes throughout the Archdiocese have volunteered to serve as promoters for these two wonderful programs of the U.S. Catholic Church! If your parish does not currently have a CRS/CCHD “parish promoter”, please contact Catholic Social Action to learn more about how CRS and CCHD operate in our Archdiocese and how you can help them achieve their missions to alleviate poverty locally and globally!

Human Life

Human life has been under attack through several recent policy changes from the Administration and legislative proposals in Congress. Read the U.S. Church’s response:

Death Penalty

Numerous executions are scheduled in Ohio over the upcoming months. Our advocacy to Governor Strickland’s office will be needed as each one approaches. To learn more about these executions and to access resources and statements on Catholic Social Teaching and the death penalty, please visit: http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/DP/deathpenalty.htm.

 

The Catholic Social Action office is committed to empowering Archdiocesan parishes, schools, Rural Life conferences, and other faith communities within the diocese to bring forth the gospel call of peace and justice. We offer a wide range of workshops, training, and resources to empower the church to live out Catholic social teaching.