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Domestic Justice and Human Development
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"Jesus' command to his disciples… means working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor."
- Pope Francis
Mission & Identity
The Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development is staffed by the Office of Domestic Social Development, which is part of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.
The Office assists the bishops in advancing the social mission of the Church in the United States, especially in educating the faithful on Catholic social teaching. The bishops advocate for policies that advance justice, defend human dignity and protect poor and vulnerable communities.
The office also serves the bishops in their efforts to accompany and empower the poor and marginalized, especially though the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Read more about the Office of Domestic Social Development's mission and mandate.
Happening Now
Gun Violence and Criminal and Restorative Justice
Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023
Environmental Justice
COP 28: U.S. Bishops Call for International Climate Policies that Promote Justice
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, November 29, 2023
Letter to Congress Regarding the Recovering America's Wildlife Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, November 27, 2023
Domestic Poverty and Economic Justice
Letter to Congress on Including Puerto Rico in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
November 9, 2023
Testimony to Congress on Paid Leave
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, October 25, 2023
Letter to Congress in Support of the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Robert E. Barron, October 27, 2023
Letter to Congress on Request for Emergency Supplemental Funding
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Mally and Bishop Mark J. Seitz, September 11, 2023
2023 Labor Day Statement I 2023 Declaración del Día del Trabajo
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, September 4, 2023
Health Care
Launch of National Catholic Mental Health Campaign and Novena
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Robert Barron, October 10, 2023
Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Background Information
2020-Present
Letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Walensky Regarding Extension of the Eviction Moratorium
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Sr. Donna Markham, and Sr. Mary Haddad, March 26, 2021
Letter to Congress on Additional COVID-19 Relief
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop David J. Malloy, Bishop Michael C. Barber, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, February 3, 2021
Statement Calling on Congress and the White House to Reach a Deal on COVID Relief that Prioritizes Urgent Needs
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, September 8, 2020
Labor Day Statement on Rebuilding a Dignified Post-COVID World
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, September 2, 2020
Letters to Congress Calling for COVID-19 Relief for Those Most in Need
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop David J. Malloy, Bishop Michael C. Barber, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, July 30, 2020
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Letter to U.S. Senate on Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop George V. Murry, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, May 7, 2020
Statement Urging FDA to Develop Ethical Vaccine for COVID-19
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, and Bishop John F. Doerfler, April 17, 2020
Letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Education, Labor, and Pensions and to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on Relief During Coronavirus Pandemic
Bishop Michael C. Barber, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, April 9, 2020
Letter to U.S. Senate and U.S. Hour of Representatives Committees on Appropriations on Relief During Coronavirus Pandemic
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop Michael C. Barber, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, Bishop David J. Malloy, and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, April 9, 2020
Letter to U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives Committees on the Judiciary on Coronavirus Pandemic Issues for Detained Persons
Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, April 9, 2020
Letter to Congressional Committees on Finance, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce on Coronavirus Pandemic Relief
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop Michael C. Barber, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, April 9, 2020
Statement on Rationing Protocols by Health Care Professionals in Response to Covid-19
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, April 3, 2020
Statement Praising Lawmakers for Historic Emergency Legislation on Coronavirus Relief
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 28, 2020
Statements Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Archbishop José H. Gomez, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, and Bishop David J. Malloy, March 13, 2020
Statement Encouraging Lawmakers in Providing Aid and Relief to Those Affected by Coronavirus
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 12, 2020
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