Human Life And Dignity Focus Of 2013 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

WASHINGTON—Catholic leaders fromall over the United States will meet to discuss issues affecting human life anddignity and will take that message to Congress during the 2013 Catholic SocialMinistry Gathering. "Promoting Human Life and Dignity in the Year of Faith" isthe theme of this year's gathering, which will be February 10-13 at theMarriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.

The event is sponsored by the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops and 16 national Catholic partner organizations,including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Charities USA, the Societyof St. Vincent de Paul, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and theAssociation of Catholic Colleges and Universities.

Cardinal Seán O'Malley, archbishopof Boston and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, willdeliver the gathering's opening address and celebrate the opening Mass,February 10. Other presenters at the gathering will include Charles Clark,Ph.D., professor of economics at St. John's University in New York; EricMitchell, legislative director of Bread for the World; Michele Broemmelsiek,vice president for overseas operations for CRS; and Jesuit Father James Martin,contributing editor to America Magazine.

OnFebruary 12, attendees will participate in Capitol Hill visits, in which statedelegations will advocate certain issues in visits with members of Congress.Legislative priorities will include comprehensive immigration reform as well asthe priorities of the Circle of Protection, which include the protection ofessential services for the poor and vulnerable in the United States and thepreservation of poverty-focused international development assistance. The USCCBis a founding member of the Circle of Protection, a diverse group of faithconstituencies that aims to advance moral conscience in the U.S. government's budgetarydecisions.

Registration information isavailable online: www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/catholic-social-ministry-gathering/registration-information.cfm

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Keywords: Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, Justice Peaceand Human Development, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Father Jamaes Martin, USCCB,CRS, Catholic Relief Services, U.S. bishops, human life, human dignity, CapitolHill visit, legislative priorities, Circle of Protection, immigration, poverty

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