Promoting awareness of Catholic social teaching and opportunities to live the Baptismal call to love God and neighbor.
WHAT'S NEW
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of “Communities of Salt and Light”
View the new Communities of Salt and Light webpage and take the social ministry assessment to see how your faith community is living out the call to be Salt and Light.
Reflect on Pope Francis' Laudate Deum (Praise God)
Use this new prayer inspired by Laudate Deum, read the exhortation, and study with materials in English and Spanish from the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.
"The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice."
- Pope BenedictXVI
The Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development (JPHD) promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and opportunities to live the Baptismal call to love God and neighbor.
Efforts include the anti-poverty mission of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, as well as advocacy in support of poor and vulnerable persons and communities, in the U.S. and abroad.
JPHD's work is guided by the Committees on International Justice and Peace, Domestic Justice and Human Development and the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
U.S. Bishops Mark Thirty Years Since Release of “Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish”
November 20, 2023
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
Statement on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation I Newsroom Statement
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop David J. Malloy, September 1, 2023
Letter to Congress in Support of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
Sr. Mary Haddad, Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, July 12, 2023
Letter to Congress Regarding Appropriations for Federal Agencies Charged with Care for the Environment
Most Reverend Borys Gudziak, June 23, 2023
Letters to Congress on FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Mr. Anthony Granado, June 13, 2023
Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023
Letters to Congress Concerning the FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Anthony Granado, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 8, 2023
Letter to Congress on Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop Robert E. Barron and Bishop Michael E. Burbidge, June 2, 2023
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Since 2013, CCHD has invested nearly $2.5 million to support environmental justice. Learn how CCHD is helping communities support 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
Statement on Continued Violence in the Holy Land
Bishop David J. Malloy, October 27, 2023
Statement to Mark the 25th Anniversary of International Religious Freedom Act
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop David J. Malloy, October 25, 2023
Statement of U.S. Bishops’ International Justice and Peace Chairman Amidst Violence in the Holy Land
Bishop David J. Malloy, October 8, 2023
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Armed Coup in Niger
Bishop David J. Malloy, September 14, 2023
Statement Urging Humanitarian Access for Nagorno-Karabakh
Bishop David J. Malloy, September 7, 2023
Statement on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation I Newsroom Statement
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop David J. Malloy, September 1, 2023
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bishop David J. Malloy, August 8, 2023
Statement Calling for Global Leaders to Ensure Food Security for All
Bishop David J. Malloy, August 7, 2023
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Situation in Sudan
Bishop David J. Malloy, August 2, 2023
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace Calls for Remembrance and Support of Nuclear Arms Control
Bishop David J. Malloy, August 1, 2023
Letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Situation in Colombia
Bishop David J. Malloy, July 24, 2023
Letter to Congress on President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
Bishop David J. Malloy, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Mr. Sean Callahan, July 14, 2023
Statement on Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
Bishop David J. Malloy, July 14, 2023
Statement on the Status of Bishop Alvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Bishop David J. Malloy, July 12, 2023
Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2024 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations
Bishop David J. Mally and Mr. Sean Callahan, June 9, 2023
Resources and Tools to Learn, Reflect, and Act
We are called as missionary disciples to bear witness in the world. JPHD has numerous resources in English and Spanish to help Catholics engage in the Church’s social mission. Visit the Resources and Tools page and the Fe en Acción page today and take advantage of the numerous resources available to put your faith in action.
The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform
What do the Eucharistic Revival, the U.S. bishops’ 2021 statement on the Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, and our Catholic social mission have in common? All form and send missionary disciples to transform our communities in God’s vision of love and justice. Read a new short reflection, The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform, which can help communities pray, reflect, and discern how to respond to Christ’s call to love one another. The reflection is also available in Spanish.
Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics
Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to model “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 154). Commit to seeking the truth, building bridges, and finding solutions together that promote the common good. Individuals, families, and communities can participate. Take the pledge today!
CST101 Videos and Educational Materials | en Español
CST 101 collaborative 7-part video and discussion guide series presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching. The videos bring the themes of Catholic social teaching to life and inspire us to put our faith into action. Some suggested uses of the videos and discussion guides include adult faith formation settings, high school theology classes, in lay ministry formation, and to prepare groups for service trips. The series also includes downloadable posters and handouts for adults and kids, in English and Spanish. The artwork featured in the videos and accompanying videos are courtesy of Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS.
Environment
Learn more about God's gift of creation and the Church's teaching on the environment with our new resources.
Pope Francis' Social Teaching
These quotes from Pope Francis are an example of his teaching on poverty, economic justice, care for creation, human rights, and other issues. | en Español
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter
Every Christian has an obligation to witness to the faith, but the Holy Spirit is the one who prepares hearts to hear and accept the Gospel, said Pope...
Being watchful and preparing to welcome the Lord is not only an Advent discipline, Pope Francis said; Catholics should have that same kind of vigilanc...
During their recently-concluded committee and subcommittee meetings in Baltimore, programs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)...