Policy & Advocacy
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2020 Message to Congress
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2020 Message to Congress
Hundreds of Catholic leaders at the 2020 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering urge Congress to bear witness to stories of loss, hope, and resilience—and to enact policies that defend life, promote justice, and serve the common good.
Respond to Gun Violence
- Support extreme risk protection orders to temporarily remove firearms from individuals at high risk of harming themselves or others
- Enact universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers to reduce homicides and suicides
Extend new START program and curb the Arms Race
- Back H.R. 2529 and S. 2394 to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia
- View treaty extension as a responsible step toward nuclear disarmament and preventing a costly arms buildup
Prioritize the Poor, Vulnerable, and Creation
- Oppose budget cuts that undercut poverty-reducing development and humanitarian aid at home and abroad
- Ensure any fiscal realignment safeguards programs that save lives, address conflict’s roots, assist the displaced, and protect the environment
- Seek a bipartisan solution to avoid deep cuts to anti-poverty and stewardship initiatives
Protect Dreamers and Ensure Permanency
- Support S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019, to provide Dreamers a clear path to citizenship
- Act swiftly to safeguard young undocumented arrivals before the Supreme Court’s DACA review in June 2020
Beyond these four pillars, the message calls on lawmakers to listen to individual witnesses—survivors, migrants, parents, and refugees—and shape legislation that upholds human dignity, fosters reconciliation, and strengthens the fabric of civil society.