ARTICLES

Virginia Catholics flex political muscle

By Jeff Caruso
Special to The Catholic Virginian

• Banning embryonic stem-cell research from two state biotechnology programs.

• Halting several expansions to the death penalty.

• Allowing local school districts to provide buses for nonpublic school students.

• Protecting immigrants’ access to charitable services.

These are among the victories in which Catholic advocates played a decisive role during the first four years since the Virginia Catholic Conference was created.

The Conference is the legislative advocacy arm of Richmond Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo and Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and their dioceses. 

Established in 2005, the Conference brings the consistent moral framework of Catholic social teaching to the halls of government. Through visits with legislators and testimony at committee hearings, members of the Conference’s staff advocate the bishops’ stances on legislation addressing a wide range of respect life, social justice, health, family, and education concerns. 

The Conference also helps Catholics throughout Virginia participate in the political process, so that they can provide personal input to those who represent them as critical decisions are made. 

In addition to events such as “Catholic Advocacy Day” that enable Catholic constituents to visit the offices of their state legislators, the Conference also offers an e-mail network for those who want a convenient way to write directly to elected officials. 

Network members receive periodic alerts and updates on bills considered by the Virginia General Assembly and the U.S. Congress that affect Virginia’s families and many of the most vulnerable in our Commonwealth.

Alerts include pre-drafted messages that you can send (“as is” or modified to suit your own style) to your elected representatives in a minute or less.

Although participating in the network involves very little time commitment, it makes a big difference in the outcomes of bills considered by the General Assembly.

The gains made during the Conference‘s first few years were secured by thousands of e-mails that network members sent to their legislators. Constituent feedback is often the deciding factor that can overcome stiff opposition. There is so much more work to be done, though, on issues affecting the unborn, the poor, the disabled, and many others. 

The more people take part in the Conference‘s network, the greater the gains will be for those in great need of our help.

If your parish would like to order Virginia Catholic Conference brochures that include tear-off network sign-up forms, bulk quantities can be ordered by calling 804–225–8565 or sending an e-mail to office@vacatholic.org.

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