A Catholic Message to Congress:
Catholic Leaders from Florida to Meet with Staff of Senators Nelson and Lemieux
to Discuss Urgent Domestic and International Issues

Tallahassee, FL – Catholic leaders from across the country will be in Washington, DC on February 9, 2010 to urge members of Congress to take action on pressing domestic and international issues like immigration reform, the economy, recovery in Haiti and a “responsible transition” in Afghanistan.

A delegation from Florida will meet with staff of our Senators and many Representatives to discuss what they can do to help our nation's economic recovery through job creation and healthcare reform, support for meaningful and compassionate immigration reform, and how to improve and increase international assistance with special concern for recovery in Haiti and a "responsible transition" in Afghanistan.

“It is important for constituents to speak with their representatives about issues that are of great concern to Catholics in the United States,” said Michael Sheedy, Associate Director for Health at the Florida Catholic Conference and a member of the delegation from Florida. “It makes a real difference to members of Congress when people from home talk about issues that hugely impact people’s lives.”

The Florida group is part of more than 400 Catholic delegates from 40 states who will visit Capitol Hill during the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering to advocate for policies that uphold the life and dignity of human life and pursue justice and peace worldwide.

Sponsored by more than a dozen national Catholic organizations, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the conference will be held from February 7-10, and is expected to draw hundreds of participants from dioceses, parishes and various Catholic groups across the U.S.

The grassroots advocacy is paying off. The tremendous response from U.S. Catholics during the 2008 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering helped successfully reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief by putting the Catholic perspective in front of Congress in time for a critical vote.

“This is a great example of how our collective advocacy work benefits poor and vulnerable people overseas while at the same time providing opportunities for Catholics to act on their faith here in the United States,” said Bill O’Keefe, Senior Director for Advocacy at CRS.