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Advocacy is taking action to support a cause or proposal. It encompasses educating and mobilizing citizens, and it involves them in developing and promoting policies that affect them. It includes various strategies that influence decision making at local, national and international levels. It is organized around the resolution of a problem. Advocacy can include using multimedia to form public opinion, educating decision makers, organizing public events, researching issues and creating coalitions. Effective advocacy requires an understanding of the problem or issue, solid analysis of the political environment and a coherent proposal for its solution. Advocacy encompasses the education and mobilization of citizens, so they can become involved in developing and promoting policies that promote the common good.
Advocacy is a vital part of our identity as a people of faith. Being “faithful citizens” means that we engage our faith in the world and participate in and make our voices heard in the civic and public life through voting and advocacy. By our Baptism, Catholics are committed to following Jesus Christ and being “salt for the earth, light for the nations.” As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “It is necessary that all participate, according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person ... As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life”(nos. 1913–1915). Advocacy is a public witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ where the church speaks with and on behalf of others in need, articulating positions consistent with our faith.
Advocacy at the state level is coordinated by the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops and three Bishops of our State, currently Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, Most Rev. Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of Las Cruces, and Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup. Allen Sanchez, Director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, presents the concerns of the three Catholic Bishops of New Mexico at our New Mexico legislature in Santa Fe. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good of humankind by addressing issues of moral concern and social justice as seen through the eyes of the Catholic faith. The Conference informs and educates its members and the public about those issues and encourages all to advocate for those issues and the betterment of humanity.
Advocacy at the Federal level, including both national and international policy, is coordinated by the policy staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Other groups that the Archdiocese works with, like Catholic Charities, USA and St. Vincent de Paul (Voice of the Poor) and the Catholic Climate Covenant also have advocacy arms.
We invite you to join us as we confront poverty in our country and throughout the world through the power of our collective voice. Together, we can address the root causes of poverty around the world—hunger, disease, violent conflict, and injustice—which disproportionately impact our impoverished brothers and sisters here and around the globe.
Advocacy Tool Kit:- Policy & Guidelines Pertaining to Prohibited Campaign Activities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe (April 2024)
- Called to Advocate: Moving Beyond Charity
- Policy Guidelines
- Advocacy Essentials: Writing Emailing Calling Visiting
- Sample Letter to Legislator
Take Action Now:
- New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops
Click here for action alerts related to immigration and refugees including DACA
Click here for action alerts related to respecting life from conception to natural death, including issues about abortion, pre-natal care, conscience protections, assisted suicide, euthanasia, contraception, and stem cell research.
Click here for information related to global poverty advocacy, the farm bill, human trafficking, climate change issues that impact the most poor, and more!
The Voice of the Poor Committee upholds Catholic values by researching, validating, documenting, advocating and promulgating issues related to the condition of those living in poverty and the disenfranchised for the purpose of helping Vincentians to live their faith by acting knowledgeably and credibly as a unified body, speaking with one voice to build up the kingdom of God.
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