FAITH, POLITICS AND THE COMMON GOOD DRAW CATHOLICS TO NATIONAL CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA

Over 800 delegates will affirm platform addressing economic justice, health care, immigration and other moral issues

Washington, DC- During an election year when religious voters are being aggressively courted by both political parties, Catholics and other people of faith will participate in an unprecedented convention in Philadelphia, July 11-13, to urge the presidential candidates and all elected officials to put the common good before narrow partisan agendas.

Eight hundred delegates representing more than 20 religious and Catholic social justice organizations from across the country ---including more than 100 Catholics from Pennsylvania-- will attend this first-of-its-kind Convention for the Common Good and affirm a platform that addresses issues such as the economy, health care, immigration, environmental stewardship, war and building a consistent culture of life. Over 2000 people in 40 states have contributed to the platform over the last several months. The platform will be sent to both presidential candidates and national political parties.

Convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, the convention will be held at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel. Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, along with surrogates, have been invited. Elected officials scheduled to attend include Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida. Speakers include Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, Bishop Walter Sullivan, retired bishop of Richmond, Va.; John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO; and Dr. Shawn Copeland of the Boston College theology department. Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Jr. will moderate a discussion about faith and politics on Saturday July 12 at 8 p.m.

“Catholics and all Americans are tired of politics as usual and hungry for a new vision of governance that is rooted in a moral commitment to human dignity and social justice,” said Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. Ms. Kelley is co-author with Chris Korzen of A Nation for All: How the Catholic Vision of the Common Good Can Save America From the Politics of Division.

"Our goal is to reclaim the best of our country's idealism and demand that elected leaders resolve the most pressing needs of our times in the light of Catholic Social Tradition. At the Convention we will adopt a Platform for the Common Good that we can use to ensure that politicians address critical moral issues," said Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, executive director, NETWORK.

Sponsors of the convention include Pax Christi USA; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Center of Concern; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; National Catholic Rural Life Conference; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Ignation Solidarity Network; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; U.S. Catholic Mission Association; Conference of Major Superiors of Men; Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; Franciscan Mission Service; Franciscan Action Network; Catholics United; Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice and the University of San Francisco, Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought.

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and its core values of justice, dignity and the common good to Catholics, the media and Americans of all faiths. Through communications, grassroots outreach and strategic coordination, Catholics in Alliance works to advance the common good in the American public square. For more information please visit www.catholicsinalliance.org/.

NETWORK-a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace-educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. For more information, visit www.networklobby.org.

Contact:
John Gehring
202-429-9683
Catholics in Alliance

Stephanie Niedringhaus
202-347-9797 x224
NETWORK
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