1. Minnesota Catholic Conference
CMA -- Duluth
Minnesota Catholic Conference
February 18, 2018

2. “A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern. But what is the best that we can offer to those who govern? Prayer!”
“Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.”
—Pope Francis, Daily Homily of September 16, 2013
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3. Should the Church meddle in politics?
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4. Politics POWER or SERVICE?
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5. Goals of Politics Ensuring the Dignity of the Human Person
Promoting the Common Good
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6. Politics requires the participation of citizens
Pro-life rally
Group of voters
Mother and daughter praying at the Capitol
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7. Politics needs the Church
“He taught by his life and his death that ‘man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality.”
–Doctrinal Note on the Participation of Catholics in Political Life
Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002
- St. Thomas More, Patron of Statesmen and Politicians
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8. WE are called to Faithful Citizenship
immigration
labor and economy
life and bio-ethics
religious freedom
health care
education
care for creation
option for the poor and vulnerable
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9. How do we bring our faith into the public arena?
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10. Form Your Conscience Catholic Advocacy Network
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11. Laudato Si’ More than “the climate change encyclical”
Integral Ecology
Laudato Si’
More than “the climate change encyclical”
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12. A challenge for everyone
“A true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
– Laudato Si’, #49
“Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion.”
– Laudato Si’, #120
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13. Integral ecology and public policy
Renewable Energy
Standard
Education Choice
Surrogacy
Physician-Assisted
Suicide
Felon Disenfranchisement
Immigrant Driver’s
License
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14. 2018 Surrogacy Abuse Prevention Act
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15. Introduction to Surrogacy
Children are a gift and a blessing, not an entitlement or a right.
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16. Concerns about Surrogacy
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17. The truth behind a predatory industry’s business model – baby selling
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18. Commodifying Children
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19. Exploiting Vulnerable Women
“Surrogacy turns pregnancy into something that is separate from the woman, as if she was a bun and an oven.”
—Kajsa Ekis Ekman
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20. Legal Status of Surrogacy Contracts
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21. Legislative History Catholic Advocacy Network
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22. Advocates step up to defend vulnerable women and children in Minnesota
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23. Protecting our state’s most vulnerable women and children
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24. Other Important Issues
Victims of Pornography Act
Opposing Legalization of Assisted Suicide (ethicalcaremn.org)
Water Access and Stewardship
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25. Seek one or many opportunities for lay involvement
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26. MCC is here to help Catholic Advocacy Network
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27. MCC Catholic Advocacy Network
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28. Your diocesan newspaper
Faith in the Public Arena column
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29. Consider a Citizenship Hour
Form conscience
Study Catholic social teaching
Learn who your candidates and officials are
Inform yourself about a key issue Get the relevant facts and principles!
Volunteer
Write a letter to the editor
Pray for elected officials
Promote the Catholic Advocacy Network
Talk to your family about politics
Community board/council
Community-based journalism Chronicling local issues, officials…
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30. Questions? Contact (651) 227-8777 Jason Adkins jadkins@mncc.org
Shawn Peterson
Kathryn Mollen
Website
Blogs
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