Year-Round Catholic Advocacy in WA State

In addition to advocating for the bishops' priorities during  state legislative sessions that begin in January, the WSCC also encourages the faithful to engage in year-round advocacy.  Check out the WSCC's Catholic Legislative Advocacy Tool Kit for step-by-step instructions for planning, organizing and participating in activities throughout the year.

English: Catholic Legislative Advocacy Tool Kit (PDF)

Spanish: Caja de herramientas para el activismo católico (PDF)

Additional WSCC advocacy resources

English:

• WSCC - Legislative Priorities of the Bishops of WA State (PDF) 

• WSCC - Tips for Parish Leads, Year Round Advocacy Phase I (PDF)

• WSCC - How To Give Effective Public Testimony (PDF)

Spanish:

• Prioridades legislativas de la WSCC - 2025 (PDF)

• Consejos defensores parroquiales – Abogacía todo el año Fase I (PDF)

• Cómo dar un testimonio público efectivo (PDF)

The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) seeks to work with the three Catholic Dioceses of Washington state to grow a year-round, statewide legislative and policy advocacy network. This advocacy effort intends to engage diocesan staff, parish groups and other stakeholders to support a statewide, Catholic network of legislative and policy advocates. This network will engage in training and advocacy activities around the state. All advocacy efforts will be in line with Catholic Social Teaching and the bishops’ legislative priorities.  Plans for this Statewide Legislative Advocacy Project may be viewed here: Statewide Legislative Advocacy Project Description 10/ 2023 (PDF)

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also has a number of resources for engaging in advocacy:

• USCCB - Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (PDF, ENGLISH)

• USCCB - Formando la consciencia para ser ciudadanos fieles (PDF, SPANISH)

• USCCB - Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

• Guidelines for Parishes and Agencies on Political Activity

• Civilize It

• 9 Rules for Civility from the Catholic Tradition

With ample notice, the WSCC can provide advocates with issue papers that can be shared with legislators or used to inform the faithful:  

English:

• Sample Issue Paper #1 - Life (PDF)

• Sample Issue Paper #2 - Care for God's Creation (PDF)

• Sample Issue Paper #3 - Housing (PDF)

Spanish:

• Ejemplo de documento #1 – Sobre la vida (PDF)

• Ejemplo de documento #2 – Cuidado de la creación (PDF)

• Ejemplo de documento #3 - Vivienda (PDF)