The Convention for the Common Good
Thursday, July 03, 2008
In the U.S., we enjoy a heritage of robust political discussion. Yet, all too often, debates over issues and policies ignore the people whose voices most need to be heard: the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized.
Fortunately, people of faith are seizing a historic opportunity to affect change in this election year. The Convention for the Common Good, taking place in Philadelphia July 11-13, will bring Catholic organizations and social justice activists together to connect on a mutual goal: changing the national conversation to include a substantive discussion of government for the common good.
To keep the common good at the forefront of political life entails broadening agendas beyond wedge issues with limited reach. To this end, the Convention has stated their desire to focus on "the pressing social justice issues of the day" including "health care, poverty, economic justice, immigration, global warming and promoting a culture of life."
Conveners Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby are calling attendees to ratify a platform that speaks to these issues. The platform will then be presented to both the Democratic and Republican parties, who will be called to guarantee that a common good agenda will be central to their focus in 2008.
The convention will be organized around the four goals it has articulated on its website:
1) To adopt a platform for the common good for today’s politics;
2) To engage politicians, particularly those present;
3) To inspire action on behalf of the common good, and learn tools for that action; and
4) To integrate prayer and liturgy as the nourishing core of our efforts.
In this election cycle, people of faith have shattered stereotypes and broken out of molds created by journalists, politicians and sadly, other people of faith. The Convention for the Common Good is another exciting way that people of faith can show our leaders that we are able to unite around issues that matter to us all.
