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CONVENTION SPONSORS


NETWORK, A National Social Justice Lobby
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
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
Ignatian Solidarity Network
US 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
Lane Center for Catholic Studies & Social Thought, University of San Francisco

Over 800 Catholics and faith leaders across the country gathered in Philadelphia this summer to engage with elected officials and develop a Platform for the Common Good. The Convention for the Common Good is only the beginning…we invite you to join the movement.

Take Action! Sign on now to the Platform for the Common Good. We plan to send the platform to both presidential campaigns prior to their conventions. Our goal is 10,000 signatures by August 15th!

2,304 SIGNATURES SO FAR
(since July 13!)

ESTABLISH JUSTICE
ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE
PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE
SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY

    INSPIRED BY FAITH AND BUILDING ON OUR NATION’S FOUNDING IDEALS

    Enlivened by the Gospel message of hope and the wisdom of Catholic Social Teaching, we, as people of faith, have come together with deep urgency to help make our nation “a more perfect union” focused on the common good. In the words of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution,

    We the People of the United States are called to:

    ESTABLISH JUSTICE

    To establish Justice we are challenged to protect life and to address disparities between “haves” and “have-nots” in this country and around the world. We are called to support policies that promote economic equity, ensure human rights, and eliminate all forms of exploitation and discrimination. We must address the root causes of migration and reform our flawed immigration system. And we need to change laws and mentalities that support institutional racism, sexism and classism, and discrimination based on disability, age or other factors.

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    ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

    To ensure domestic Tranquility we need infrastructures and programs to build up local communities and businesses and to provide access to education, jobs, needed services and green space. Local businesses are important in developing strong communities that support families. Government, business and community partnerships must provide needed opportunities for children and families to flourish in an environment free from violence and criminal activity. We need to reform our criminal justice systems and focus more attention on rehabilitation programs and transitional support services for re-entry into communities.

    PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE

    To provide for the common defense we need to develop an ethical U.S. foreign policy that emphasizes conflict resolution through diplomacy instead of military force—and that promotes stability abroad through fair trade laws, debt cancellation and increased responsible international development aid. Our nation must engage with other nations to develop creative solutions to common problems such as migration, human trafficking, drug trafficking, crime, weapons proliferation, global poverty, and climate change. Our country needs to do more to foster constructive relations with and improved understanding of other cultures. Supporting the United Nations is critical as is participating in and abiding by international treaties.

    PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE

    To promote the general Welfare we must promote and protect life and all of the systems and supports that are required for life and human dignity. This includes embracing the goals of both the U.S. and the global campaigns to eliminate poverty and to increase access to quality education, living wage jobs, safe housing, nutritious food, and comprehensive, quality healthcare. We must create the essential conditions for a consistent culture of life that respects and promotes life at all stages.

    SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY

    To secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our posterity we must organize our economic development and production to provide for long term sustainability. Ecological responsibility requires that we manage and distribute material resources across all humanity and into future generations. We envision a social and economic order that is sustainable and ecologically responsible; places human dignity above profits; harnesses renewable and clean sources of energy; balances corporate interests with the global common good; addresses the need to strengthen our infrastructure; eliminates debt that will harm future generations; recognizes and seeks to address discriminatory practices; promotes fair trade policies; and neither exploits persons and communities, nor abuses our stewardship of the earth.

    Call to Action

    We the People must continue to work together—as government, business, communities and individuals—to create a nation and world rooted in justice. We must speak, act, insist, demand and ensure that the common good is at the heart of all decisions and actions. These times call for renewed engagement across our differences. Political engagement is not just our right, but our responsibility.

    —The Delegates and Steering Committee of the Convention for the Common Good, and all who shared in this process

    • Download the complete Platform for the Common Good (pdf format)
    • Platform Summary (pdf format)
    • Platform en Espanol(pdf format)
    • Platform Summary en Espanol (pdf format)