Justice, Peace & Human Development

Mission & Identity

"The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice."

- Pope BenedictXVI

The Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development (JPHD) promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and opportunities to live the Baptismal call to love God and neighbor.

Efforts include the anti-poverty mission of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, as well as advocacy in support of poor and vulnerable persons and communities, in the U.S. and abroad.
JPHD's work is guided by the Committees on International Justice and Peace, Domestic Justice and Human Development and the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

JPHD: Working On The Margins In The United States

Letter to Congress Regarding the Debt Ceiling
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Sr. Donna Markham, May 17, 2023

Letter to Congress Regarding the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop David J. Malloy, May 16, 2023

Letter to Congress on Save Our Sequoias Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson, May 10, 2023

Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2023 Farm Bill
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, April 24, 2023

Letter to Congress on Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and Children's Health Insurance
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Sr. Mary Haddad, Sr. Donna Markham, November 10, 2022

Call for “Radical Solidarity” and ​Congressional Action Supporting Women and Families
Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, October 26, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Policies to Support Women and Families
Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop Paul s. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, October 26, 2022

Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Since 2013, CCHD has invested nearly $2.5 million to support environmental justice. Learn how CCHD is helping communities support environmental justice.

 More United States Issues

JPHD: Working On The Margins Internationally

Statement on Ongoing Religious Persecution in Nicaragua
Bishop David J. Malloy, April 20, 2023

Testimony Before U.S. House of Representatives Regarding FY 2024 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations
Bishop David J. Malloy, April 14, 2023

Statement Marking One Year Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Bishop David J. Malloy, February 23, 2023

USCCB President Acknowledges Hope and Charity Amidst the Darkness Besetting the Catholic Church of Nicaragua
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 21, 2023

Statement: Calls for Prayer in the Wake of Earthquake in Turkey and Syria; Calls for Assistance
Bishop David J. Malloy, February 8, 2023

Backgrounder on the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan
January 2023

Backgrounder on the Pilgrimage of Peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
January 2023

Holy Land Coordination 2023 Communiqué: Communion with the Church in Jordan and the Wider Holy Land
January 20, 2023

More International Issues

Resources

Resources and Tools to Learn, Reflect, and Act
We are called as missionary disciples to bear witness in the world. JPHD has numerous resources in English and Spanish to help Catholics engage in the Church’s social mission. Visit the Resources and Tools page and the Fe en Acción page today and take advantage of the numerous resources available to put your faith in action.

The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform 
What do the Eucharistic Revival, the U.S. bishops’ 2021 statement on the Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, and our Catholic social mission have in common? All form and send missionary disciples to transform our communities in God’s vision of love and justice. Read a new short reflection, The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and Transform, which can help communities pray, reflect, and discern how to respond to Christ’s call to love one another. The reflection is also available in Spanish.

Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics
Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to model “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 154). Commit to seeking the truth, building bridges, and finding solutions together that promote the common good. Individuals, families, and communities can participate. Take the pledge today!

CST101 Videos and Educational Materials | en Español
CST 101 collaborative 7-part video and discussion guide series presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching. The videos bring the themes of Catholic social teaching to life and inspire us to put our faith into action. Some suggested uses of the videos and discussion guides include adult faith formation settings, high school theology classes, in lay ministry formation, and to prepare groups for service trips. The series also includes downloadable posters and handouts for adults and kids, in English and Spanish. The artwork featured in the videos and accompanying videos are courtesy of Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS.

Environment
Learn more about God's gift of creation and the Church's teaching on the environment with our new resources.

Pope Francis' Social Teaching
These quotes from Pope Francis are an example of his teaching on poverty, economic justice, care for creation, human rights, and other issues. | en Español