Council of Catholic Women - informed, involved and pro-active!

by Cloe Klinkner

As I looked back upon the year that has passed, my reaction was, "Times were controversial, turbulent, tragic, but strangely uniting." Only in a country such as ours could all this occur and not literally implode. We have had a presidential and legislative election, furious discussion of war, then the actual waging of war, a depressed economy, surging unemployment and a host of other issues to attempt to reconcile.

The Council of Catholic Women have begun to take their place in the unfolding scenarios -they are becoming informed, involved and pro-active.

The goals of the Legislative Commission have found validity in the words of Chris Leifeld of the Minnesota Catholic Conference: "Catholic Laity - and all people - can make a big difference in public policy outcomes. By being informed voters, staying up-to-date on what’s happening at the Capitol and communicating with policy makers, average citizens can help legislators make informed decision that reflect what’s important to their constituents." Added to that is the power of prayer - for wisdom, compassion and right knowledge.

Priority issues that have been targeted for this year’s legislation from the National Office are pro-life, agriculture/rural, health, welfare reform, child tax credit, as well as international relief and development overseas in response to worldwide poverty, conflict, hunger and disease.

The words of the late Archbishop Roach are our greatest challenge: "In the midst of too much hate, too much suffering, too much injustice and armed with confidence that the spirit of the Lord is present to us, we must speak to this world of God’s love, justice, mercy and healing. We must voice the healing words of Jesus Christ to a people so desperately in need of healing. We must be God’s prophets, unworthy as we are. This, I believe, is the church’s work in this generation. That, I believe, is my work and your work."