Domestic Justice and Human Development

Mission & Identity

The Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development is staffed by the Office of Domestic Social Development, which is part of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.

The Office assists the bishops in advancing the social mission of the Church in the United States, especially in educating the faithful on Catholic social teaching. The bishops advocate for policies that advance justice, defend human dignity and protect poor and vulnerable communities.

The office also serves the bishops in their efforts to accompany and empower the poor and marginalized, especially though the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Read more about the Office of Domestic Social Development's mission and mandate.

Happening Now

Gun Violence and Criminal and Restorative Justice

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letter to Congress on the EQUAL Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, August 1, 2022

Statement on the July 4 Shooting in Highland Park, Illinois
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Archbishop William E. Lori, July 6, 2022

Bishop Chairman Welcomes Passage of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas Daly, June 24, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas Daly, June 23, 2022

U.S. Bishops’ Domestic Policy Chairman Commends Congressional Efforts to Address Gun Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, June 14, 2022

Bishop Chairmen Call for Congressional Action to Address Gun Violence 
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and Root Causes of Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, March 9, 2022

Environmental Justice

Letter to Congress Regarding Appropriations for Federal Agencies Charged with Care for the Environment
Most Reverend Borys Gudziak, June 23, 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

Coalition Letter to E.P.A. Administrator with Comments on Proposed Soot Standard
March 28, 2023

Coalition Letter to EPA Administrator with Comments on Proposed Methane Pollution Standard
February 13, 2023

Domestic Poverty and Economic Justice

Letters to Congress on FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Mr. Anthony Granado, June 13, 2023

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letters to Congress Concerning the FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Anthony Granado, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 8, 2023

Letter to Congress on Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop Robert E. Barron and Bishop Michael E. Burbidge, June 2, 2023

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 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

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

Letter to Congress on Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP)
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop William E. Lori, September 8, 2022

2022 Labor Day Statement I 2022 Declaración del Día del Trabajo
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, September 5, 2022

Labor Day 2022 Statement Focuses on Promoting the Welfare of Working Families
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, August 31, 2022

Letter to Congress on Inflation Reduction Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, August 1, 2022

Letters to Congress Regarding FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop David J. Malloy, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 8, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Improvement of Child Tax Credit
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, May 19, 2022

Puerto Rico and US Religious Leaders Statement on Debt Settlement and the Way Forward I Declaración de Líderes Religiosos de Puerto Rico y EE. UU. Sobre el Acuerdo de Deuda y el Camino a Seguir
On March 14, 2022, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley jointed Puerto Rican and U.S. religious leaders in issuing a statement on the settlement for Puerto Rico's debt and the opportunity to forge a comprehensive strategy for recovery and economic development.

Bishops Chairmen Commend Life-Affirming Provisions in Budget Agreement
Archbishop William E. Lori, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Bishop David J. Malloy, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, March 11, 2022

Health Care and Pro-life Issues

Letter to Congress in Support of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
Sr. Mary Haddad, Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, July 12, 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

Statement: After "Dobbs," Congress Must Come Together to Protect Life and Promote the Common Good
August 1, 2022

Statement of USCCB President and Bishop Chairmen in Advance of Supreme Court’s Ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Archbishop José H. Gomez, Bishop Thomas A. Daly, Bishop Robert P. Reed, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop David J. Malloy, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, and Archbishop William E. Lori, March 21, 2022