National Issues Forums in the Catholic Community: a handbook for moderators & conveners
http://nifi.org/stream_document.aspx?rID=10002&catID=15&itemID=10001&typeID=8

Discussion Guides - National Issues forums
http://www.nifi.org/discussion_guides/guides.aspx?catID=15

Reflection/Action Process Workbook
A guide for reflection and decision making about current social issues to help identify opportunities to act on behalf of justice.
http://www.osjspm.org/files/officeforsocialjustice/files/Reflection_action.pdf

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Social Justice Committees
http://www.osjspm.org/7habits.aspx

Avoiding Ideological Debates: Tips for group leaders

The following guidelines will help formational leaders to avoid unproductive ideological debates as groups encounter and act on Catholic social teaching.

• Stay focused on the Church’s social teaching, especially its basic themes and principles, regarding human life, human rights, justice & peace.
• Acknowledge that persons of goodwill might legitimately disagree over how to apply this teaching in particular circumstances, especially complex social situations.
• Use the Church’s social teaching as a lens to look at the moral and human dimensions of public issues.
• Encourage dialogue and respect for the dignity of each participant in the discussion.
• Do not allow anyone to identify the Church with a particular ideology, partisan group, political party or candidate.
• Over the course of time, address a wide range of issues of concern to the Church, especially foundational issues of human life and dignity, to avoid the appearance of being ideological.  Do not just focus on a few social issues of special interest to you.

Reprinted with permission from: “Leaders Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching”,  2001, USCCB
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=264

Ideas for Catholic Social Teaching in your Parish

(Also see Educational resources for Catholic Social Teaching page)

• JustFaith - www.JustFaith.org :  Has various programs for parishes to provide educational opportunities focusing on social justice topics.
• Justmatters - Is an eight to 12 week series focusing on particular social justice topics. 
• Justfaith -This is a 30 week intensive study of Catholic Social Teachings that is modeled on the RCIA process.  Namely, it facilitates openness to conversion through prayer, community, study and immersion experiences.
• Justice Walking:  A 12 session program for older adolescents. This is a conversion process that initiates older adolescents into life-affirming relationships, adjusted by the implications of the Gospel & the application of Catholic social teaching.

For more detailed information and testimonials visit the JustFaith Ministries web page and look under programs.

• Reading Groups:  A parish could offer reading groups that could read any number of books on Catholic Social Teachings such as:
• The Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching; Marvin Mich, Sowers Books and Videos: Louisville, KY, 2005
• Doing Faithjustice (revised ed.) Fred Kammer, S.J. Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ, 2004
• Living Justice, Thomas Massaro, S.J. Sheed & Ward, Franklin, WI, 2000

• Faith Sharing resources:  A parish could offer 7 week scripture based faith sharing resources to scripture study groups, small church communities or Lenten study groups such as:
• Sharing the Tradition, Shaping the Faith
• Principles, Prophecy and a Pastoral Response
• http://www.educationforjustice.org/  print ready resources
• The first two are available for minimum cost from the USCCB and are available in English and Spanish.  The second is available at minimal cost for parishes and individuals.

• The Parish could sponsor a viewing of the video “In the Footsteps of Jesus” produced by the U.S. Bishops with a discussion of the principles of Catholic Social Teachings.

Liturgy Connections

Peace Connections  
http://www.garlitz.org/scripture.htm

Preaching & Teaching from the Lectionary about Social Justice Teachings
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/pdf/preaching_n_teaching.pdf

Faithful Citizenship

Webpage - USCCB
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/index.htm

Planning Ideas for Parish Staffs and Parish Councils
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/parish%20planning%20ideas.pdf

Prayer and Reflection
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/prayer_resources.pdf

Bulletin Inserts (English and Spanish)
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/index.htm