Oregon Catholic Conference

The Oregon Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Oregon.  The Oregon Catholic Conference (OCC) advocates and promotes the pastoral teaching of Oregon's Catholic Bishops on issues at the state & national levels in service to the Catholic people of Oregon. 

The OCC advocates with policy makers and the public to advance the Catholic vision of human life and dignity, the good society, and concern for those who are poor and vulnerable. 

Our goals are to educate Catholics and the general public and empower Catholics to put their faith into action consistent with Catholic teaching through public policies that promote the common good. These efforts include: 

• Developing a public policy agenda
• Coordinating advocacy efforts 

• Engaging with public authorities& legislative bodies
• Working in coalition with other groups of shared concern.
• Creating advocacy resources for our faith communities.

"The Church...cannot and should not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.  She has to play her part through rational argument and she has to reawaken the spiritual energy without which justice, which always demands sacrifice, cannot prevail and prosper."  

      Benedict XVI, (Encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est. #26, 2006)