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Respecting Life at the End of Life. Respetando la Vida al Final de la Vida.  Based on Sacred Scripture and tradition, the Catholic Church teaches that all life is a gift from the Creator. As God’s creation, the value and dignity of human life cannot be limited by the boundaries of our earthly existence. We therefore embrace the hope that the fullness of life consists not in the number of our days, but in sharing the very life of God. This sacred reality calls us to be grateful stewards of life from its beginning to its natural end.

Sign of Faith. . . Bread of Life.  As voters, we have the opportunity to both respond to the challenges and meet the needs of society.  This document is a statement by Alexander J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle, on Catholic participation in political life.

A Guide to Making Good Decisions for the End of Life: Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care . This booklet is a practical resource to assist Catholics in making choices about health care decisions for the end of life.  It provides an overview of Catholic teachings on end-of-life decision-making as well as "living will" and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care forms.   En Español  The booklet can be ordered from WSCC.  Click on link for order form in English;   

Call to Unity. Justice in Immigration Policies.  (English) (En Español)   Immigration reform is the subject of a heated national debate.  To nurture unity among Catholic people, the bishops of Washington State have prepared this question-and-answer guide in order to clarify the position of the Catholic Church on the issue of immigration. 

Conscience and Pharmacists' Responsibilities (MS Word file)  (pdf file).  This is a timely statement by the Bishops of the state addressing a proposal before the State Board of Pharmacy dealing with the dispensing of medications or devices by pharmacists.  The Bishops support a conscience clause to allow pharmacists to refrain from dispensing Plan B drugs, the so-called morning after pills.

On Marriage and Discrimination.  This statement deals with Referendum 65, which seeks to repeal a law passed in the Washington State Legislature in 2006 that added "sexual orientation" as a class under the jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission.  It also authorizes the postcard campaign conducted by the Knights of Columbus on the federal constitutional amendment on marriage as a union between a man and a woman. En Español

The Faithful Citizen: A Guide to Advocacy.  This handbook is a practical guide on advocacy with background on a Catholic's call to advocacy and helpful ways to work to influence the political process.

Catholic Values in the Public Square.  This document is a call to all Catholics to participate in the political process. To download pdf file, click on link:  In English  En Español  A companion document, "Catholics in Political Life: A Study Guide - Election 2004," was written by the bishops in a question-and-answer format to help people of faith better understand Catholic teaching and the responsibilities of faithful citizenship.  Study Guide   Guía de Estudio

Guidelines for Parishes and Agencies on Political Activity.  This document outlines what parishes and Catholic organizations can or cannot do in connection with political activities. En Español

A Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.  This statement by the Catholic Bishops of Washington State reaffirms the Catholic Church’s teaching that all human life is sacred, calls on parishes to minister to the victims of violence, gives a brief description of the development of the Church's teaching on capital punishment and expresses opposition to the death penalty. 

A Reflection on Washington State's Tax System.  This document by the Catholic Bishops of Washington State is offered as a way of framing discussions about the state's tax structure in terms of justice and seeking the common good.

The Columbia River Watershed:  Caring for Creation and the Common Good.   This document is an international pastoral letter by the Catholic Bishops of the Pacific Northwest addressed to all people of good will in hopes that "we might work together to develop and implement an integrated spiritual, social and ecological vision for our watershed home, a vision that promotes justice for people and stewardship of creation."  En Español.   En Français      A reflection guide is also available.   For more, go to www.columbiariver.org.