Pastoral Letters

A pastoral letter is an open letter addressed by a bishop to Catholic clergy, laity, and all people of good will. Pastorals generally contain instruction, consolation, or directions for behavior in particular circumstances. CCA is known for its planning, writing, and promulgation of two pastoral letters from the Appalachian bishops and one “people’s pastoral.”

“This Land is Home to Me: A Pastoral Letter on powerlessness in appalachia” (1975)

The document that started it all, reflecting the struggles and hopes of the region’s people, calling for a bold response from the church, and signed by the region’s Catholic bishops. The pastoral went on to influence the writing process of pastoral letters promulgated by the U.S. bishops, and church historian David O’Brien described it as “certainly the most remarkable document of the postconciliar American church.”

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“At Home in the Web of Life: A Pastoral Message on Sustainable Communities in Appalachia”(1995)

This follow up pastoral letter celebrating the 20th anniversary of “This Land is Home to Me” was far ahead of its time in 1995, pointing the way toward sustainability in Appalachia and beyond, and anticipating the eco-theology of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’.

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“The Telling Takes us Home: Taking Our Place in the Stories that shape Us, A People’s pastoral from the Catholic committee of appalachia (2015)

To celebrate our two earlier pastoral letters, CCA intended to publish a third letter in 2015. As the pastoral priorities of the region’s bishops had shifted away from social justice concerns, CCA opted to write a “people’s pastoral” without the direct involvement of the bishops. Read the document as a PDF. An abridged version is also available below, as well as a free discussion guide.

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Endorsements

Statements & Resolutions

Catholic Committee of Appalachia is a faith-based network raising a prophetic voice for Appalachia and her people. One way we raise that voice is by publishing statements and resolutions on social and environmental matters that are of concern to our members and the region. By clearly and unmistakably proclaiming God’s justice, CCA fills the void of speaking truth to power, which is a voice we have often found to be lacking in other arenas within the Catholic Church. View CCA’s Policy on Position Statements, Resolutions & Endorsements here.

statement opposing WV HB #2007 Banning Gender-aFfirming Care of Trans minors

At its inception, our early church welcomed the queer community and Catholic Committee of Appalachia continues God’s call of love and acceptance. Being transgendered is not a choice and our unwavering support of the rights of trans youth to receive gender-affirming healthcare protects their dignity and saves lives.

Photo: Daniel Arauz via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

Statement on the Guilty Verdict of Derek Chauvin for the Murder of George Floyd

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia joins the voices of those expressing relief at the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin in the Minnesota trial for the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. We hope that this begins a new era of legal accountability in response to police brutality against people of color at the very least, and of a legal and law enforcement system that does not violate, but rather recognizes and upholds, human dignity.

Statement on the Attack on the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia vehemently denounces the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. We recognize that divisive politics, hatred, and disinformation campaigns played significant roles in fueling the actions of fellow citizens, and we are also called to name the root cause—the white supremacist system characterized by violence, exclusion, and suspicion directed toward persons of color that has and continues to plague our country since its very beginning.

Statement of Commitment to Anti-Racist Action in Society and in the Church

CCA condemns all acts of racist violence against Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in the United States. We reiterate our words from our 2014 Statement on Systemic Racism that “Black Lives Matter,” and this current historical moment compels us further to make additional demands for this society and for our church, and to make deeper commitments on the part of CCA.

Statement on the Release of Pope Francis' Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Querida Amazonia"

Querida Amazonia is a courageous, and even radical, step forward in the continuing development of the church’s “integral ecology.” However, we, like many other sectors of the church, are disappointed with Querida Amazonia’s discussion of the role of women in the church.

Statement on Strike of West Virginia State Employees

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia expresses its admiration and support for the teachers and service personnel in all 55 counties of West Virginia currently on strike. Students and others who have joined them in the work of organizing pickets, rallies, and conversations with legislators inspire us.

Statement on Child Abuse in the ROman Catholic Church

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia (CCA) prides itself on raising a prophetic voice of justice. Yet it has taken us this long to tackle the topic of child abuse, particularly sexual abuse by clerics and religious in the Roman Catholic Church and its cover up by their bishops and superiors. For most people, the mere thought of the scandal conjures such a wave of upsetting emotions that it becomes difficult to discuss.