Catholics at the Capitol, April 15, aims to demystify advocacy at State Legislature

Back in 2019, Laura Elm, who grew up in Bloomington, had never been to the state Capitol in St. Paul. But she “stumbled upon” the Minnesota Catholic Conference Catholic Advocacy Network, which helps keep people up-to-date on the latest legislative issues, and she learned about that year’s Catholics at the Capitol event organized by MCC.

She registered, planning simply to “be quiet and learn.” Instead, Elm, a parishioner of St. Peter in Mendota, was asked to be a leader for her Senate District 51B, in Eagan, for the Catholics at the Capitol event. That required scheduling meetings for that day with each legislator in her district (she also scheduled meetings for District 51A), leading discussions with legislators, leaving a one-page summary document drafted by MCC for legislators and sending a note thanking them for their time.

“Legislative advocacy seemed kind of daunting,” she said. But in the end, she felt prepared because MCC did an “outstanding job” of providing attendees everything from worksheets defining key issues to address with lawmakers, to tips for productive conversations and even tools to set up appointments with legislators.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said, “and that’s why I wanted to go back” this year. MCC is holding its third Catholics at the Capitol event April 15. The daylong event takes place every two years, in the first year of each legislative biennium. This year, the event will begin at the Cathedral of St. Paul with Mass, followed by speakers, issue briefings and advocacy training. Then, as COVID-19 precautions allow, participants will transition to the Minnesota Capitol nearby for Benediction and prayers before a closing program.

Elm said the event clarifies a process that, for many Minnesotans, is unknown. It gives people a chance to get to know lawmakers and see that they are open to meeting and talking with constituents, she said.

“And … the speakers are outstanding,” she added. “And you meet with other Catholics from your district who are probably in your neighborhood.”

Two speakers — Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Obianuju Ekeocha, founder of Culture of Life Africa — will address this year’s attendees.

The in-person event will be limited to the first 1,000 registrants, with precautions taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so early registration is recommended. Plans are also in the works to offer an online version. Those wishing to attend in person or online will need to register.

The day will begin with 8 a.m. Mass followed by speakers and advocacy training, all of which will be in person and livestreamed. The day will prepare attendees to meet with their legislators the following day.

Catholics who attend, whether in person or online, will be equipped to bring their faith into the public arena, said Katherine Szepieniec, MCC communications manager. “They will be formed in the faith, informed on issues that are facing legislators, and be sent on mission as advocates for life and dignity who can begin to transform our state.”

Catholics can influence their legislators, Szepieniec said, “but that requires building a relationship, and relationships have to start somewhere, which is why we bring Catholics to their legislators to engage them.”

Nearly every senator and one or both representatives of a district routinely have met with those gathered, she said. This year, the Minnesota House of Representatives added four Catholics to its ranks, for a total of 25, while the state Senate added six, for a total of 11 Catholic senators.

Bill LeMire, 57, a Vadnais Heights resident who lives in Senate District 42, participated in the 2019 event and described it as an opportunity to interact at a local level with state representatives.

“This is our community,” said LeMire, a parishioner of St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake. “This is our neighborhood. And a lot of what goes on at the State Legislature has immediate impact on us here, so it was encouraging to meet the legislators that represent my … district.”

LeMire called the event a chance to get engaged. “I was encouraged by it. The big message is ‘your voice can be heard.’”

Learn more about Catholics at the Capitol, register for the event and follow updates at Catholicsatthecapitol.org.

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Meet the speakers

Archbishop José Gomez

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, 69, is serving a three-year term as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is the first Latino bishop elected to serve in that role. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, and a priest of Opus Dei, Archbishop Gomez became a U.S. citizen in 1995 while ministering in dioceses in Texas. He was auxiliary bishop of Denver from 2001 to 2004, archbishop of San Antonio from 2004 to 2010, and coadjutor archbishop of Los Angeles in 2010 before assuming his current role in 2011. In his ministry, he has addressed moral and spiritual issues in American public life and culture, and he has played a leading role in the Catholic Church’s efforts to promote immigration reform. He is the author of the 2013 book “Immigration and the Next America: Renewing the Soul of Our Nation.” He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of Navarre in Spain.

Obianuju Ekeocha

Born in 1979 and raised in Nigeria, Obianuju Ekeocha is an internationally acclaimed strategist, speaker, author, social activist and documentary filmmaker. She is founder and president of Culture of Life Africa and author of “Target Africa: Ideological Neocolonialism of the Twenty-First Century” (2018) and executive producer of the award-winning documentary “Strings Attached” (2019). Ekeocha has advised African, European and North American lawmakers on issues concerning African women’s health, youth, families, health care, foreign aid, education and culture. She has also worked with African religious leaders and co-authored a number of pro-life declarations with African Catholic episcopal conferences. She holds a master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of East London and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Nigeria.

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