Who We Are

Since 1976, Call To Action has been a leader in the progressive Catholic movement in challenging Catholics to act for justice and build inclusive communities.

Our mission is to educate, inspire, and activate Catholics to act for justice and build inclusive communities through a lens of anti-racism and anti-oppression principles.

Core Beliefs

As a member-supported, member-led organization, Call To Action thrives when we all join together at the table. Our core beliefs (right), developed by our Vision Council and members, remind us that as People of God, we have a responsibility to carry out Catholic Social Teaching in all that we do.

  • The people of God are called to live lives rooted in the Gospel.

  • The Church is the people of God and the people of God are accountable to the Creator and each other.

  • Faith communities have the responsibility to foster inclusivity and justice.

  • Every individual has the right to act according to an informed conscience and the responsibility to promote the equality and dignity of all people.

We Are Church

A favorite saying of CTA members is: “We are the church!” In 2022, CTA reaffirmed its commitment to the following justice issues and programs.

  • A church that fosters gender justice, including the ordination of women, trans and non-binary folks.

  • A church that promotes and cultivates dignity among all peoples and families, regardless of their marital status or sexual and/or romantic relationships.

  • A church whose liturgies embrace the many cultures, histories, and languages of our universal church.

  • A church that truly lives by all the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, including the preferential option for the poor; criminal justice reform and the abolition of the death penalty; dignity for labor and workers, especially low-income wage earners and immigrant workers; care for God’s creation; and solidarity among all in this one apostolic church.

Three Pillars: Re/Gen, Working Groups & Alternative Liturgies

Since 2018, Call To Action has invested in these three pillars: the Re/Generation program for Catholics in their 20s and 30s; working groups committed to education and organizing on specific social issues; and alternative liturgies.

  • Call To Action's Re/Generation Program brings together Catholic leaders, change-makers, and visionaries in their 20s and 30s.

  • Our intergenerational, member-led working groups have become essential to CTA's mission and commitment to building communities for church reform, justice, and alternative worship. Working groups facilitate ongoing attention to various issues and strategies, and develop programming and events for CTA membership.

  • Alternative liturgies were formed and inspired by Vatican II to provide meaningful spiritual experiences, worship, and community rooted in the Catholic tradition. Many alternative liturgies have a strong charism for social justice influenced by Catholic Social Teaching.

Chapters

Call To Action Chapters manifest the Church we believe in at the local level. They are the roots of our church-justice movement, providing on-the-ground responses to church injustice.

A chapter is a group of Catholics who have affiliated with Call To Action and who come together to be a Catholic community and work for justice in their Church and local context. Call To Action chapters are independent local groups. While chapters are autonomous, they benefit from consultation and coordination with Call To Action’s national organization.