Francis claimed the Holy Spirit as the Minister General of the Order, and we often refer to the Spirit as THE ADVOCATE. An advocate is defined as one that "pleads the cause of another" or that "defends or maintains a cause." Led by the Spirit then, what does it mean to be an advocate in today’s world? How can we effectively advocate for justice and peace? For me the first step is to be firmly rooted in the Gospel and the spirit of Francis and Clare in order to analyze current situations through this lens and discern where it is necessary to "plead/defend the cause" of another, to stand and act in solidarity.

Visiting, writing letters or phoning about issues serves to both educate and to persuade. The most effective approach is a personal visit; next is a phone call; then letters and postcards; lastly, faxes and emails. Here are some tips from various organizations for being an effective advocate with legislators. These can be adapted for others (city council, president of a company, etc.) or for Letters to the Editor.

Visits
Call or write ahead to arrange an appointment with the legislator or an aide in either the DC or local office. For maximum effect, organize a delegation that is representative of groups in your locale. Research the status of the legislation, the Member’s voting record, as well as various sides of the argument. Plan the key points to be stressed, questions to be asked, and materials you will bring. State the purpose of your visit. Be pleasant and persistent, concise in your position and in your request for action. During the visit, don’t be afraid to say, "I’ll get back to you on that" when you are not sure of what information to answer. Afterwards, send a letter thanking them for the meeting, and summarize your position. Send any follow-up material as promised.

Phone Calls
A phone call is helpful when the time is short, especially just before a crucial vote. Prepare by jotting down the key "talking points" you want to make. Ask to speak with the staff person responsible for the issue. Give your name and tell her/him that you are a constituent. Be specific about what you want the member to do. Ask what the member’s position is on the issue. If the staff person is uncertain, ask the staffer what he/she would recommend to her/his boss. Thank them for their time.

Letters
Be brief and to the point. Letters should be a page in length, addressing only one issue. You may send one or two pieces of supporting material such as a local newspaper article. Be positive. Thank the legislator, if possible, for some past action or vote you approved of. Personalize your letter by using your own words, as personal letters receive more attention. Use local or personal experiences to support your position. Don’t be afraid to indicate your Franciscan value system, nor to ask questions. Questions often prompt the person to look more deeply into the issue in order to reply. Ask that they let you know what they will do on the issue. Try to time your letter so it reaches the legislator at the right moment of the process of the bill or issue being debated.

Be sure your return address is on the letter and envelope. Be prepared for a form letter response. Don’t let this discourage you – letters are an important gauge of what the constituents are thinking, and many writing on the same issue may persuade the legislator to rethink his/her position.
Email
Many organizations offer easy ways to send email (or fax) messages directly to your congressional delegation via websites (i.e. Network.) Again, be sure to personalize these messages if the website allows. Some legislators ignore emails because of the volume received – unless they come through the contact form on the legislator’s own website.

Resources
Contact information for your Senators: http://www.senate.gov
Contact information for your Representative: http://www.house.gov
The legislative process: http://search.house.gov/htbin/search
Find a bill or law: http://thomas.loc.gov
Network’s Legislative Action Center: http://capwiz.com/networklobby/home
Various issue alerts from organizations: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home

If you have any questions or suggestions for the Sisters of St. Francis and their stance for justice please contact:

Sr. Pat Farrell, OSF
3390 Windsor Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
563-583-9786
farrellpr@osfdbq.org