Assembly Resolutions

LCWR Assembly 2019, LCWR Assembly 2020, LCWR Assembly 2021

Creating Communion at the Intersection of Racism, Migration & Climate Crisis

Reading the signs of the times from our desire to create communion, we, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, affirm the interrelatedness of the justice concerns addressed by the LCWR Call for 2015-2022. We are heartbroken by the myriad ways our one human family and Earth, our common home, suffer from disconnection, indifference, violence, and fear in the face of racism, migration, and climate crisis.

LCWR Assembly 2018

Systemic Causes of Injustice

2018 Recommitment to 2016 Assembly Resolution

In 2016 the Leadership Conference of Women Religious committed to the work of recognizing racism as a systemic, structural cause underlying and contributing to the multiple situations of injustice identified in the LCWR Call. The Global Concerns Committee (GCC) has heard a desire from the membership to go deeper into this critical work. We recommend that we adopt the following statement...

LCWR Assembly 2016

Systemic Causes of Injustice

In 2016 the LCWR membership issued a call to recognize racism as a systemic, structural cause underlying and contributing to the multiple situations of injustice identified in the LCWR Call. At the 2016 LCWR assembly, the members amended the 2015 resolution to reflect this awareness. The amended resolution was passed and reads as follows.

LCWR Assembly 2014

Doctrine of Discovery

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) calls upon His Holiness, Pope Francis, to consider deeply how the Church may embody in these times the Christian heart of justice and compassion toward indigenous peoples. We humbly and respectfully ask Pope Francis to lead us in formally repudiating the period of Christian history that used religion to justify political and personal violence against indigenous nations and peoples and their cultural, religious, and territorial identities....

Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

Rooted in the oneness of our love for God and our love for God’s creation, we, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, commit ourselves to use our spiritual, social, and educational resources and our public credibility to promote the national transition from fossil fuel energy sources to renewable energy sources as quickly as possible.

LCWR Assembly 2013

Ending Gun Violence

We, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, are compelled to work toward a world where reverence for all living beings finds expression in an approach to life free from violence.

LCWR Assembly 2012

Abolishing Human Trafficking

The members of LCWR commit to collaborate in order to abolish human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery.

Immigration

LCWR calls on Congress to pass the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform that includes the reunification of families and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

LCWR Assembly 2011

Strengthen Bonds Among Women Religious Globally

As we continue to listen attentively to the experiences of women religious throughout the world and to share their stories, the members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will identify ways to strengthen our mutual support in living out the Gospel mission.

LCWR Assembly 2010

Strengthen Bonds Among Women Religious Globally

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious will actively seek to strengthen bonds with women religious throughout the world.

LCWR Assembly 2009

Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

Faithful to our calling to foster the interconnectedness of all creation and building on the strength of past resolutions and actions, we, the members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, resolve to take measurable steps to reduce our congregational/community carbon footprint.

LCWR Assembly 2008

Joint CMSM-LCWR Resolution on Climate Change

The Conference of Major Superiors of Men and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious jointly resolve to bring our own experience and charisms to the current conversation on climate change and into action for justice; to seek concrete ways to curb environmental degradation, mitigate its impact on the poorest and most vulnerable people, and restore right relationships among all God’s creation; and to foster a consciousness of care for God’s creation among all our members, colleagues,...

LCWR Assembly 2007

2007 Sabbath Year- Debt Cancellation For Impoverished Countries

To celebrate the 2007 Sabbath Year, LCWR members will support our sisters and brothers in poor, debt burdened countries by promoting debt cancellation, especially through participation in the fall 2007 Rolling Fast to call for a congressional hearing on the Jubilee Act. We LCWR members commit ourselves to choose at least two additional concrete actions that will promote the release from debt.

2007 Assembly- Preserve and Renew US Wetlands & Coastlands

Aware of our call to care for the creation entrusted to us, LCWR members will promote federal and local legislation which is directed to preserving and renewing America’s wetlands and coastal regions and to strengthening Louisiana levees to sustain a category 5 hurricane.

LCWR Assembly 2004

Election Engagement

LCWR Assembly 2002

Peace

Work for peace by promoting a culture of nonviolence and building a sustainable global community founded on interdependence and the principles of human rights.

Health Care

Support and engage in health care justice initiatives to secure universal access to health care.

LCWR Assembly 2001

Trafficking

Oppose trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Immigration

Advocate for legislation to legalize many undocumented persons, change Border Patrol operations on the Mexico border, strengthen due process rights, and restore food stamps to legal immigrants.

Militarization of Space

Oppose U.S. domination of space for military operations and exploitation of space for U.S. interests and investments.

LCWR Assembly 2000

Welfare Reauthorization

Advocate for legislation to move people out of poverty in the reauthorization of the 1996 welfare act.

Global Peace Force

Endorse a global nonviolent standing peace force to resolve conflict.

Maqiladoras

Work for the improvement of the living, working, and environmental conditions of maquiladora workers.

LCWR Assembly 1999

Mexico/US Elections

Provide observers to Mexican elections and host Mexican observers to US elections in 2000; in coalition.

LCWR Assembly 1998

Immigration

Work to insure human rights for immigrant people; educate and advocate on policies and issues affecting families, battered immigrant women, undocumented and documented immigrant people.

World Debt (with CMSM)

Work to cancel the crushing international debt of impoverished countries; participate in Jubilee 2000/USA Campaign; educate members and the public; advocate.

Health Care

Advocate for national health care policy ensuring adequate and affordable health care.

Death Penalty (with CMSM)

Advocate for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

School of the Americas

Advocate for the elimination of funding and the closing of the School of the Americas.

LCWR Assembly 1997

Human Rights, Women

Educate on human rights from the perspective of women; advocate for ratification of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Earth

Promote Earth Day; send reports to Global Concerns Committee for sharing.

Immigrant Women

Support the gift of immigrant women leaders of diverse ethnic/cultural faith communities; decrease isolation by welcoming these women; exchange learning and gifts.

LCWR Assembly 1996

School of the Americas

Engage in corporate witness 8/16/96 opposing the School of the Americas; call members to prayer and fasting; circulate petition; contact Congresspersons and President.

Women

Promote the roles of women through facilitation of and participation in regional gatherings of diverse women, coordinated by Women’s Task Force.

Welfare

Oppose welfare legislation passed by Congress and awaiting the President’s signature.

LCWR Assembly 1995

Unjust Structure

Change unjust structures that oppress people, especially women; share examples at the regional level about addressing wage and salary structures of sponsored institutions, supporting local projects, making alternative investments in housing, involving women of color in leadership (including boards of institutions), encouraging voting in elections, working with NETWORK.

Women

Align with women of the world at the NGO Forum and the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing; work to implement the Plan of Action.

Immigration (with CMSM)

Declare solidarity with immigrants; oppose legislation (e.g., Prop. 187 in California) denying benefits to documented immigrants or preventing undocumented immigrants from obtaining education, jobs, health care and access to social services; urge that the citizenship process be expedited; commit to prayer and fasting in resistance to inhumane policies; promote non-discriminatory acceptance of immigrants in sponsored institutions; educate; encourage corporate stances.

LCWR Assembly 1994

Nonviolence

Support the Violence-Free Zone Pledge and circulate it; oppose physical or verbal abuse based on race, creed, gender or sexual orientation; oppose rape, spouse abuse, incest, violence against children; act to reform governments, organizations, institutions doing violence; promote peace; end abuse of earth and its creatures; influence media; protect victims; commit to non-violent conflict resolution.

School of the Americas

Call for closing of the School of the Americas; lobby Congress to eliminate funding.

LCWR Assembly 1992

Debt crisis of Latin America (with CMSM)

In commemoration of the Fifth Centenary, urge resolving the debt crisis of Latin America (including forgiveness of unjust debt); foster just, participative and sustainable development.

Guatemalan Refugees

Support Guatemalan refugees in Mexico planning return to their homeland, including rights to a voluntary and collective return, to their original lands, to organization and association, to community life, to accompaniment, to freedom of movement.

Death Penalty

Condemn the death penalty; call on states to extend mercy to those sentenced to death.

Shareholder Resolutions (with CMSM)

Oppose changes in rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission which would weaken shareholder rights to file on social issues.

LCWR Assembly 1991

NETWORK

Commend NETWORK on its 20^th anniversary and continue collaboration.

Maquiladoras

Endorse the Maquiladora Standards of Conduct for U.S. corporations.

El Salvador

Support the National Debate for Peace in El Salvador urging demilitarization of El Salvador and discontinuing U.S. military aid.

LCWR Assembly 1990

Health Care

Advocate for national health policy ensuring health care for all citizens.

South Africa

Urge an end to apartheid by supporting economic sanctions against South Africa and filing shareholder resolutions.

Middle East

Oppose military action in the Middle East.

LCWR Assembly 1989

Philippines (with CMSM)

Urge an end to U.S. military presence in the Philippines; urge that implementation of the Multilateral Assistance Initiative be directed to land reform and income redistribution.

Non-violent resistance (with CMSM)

Endorse planning a National Faith and Resistance Retreat in 1991, including reflection and non-violent action on issues such as the arms race, environment, violence, racism, national security, sexism, patriarchy, poverty, U.S. intervention.

LCWR Assembly 1988

Boycott General Electric

Endorse the INFACT boycott of General Electric; urge halting the production of nuclear weapons

Immigration

Endorse the Pledge of Non-Cooperation with the employer sanction provision of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA); lobby Congress to amend it.

Haiti

Support democratic election of president; support the Washington Office on Haiti; educate and advocate about Haiti.

Church Constitutions Approval

Urge changes in the approval process for Constitutions, including recognition of culture, dialogue, and mutuality.

Hispanic Ministry

Encourage implementation of the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry.

Women

Endorse the Ecumenical Decade: Churches in Solidarity with Women, 1988-1998, initiated by the World Council of Churches.

Black Catholics

Urge implementation of the Pastoral Plan developed by the National Black Catholic Conference.

LCWR Assembly 1987

AIDS

Support persons suffering with AIDS; address needs of persons with AIDS; support the NCCB task force on AIDS.

Church Matters

Thank Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen for his witness to the Gospel during the investigation of the archdiocese of Seattle.

Nuclear Disarmament

Sign Citizens’ Declaration; gather signatures; support related legislation.

Northern Ireland

Endorse the MacBride principles; communicate support to U.S. companies operating in Northern Ireland.

Sanctuary

Support the sanctuary movement; support religious congregations and churches who declared public sanctuary for Central American refugees; oppose military aid to Central America; support withdrawing troops from Honduras; support extended voluntary departure status for refugees.

Church Matters

Support men’s religious communities who desire full membership for all members, priests and brothers, including the right to hold office.

LCWR Assembly 1986

Church Discipline

Express concern that disciplinary action against Rev. Charles Curran inhibits discussion and academic freedom.

Lay Ministry

Urge that laity be consulted in the selection of lay auditors at the ’87 Synod on the Laity; urge inclusion of lay experts.

Refugees

Protest U.S. policies of detention of undocumented persons and deportations without legal counsel.

El Salvador

Support repopulation and the people’s right to request international accompaniment.

LCWR Assembly 1985

Sanctuary

Support the sanctuary movement.

Grape Boycott

Endorse the United Farmworkers boycott of table grapes.

NETWORK

Reaffirm NETWORK on 15th anniversary; commit to renewed support.

South Africa

Protest U.S. policy of constructive engagement; combat racism in the U.S. as well as in South Africa.

LCWR Assembly 1984

Church Matters

Set up consultation panels to assist members in ecclesiastical conflict; affirm the Bishops’ pastoral letter on peace and the methodology used to develop it; urge that the pastoral letter on the economy include effects of militarism.

LCWR Assembly 1983

Latin America

Denounce U.S. intervention in Latin America; support peace and self-determination; continue to work in solidarity with CLAR.

Nuclear weapons

Oppose deployment of the Cruise and Pershing II missiles in Europe.

Economic conversion

Support the Jobs With Peace March on 8/27/83.

LCWR Assembly 1982

Criteria for ministry (with CMSM)

Gospels, church, signs of the times, charism, response to needs with special attention to the poor and other victims of injustice, ministry of laity, reshaping oppressive social systems, global implications.

LCWR Assembly 1981

Systemic change

Work to change social, economic, and political systems that dehumanize; work for peace and liberation; be open to the Spirit’s call to conversion and action. Specifically: oppose MX missile and neutron bomb; be in solidarity with the poor; work for equality of all, especially women, in Church and society; eliminate racism; affirm self-determination of all peoples, especially in Latin America; work toward conservation and a more equitable distribution of earth’s resources; be sensitive to...