Women Religious and Social Justice

Note: The following piece was co-authored by Providence Associates Jane Fischer and Suzie Ray as part of the 29th JUSTus Podcast.

Catholic Social Justice is grounded in scripture – in the wisdom of the Hebrew prophets and in the person and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.

As two of NETWORK’s former executive directors, Sister Carol Coston, OP, and Sister Nancy Sylvester, IHM, have noted, the message of the Hebrew prophets was two-fold: To denounce injustice and to announce a new way of being in the world.

In the New Testament, when Jesus says “The Spirit of God has anointed me to proclaim liberty to captives,” he identifies himself with this prophetic tradition (Luke 4:18). Likewise, as people of faith, we are called to denounce injustices when we see them and announce new, just ways of living together in community.

Pope Leo’s Encyclical Letter “Magnifica Humanitas,” dated May 26, 2026, mentions social justice 17 times. For the Christian community, social justice is a concrete way of following Jesus and remaining faithful to the Gospel.

In the New Testament, Jesus proclaims the “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18) and identifies himself with the lowsly, the sick, the imprisoned and strangers (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

A litmus test for social justice today is the treatment of migrants, refugees and those forced to move due to poverty, violence, climate change and environmental disasters. The way a society treats them reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity.

Sisters of Providence General Chapter Vision Statement 2026-2031: We will co-create a world where every person’s dignity is honored and the sacredness of all creation is upheld.

Principles Shaping Policies, Communities

To explore how these principles can shape policies and communities, you can review the United Nations Social Justice Agenda or see how organizations like the American Public Health Association apply these principles to attempt to eliminate structural disparities. 

Numerous Catholic and non-Catholic organizations work on social justice issues, depending on the specific cause you want to support. Most are non-profits, non-governmental agencies. Internationally known groups include the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for civil rights and racial equality, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Equal Justice Initiative. 

In the current movements for social justice, the emphasis has been on breaking the barriers that prevent social mobility, the creation of safety nets, and the implementation of economic justice.

When speaking to Providence Associate Pearlette Springer, she reminds us that, “The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and its amendments assign rights and duties to all citizens of the U.S. These institutions, in turn, have become the collective voice of the citizen. These institutions were not, are not, created to ensure the distribution of wealth and equal opportunity. 

Social justice wants to transform these institutions to ensure the distribution of wealth and equal opportunity.”

Social justice is the view that all individuals deserve human rights, equal opportunities, and equitable treatment, regardless of their background. It focuses on breaking down systemic barriers that lead to marginalization, poverty, and discrimination in all areas of society, such as housing, healthcare, education, and the legal system. 

The landscape of social justice is vast. Here are some of the leading organizations categorized by their primary focus:

Civil Rights & Civil Liberties 

• NAACP: One of the oldest and largest civil rights organizations in the U.S., fighting for racial equality and dismantling systemic discrimination. 
• Color Of Change: An online racial justice organization that leads campaigns to hold corporations and political leaders accountable to Black Americans.
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): Tracks hate groups, monitors extremism, and litigates for civil rights in the Deep South and beyond.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Focuses on protecting constitutional rights, free speech, privacy, and ending mass incarceration
• Lambda Legal: A national organization working to achieve full recognition of civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people, and everyone living with HIV.
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC): The largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization, fighting for LGBTQ+ equality.

Criminal Justice Reform

• Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Founded by Bryan Stevenson, this organization provides legal representation to marginalized and wrongly convicted individuals, while challenging excessive punishment. 
• The Sentencing Project: Advocates for effective and humane responses to crime. 

LGBTQ+ Rights

• Transgender Law Center: Advocates for transgender rights, working to end discrimination in healthcare, employment, and housing.

 Women’s & Gender Rights

• National Women’s Law Center (NWLC): Fights for gender justice, focusing on issues like reproductive rights, equal pay, and workplace equity, particularly for women of color.

 Global Human Rights

• Amnesty International: A worldwide movement of millions of people who campaign against human rights abuses and for the enforcement of universal rights
• American Association of People with Disabilities:  Advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

When we look back in history, we find that many religious groups perpetuated injustices in the name of their religious traditions and/or on behalf of the government.

Prime examples are their complicity in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Indian Boarding School. One exception to the rule was the Quakers, who were at the forefront of the abolitionist movement.

Slowly, but slowly, that began to change, and today, religious groups are the backbone of numerous civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements. In the United States, faith communities — such as the historically Black Church, Quakers, and many Protestant denominations — drive advocacy for racial equity and equality, economic justice, civil, disability, and LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental justice.

Here is how major religious traditions and organizations lead specific social justice initiatives today:

Christianity

• The Black Church : The Black Church is a term that refers to religious demoninations – Christian [Catholic and Protestant], Jewish, Nation of Islam – that predominantly minister to and led by African Americans. Congregations like the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church have long connected the journey of the Jewish people in scripture to liberation theology and with the concept of social justice. These church communities, led by faith leaders,  continue to fight poverty, systemic racism, and voter suppression.
• Protestant Denominations: Groups like the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Unitarian Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and The Episcopal Church are vocal advocates for environmental stewardship, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and racial reconciliation.
• Interfaith Coalitions: National networks like Repairers of the Breach,  Sojourners and Faith in Action mobilize grassroots movements spanning multiple denominations to address mass incarceration, economic disparities, and other social justice issues.. 
• Hunger & Poverty Relief: Organizations rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, such as Catholic Charities USA, and interfaith groups like Bread for the World, aggressively lobby for policies to eradicate domestic and global poverty. 

Quakerism (Religious Society of Friends)

• Historically at the forefront of the abolitionist movement and women’s suffrage, Quakers continue to advocate heavily for peace and nonviolence. Their international advocacy arm, the Quaker United Nations Office, focuses on human rights, peacebuilding, and climate change. 

Unitarian Universalism

• Guided by principles that affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) frequently leads on intersectional justice. They are deeply involved in immigrant rights, racial justice campaigns, and LGBTQ+ equality. 

Islam

• Organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) serve as prominent civil rights and advocacy groups, combating Islamophobia, defending religious liberties, and challenging discriminatory government policies.

Buddhism

• Organizations such as the Buddhist Peace Fellowship apply Buddhist teachings to systemic issues, actively leading campaigns in environmental justice, anti-militarism, and prison reform.

Catholic Women and Vocations

Since the Civil Rights Era, more and more women are interested in connecting the church to its social justice mission. Many women in the Catholic church are less satisfied with being committee members, baking cookies, and serving at meals after funerals. 

Women are seeking to use their gifts, talents, and treasures in a more productive and purposeful way. In particular, they are searching for connection between Scripture, the human experience, and the experience of God.  

Women religious in particular have taken the lead to connect the dots between the church and social justice. Some of the more active women religious groups and organizations include: Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Catholic Women’s Council, and the National Council of Catholic Women. 

It has taken a long time for women to gain the momentum that leads beyond the communion rails. Many women religious have moved well beyond those traditional church roles, such as eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers, cantors, director of liturgy, and religious education. Educating our young women of the potential of the laity early and often is key to keeping them aware of their calling to serve God and God’s people. Then transform the world into an equitable and equal society that recognizes the rights and dignity of all human persons and our oneness with Providence.  

Call to Action

If you are interested in a religious vocation or learning more about Catholic women at the forefront of social justice issues, here are some steps you can take:

1. Spend time on NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice is an excellent faith -based political advocacy organization. NETWORK also defines Catholic Social Justice on their website. 
2. Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) are living the gospel call at a critical time when U.S. Religious life is shifting and significant decisions are before them that will impact the vocational call. Their site has a lot of resources, publications and more.
3. Attend religious conferences such as: Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ), SEEK Conference, Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (RE Congress) and National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).
4. Attend “Come and See” sessions of your interested Community. “Come and See” sessions 3-4 times annually.
5. Explore websites such as, https://vocationnetwork.org/en/articles/show/301-come-and-see  https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/discerning-women
6. Think about words and look up the following:
   • “Oppressed” and “Marginalized”
   • “Equity” and “Equality.”