By Jeff Caruso
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 2/3/05)

Last month, the HERALD featured an article on me and my hopes for the new Virginia Catholic Conference after I had accepted the position of executive director. Now that I am officially on the job and in the midst of the 2005 session of the Virginia General Assembly, I would like to tell you a little more about myself and my vision for advancing the shared policy agenda of our state's two Catholic dioceses, both in this year and in the years ahead.

I arrived in Virginia last month with many lessons learned from my legal studies at Notre Dame and my professional experience at the Maryland Catholic Conference, where I served as an associate director for six-and-a-half years. My natural interest in the link between Catholic social teaching and contemporary policy issues grew as a law student, and before long it found a home in my professional life. Doing Catholic conference work has shown me just how much our Church can enhance public discourse on a wide range of issues, all of which are connected by a deep appreciation for human life and dignity.

Because we recognize that everyone is created in God's image and likeness, our message is consistent and persistent. It is grounded in a well developed set of principles and built on a wealth of everyday experience in our communities.

It rightly insists that the economy and social structures exist to serve all members of the one human family — whether born or unborn, working or on welfare, immigrant or native-born.

Through baptism, each one of us is called to serve others and to reach out to those who need our help the most. One important way we can help others in need is by sharing our concerns with those we have chosen to represent us in the halls of government, especially now that the Virginia General Assembly is in session. During this session and future ones, and throughout the months in between, I look forward to facilitating the involvement of Catholics throughout Virginia's two dioceses in activities of faithful citizenship. I am already heartened by the enthusiastic participation of so many people in our advocacy day earlier this week. I'm particularly grateful that quite a few of you traveled for two hours in buses and cars to hear about critical issues and discuss them with your elected representatives.

In a variety of ways, I will be inviting even more of you to participate in this vital work. I look forward to meeting you on the path of this exciting new venture.