Catholic lobbyist urges San Francisco young adults to engage in civic life
Speaking to attendees at the Catholic Social Teaching-focused event, Molly Sheahan argued that every human right has a corresponding responsibility to one’s society.
A lobbyist for the California Catholic Conference urged young adults to actively engage in civic life as an expression of their Catholic faith during a recent gathering in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood.
According to a July 15 report from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Molly Sheahan, associate director for Healthy Families at the California Catholic Conference, told about 50 attendees at a July 7 young adults event at St. James Parish Hall that politics can serve as a means of putting Catholic teaching into action. The California Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in California and serves as the staff office of the state’s bishops.
is the official public policy voice of the Church in California
“Some people think politics is a dirty word,” Sheahan said, according to the archdiocese. “Politics is the art of the possible, and if we have a vision of a civilization of love, then our job is to make that possible — and so through small changes we are able to make that possible.”
She also told attendees that every fundamental human right carries a corresponding, inescapable responsibility to one’s family, neighbors, and broader society, according to the archdiocese.
The event, titled “Rights and Responsibilities: Advancing the Common Good,” was the second in a monthly series on the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching organized by Catholic Leaders in Action.
After Sheahan’s talk, Saul Perez of the archdiocese’s Office of Human Life and Dignity moderated a panel discussion featuring Melanie Salazar, executive director of Pro-Life San Francisco, and Franco Aurelio Fernandez, a Catholic content creator.
Several attendees cited by the archdiocese said the speakers’ candid accounts of entering public life made them relatable.
One attendee, Megan Sauter, said the panelists’ “vulnerable honesty” was “delightfully unexpected.”
“They are just humans who are deciding to say yes despite their fear,” she said, according to the archdiocese. “God had a call for them, and they were stepping up into it.”
Another attendee, Catherine Dombrowsky, said that although “we’re in a time where a lot of young adults are on fire for their faith,” she believes there is “a disconnect because many don’t know how to unite or move something forward.”
“I enjoyed meeting new people, learning new things, and connecting with people who are passionate about putting their faith into action,” she added.
The archdiocese said Catholic Leaders in Action will hold its next event in the series, “Called to Serve: Option for the Poor & Vulnerable,” Aug. 5 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, with Sister Marilú Ibarra of the St. Anthony Foundation delivering the keynote address.
