Diocesan Social Action Office

Our Story

Housing. Economic Justice. Racial harmony. Peace. Human Dignity. Hunger. Homelessness. Poverty.

Many of the social justice concerns of today are no different than those of more than 50 years ago. In 1969, Bishop Clarence G. Issenman, Bishop of Cleveland, and Auxiliary Bishop William Cosgrove established the Commission on Catholic Community Action (CCCA) with a dedicated group of laity and religious members.

As the official social action arm of the Diocese of Cleveland, the CCCA was charged with promoting the common good through a Gospel context by providing education, formation, organization and advocacy. It was the goal of the CCCA to engage the Catholic community and others of good will in actions that resulted in social change.

In 1972, the Akron Catholic Commission was formed, and by the late 1980s, three more social action offices were established in the Diocese of Cleveland.

The Diocesan Social Action Office was formed in 1989 to serve over the five county-based Catholic Commissions. Our mission remains the same as it did when the CCCA was created over 50 years ago: to shape a more caring society and a more peaceful world through gospel-focused justice education, advocacy, community development and organizing.