Pastoral Letters

A pastoral letter is an open letter addressed by a bishop to Catholic clergy, laity, and all people of good will. Pastorals generally contain instruction, consolation, or directions for behavior in particular circumstances. CCA is known for its planning, writing, and promulgation of two pastoral letters from the Appalachian bishops and one “people’s pastoral.”

“This Land is Home to Me: A Pastoral Letter on powerlessness in appalachia” (1975)

The document that started it all, reflecting the struggles and hopes of the region’s people, calling for a bold response from the church, and signed by the region’s Catholic bishops. The pastoral went on to influence the writing process of pastoral letters promulgated by the U.S. bishops, and church historian David O’Brien described it as “certainly the most remarkable document of the postconciliar American church.”

“At Home in the Web of Life: A Pastoral Message on Sustainable Communities in Appalachia”(1995)

This follow up pastoral letter celebrating the 20th anniversary of “This Land is Home to Me” was far ahead of its time in 1995, pointing the way toward sustainability in Appalachia and beyond, and anticipating the eco-theology of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’.

“The Telling Takes us Home: Taking Our Place in the Stories that shape Us, A People’s pastoral from the Catholic committee of appalachia (2015)

To celebrate our two earlier pastoral letters, CCA intended to publish a third letter in 2015. As the pastoral priorities of the region’s bishops had shifted away from social justice concerns, CCA opted to write a “people’s pastoral” without the direct involvement of the bishops. Read the document as a PDF. An abridged version is also available below, as well as a free discussion guide.