Belief in the inherent dignity of each human life from the moment of conception until natural death is the most fundamental principle of our moral teaching as Catholics. This same principle also drives our care for the most vulnerable in our communities, protection of religious freedom, and our focus on the basic human right of realizing our full potential.
The Oregon Catholic Conference (OCC) is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Oregon. The OCC advocates and promotes the pastoral teaching of Oregon's Bishops on issues in service to the Catholic people of Oregon.The principles used to develop these legislative priorities flow from the basic belief in the inherent dignity of each person and in society’s responsibility to ensure that dignity, the Catholic Church’s teachings and traditions as they apply to today’s political environment, and the fundamental principle of justice for all people.