October 11, 2002

Fr. Ted Arroyo leads research project aimed at keeping ethics in public policy

by Jessica Davis, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

In today's political world, lobbying is a very controversial issue. Many people are quick to criticize it, yet very few understand how it works. For the past four years, the Rev. Edward B. Arroyo, S.J., has directed a research project that clarifies the issue of ethics in lobbying. The collaborative project between Loyola's Twomey Center for Peace Through Justice and Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center resulted in a book titled The Ethics of Lobbying: Organized Interests, Political Power, and the Common Good which sets out guidelines for the ethical practice of lobbying.

Arroyo, who received a doctorate in sociology from Duke University, coordinated a team of scholars and practitioners with the goal of developing a set of ethical guidelines for the profession of public policy advocacy, also known as lobbying. Arroyo explains that he became involved in this project when a friend asked him to direct it. He continues, "He wanted me to do it full time, but I couldn't do that. So I have been going to D.C. for a week every month for the past four years." Arroyo was assisted in the project by the Rev. James L. Connor, S.J, theologian; Robert W. Gardner, journalist; Philip A. Lacovara, lawyer-lobbyist; and Michael H. McCarthy, philosopher-ethicist.

As part of the research of this project, Arroyo personally conducted more than 100 interviews of government officials, lobbyists, and those people interested in lobbying, such as journalists. "For two years, I did nothing but interview these people. I was the sociologist of the group, so I collected the data. After we interviewed everyone, we narrowed the topics down through small groups of lobbyists and others. You could call these focus groups. We asked them about ethics and ethical issues and challenges that they faced. We held the focus groups to get more clarity on the issue." The team used this information to compose a hypothetical case study to provide questions about the role of ethics and lobbying. The case study, and further information about the program, is available on the web at http://www.georgetown.edu/centers/woodstock/newweb/ethicspubpol.htm.

Arroyo explains that lobbying is "an incredibly complicated process, but not a lot of research has been done on it until now." Although he was familiar with the lobbying process, Arroyo said he learned a lot through this research. As part of the project, he and the other members of the research team brought together 50 lobbyists who gathered together at Georgetown to discuss their ethical challenges. This session provided lots of valuable information. "I learned that lobbying is more of a relationship than a discreet act. If you are lobbying a politician for a small, specific cause, you must have an established relationship with an elected official." Lobbyists are concerned about their professional image, he shared, and the negative way in which many people view them.

In a recent national survey, an amazing 45.5 percent of all respondents thought that "interest groups should be prohibited from contacting members of Congress," as if the constitution did not guarantee this right to all. He says this is a misconception because, "Lobbying is an essential part of democracy. Lobbying is an important part of a Christian's role to work in public policy, to be a voice for those who can't speak up for themselves. We have to participate in government. Unfortunately, not many people do today. Most people don't even vote."

Arroyo says that the publishing of the book is just the beginning of this process. "We want people in lobbying (lobbyists, policy makers, etc.) to do more ethical reflections on this process," and to educate the public, "we plan to hold workshops and other educational programs about this issue."

Arroyo serves as a resident chaplain in Cabra Hall. He also edits the monthly Blueprint for Social Justice at Loyola's Twomey Center and has been teaching off and on at Loyola since 1975, the year that he was ordained a priest. Before returning to work at Loyola in 1997, he served as provincial of the New Orleans Province of Jesuits, as well as a missionary in Paraguay. The Ethics of Lobbying: Organized Interests, Political Power, and the Common Good, published this fall by Georgetown University Press, can be ordered from the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, 202-687-3532, e-mail: wtc@gusun.georgetown.edu.