Costanza Embraces Position as LCCB Executive Director

Advocating for the neediest and most vulnerable members of society has been the essence of  Tom Costanza’s career. 

From serving with the Office of Social Apostolate and Catholic Charities, both in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Costanza’s ministry has focused on journeying with the homeless, the poverty stricken, those suffering from mental illness, with his only intention improving the quality of life for one family, one person, at a time.

From an office that would often be the streets of New Orleans, Costanza’s new digs are the floor of the Louisiana Legislature as he steps into his new role as executive director for the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, succeeding Rob Tasman, who had served in that position for the past 12 years.

“It’s a little bit different than what I have been doing,” the personable Costanza said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be a challenge but I’m looking forward to it, maybe being a part of helping the church along, looking at the larger issues and causes.

“Hopefully it’s a logical evolution of my work and my ministry.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge Executive Director David Aguillard believes Costanza will be “great” in his new position. 

“His detailed  knowledge of the many ways in which the Catholic Church touches the lives of people in their communities through the work of Catholic Charities agencies will be an asset to LCCB,” Aguillard said. “Through his professional and personal experience he has seen firsthand how legislation and public policy can hurt the poor, often in unanticipated ways.

“I know he will be a passionate advocate for voices often unheard in the halls of government.”

Costanza, who spent three and a half years as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said he has always been interested in systemic change and views his new job as an opportunity to build on St. John Paul II’s writing on social concerns. It was through St. John Paul’s writing that Costanza was emboldened by Catholic social teaching. 

He recalled how Pope Francis has written in the past that politics can be a high vocation if one follows the common good.

“I am taking a positive look that we (as Catholics) bring a lot to the table, through our Catholic social teaching, our rich tradition and by having good dialogue.”

“I am not going to the Capitol without it,” he added. “I have social teaching, tradition and Scripture. Hopefully  we can engage it and use the rich tradition of the church to bring that to the public square.”

Entering the arena of Louisiana politics presents formidable challenges but Costanza said he is hoping to build on the many good relationships Tasman previously established. He admitted issues will have to be confronted but believes developing good relationships, opening up dialogue and following the teaching of the church is paramount. 

“I think the challenges will be to promote the teachings of the church and apply them the best we can to the issues of today and have an open dialogue with the legislators,” he said. “But there are some things we will not compromise on.”

His vision is to also bring a practical side to the issues.

“There is a person behind policy, there is a person that is being affected,” Costanza said. “If I can do what I can to follow the teachings of the church, respect the dignity of the human person, options for the poor; if we can apply the principles to whatever issues it might be, then I think that is the role of the church. We should want to do that.”

Issues such as working with the poor and vulnerable, protecting life from conception to natural death, protecting families, poverty reduction, more job development and health care will always be at the core of the church’s mission but Costanza is hoping to bring it to another level.

 “I must be firm and passionate about the teaching but open to the dialogue,” he said. “That is what Pope Francis urges us to do, making sure I do that in love, talking in a way that I am respectful of them and then have dialogue and exchange and encounter that way.”

Having spent his entire career walking shoulder to shoulder with those in need, Costanza believes those experiences will bring him to a practical side to all of the issues. Most importantly, he will have first-hand knowledge as to how policies enacted will impact those society should be protecting.

 “Any policy has to be looked through the lens of how does it affect (the most vulnerable),” he said. 

Costanza certainly wasted little time embracing the new position, as his first day on the job was opening day of the current legislative session. Admittedly, it’s a role he never thought he would have but said he is grateful for the opportunity presented to him.

“My whole career has been ways to figure out how to work and help the last among us,” he said. “Hopefully this is sort of a way to continue that.”