Social Justice Resources

Capitol Attack

The attack on the nation's Capitol horrified the nation. Read the reaction from Church leadership and see how we can all work toward peace and the common good to create a more perfect union.

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Papal Documents

Fratelli Tutti (On the Fraternity and Social Friendship) -- Read the full document in English or Spanish.

 

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What is Catholic Social Teaching?

There are seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching. 

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

This includes abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, cloning, embryonic stem cell research and more.

• January 2021 - Iowa bishops reaffirm their opposition to the death penalty
• Iowans for LIFE
• Iowa Catholic Conference
• Catholic News Service: Pope calls racism a pro-life issue
• Iowa Catholic Conference appeal for clemency for Dustin Lee Honken

Call to Family, Community and Participation

We are called to be just in our economics, law, public policy, marriage and family.

• For information on legislative advocacy and public policy, look up the Iowa Catholic Conference.

Rights and Responsibilities

To protect human dignity, we must protect human rights.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

We are encouraged to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

• Check out the work of Catholic Charities, which offers family-centered programs that empower individuals and strengthen families.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

The economy should benefit the people, rather than the other way around.

Solidarity

We are one human family and must love one another regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, etc. 

• Bishop William Joensen's Pentecost reflection includes thoughts on societal stress involving the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others.
• USCCB President Archbishop Jose Gomez statement
• Vatican's reaction to the death of George Floyd. Video of pope's address (says racism is a prolife issue).
• Canadian Catholic Conference statement.
• 2018 USCCB Pastoral Letter on Racism  Study guide.
• Prayer to end racism. (English & Spanish)
• On the USCCB website you will find many resources.

• USCCB produced Everyone Belongs – A children’s book on the reality of racism and our Catholic response. Here are free downloadable activities. 
• Stations of the Cross for Overcoming Racism prayer resource
  
• St. Peter Claver Prayer Service and Mass Formularies that can be used now.

Care for God's Creation

Our faith calls on us to practice good stewardship with the creation given to us by God.

• St. John Paul II also talked about caring for the environment during his historic 1979 visit to Iowa. Here is his homily in which he called on people to be good stewards of the land.
• On June 18, 2015, Pope Francis issued the encyclical "Laudato Si" (Praised be to You) in which he called on everyone to do what they can to care for our common home, the earth.
• Looking for some background on what the U.S. bishops have said about the environment? Check out this page on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' website.

War

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have offered a number of options for the faithful to support those who are suffering as a result of the war in Ukraine. Through the Committee on National Collections’ Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, and the national collection that funds its work, the U.S. bishops have provided over $520,000 in support to church entities for humanitarian and pastoral needs. The subcommittee will make additional grants this June and November and will continue to stand with and provide financial support to Ukraine during the current war and throughout the recovery work in the years ahead. The U.S. bishops benefitted greatly from their recent interaction with His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Here are some options:

•  Local collection to aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe
• Through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • Aid to Church in Need
  • Catholic Near East Welfare Association
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • The Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America
    (created by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Eparchy of Stamford,
    Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, and Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma)