Social Justice Resources

Here are some resources to help deepen your understanding of what the Catholic Church teaches on issues related to social justice.

There are seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

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

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.

To protect human dignity, we must protect human rights.

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

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.

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.