Social Justice Resources

“Justice is to be observed not merely in the distribution of wealth, but also in regard to the conditions under which all people engage in productive activity. There is, in fact, an innate need of human nature requiring that people engaged in productive activity have an opportunity to assume responsibility and to perfect themselves by their efforts.” - Pope John XXII

The economy must serve people, not the other way around.  Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.  Fi the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected- the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

“Man is the source, the center, and the purpose of all economic and social life.” - Pope Paul VI

“Each of us has a mission.. . .each of us is called to change the world, to work for a culture of life, a cultured forged by love and respect for the dignity of each human person.” - Pope Benedict XVI

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is foundation of a moral vision for society.  This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.  In our society, human life is under attack from abortion and euthanasia.  The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty.  Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means.  We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of e very institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

For a short three- or four-minute video, go to Catholic Relief Services and scroll down past the first paragraph to: “Life and dignity of the Human Person.”

“Within the community of believers there can never be room for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life.” - Pope Benedict XVI

The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are me.  Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to the life and a right to those things required for human decency.  Religious Freedom enters here.  Corresponding to these rights are duties and r responsibilities- to one another, to our families, to the larger society.

For a short three- or four-minute video, go to Catholic Relief Services and scroll down past the first paragraph to: “Rights and Responsibilities.”

“We don’t own the earth, God does.” - Pope Francis

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.  Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan. It is a requirement of our faith.  We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.  This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

For a short three- or four-minute video, go to Catholic Relief Services and scroll down past the first paragraph to: “Care for God’s Creation."

• St. John Paul II 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.

“Kinship-not serving the other, but being one with the other.  Jesus was not a “a man for others’, he was one with them.  There is a world of difference in that.” -Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences.  We are brothers and sisters’ keepers, whatever they may be.  Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world.  At the c ore of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers.  Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded b violence and conflict.  Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others.  It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good.

“Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far.  On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good, that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” - St. John Paul II

“Justice is to be observed not merely in the distribution of wealth, but also in regard to the conditions under which all people engage in productive activity. There is, in fact, an innate need of human nature requiring that people engaged in productive activity have an opportunity to assume responsibility and to perfect themselves by their efforts.” - Pope John XXII

The economy must serve people, not the other way around.  Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.  Fi the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected- the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

“Man is the source, the center, and the purpose of all economic and social life.” - Pope Paul VI