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Excerpts from SHARING CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
Challenges and Directions
REFLECTIONS OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS
lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern
Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of
papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of
this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of
these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight
several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic
social tradition.
LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
The
Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the
dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for
society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent
dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles
of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct
attack from abortion and assisted suicide. The value of human life
is being threatened by increasing use of the death penalty. We
believe that every person is precious, that people are more
important than things, and that the measure of every institution is
whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human
person.
CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION
The
person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our
society - in economics and politics, in law and policy - directly
affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in
community. The family is the central social institution that must be
supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a
right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the
common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and
vulnerable.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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 met. Therefore, every person has a
fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for
human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and
responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger
society.
OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE
A
basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a
society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our
tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) and
instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS
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. If 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 organize and
join unions, to private property and to economic initiative.
SOLIDARITY
We
are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live. We are
one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic,
and ideological differences. Learning to practice the virtue of
solidarity means learning that "loving our neighbor" has global
dimensions in an interdependent world.
CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION
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.
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