Silvia Bulla: "Enrique Shaw left a legacy of living the Social Doctrine of the Church".Why does the Church get involved in social issues? A lay vocationCan we overcome social polarization on the issue of abortion?- Adam Fitzpatrick and Janine Ricker, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Center for Mission.
When asked to name the most important commandment in the whole law, Jesus answered: Love God and love others (see Mt 22:36-40). In these simple commandments lies the heart of our baptismal call.
Catholic social teaching is one of the tools the Church gives us to guide us in living out this call. Based on Scripture and developed in a series of papal documents, Catholic social teaching is one of the tools the Church gives us to guide us in living this call. social doctrine of the Church guides us on how we should live with our neighbor.
By starting with the most basic unit of humanity - the family - and adopting the teachings of Jesus, we can live Catholic social teaching in the way he taught us. This can lead us to work with the community, which is a collection of families, and then with society at large, which is a collection of those communities.
The seven points
The social doctrine of the Church may be divided into seven topicslife and dignity of the human person; the call to family, community and participation; rights and responsibilities; the option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God's creation.
Living by the principles of Catholic social teaching enables us to respond to Jesus' command to love others, to recognize the presence of God in each person (cf. Eph 4:6) and to grow in relationship with them and with Christ.
Life and dignity of the human person
All Catholic social teaching is based on this central theme. Scripture tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:27). All human life is an outpouring of God's love and is part of his divine plan. Therefore, all persons have the right to life, from conception to natural death. A life willed and created by God is sacred and has the right to a full existence.
As a child of God, each person also has a inherent dignity. As a reflection of God's own being, all people have the right to realize this dignity in their daily existence, including through access to clean food and water, health care, education and a safe living environment.
Take action: In your own parish community, reaching out, even if it is only by having a conversation with those who feel alone, demonstrates respect for the dignity of each person.
Call for family, community and participation
Given the primacy of the family in the eyes of God, individuals should be encouraged to form families, and society should promoting family life. Stable societies arise from stable families, in which people can learn a healthy community life. People have the right to meaningful participation in society through voting, participation in cultural and communal events, and representation in society, which helps to preserve their dignity.
"To promote the participation of the greatest number in the life of a society, the establishment of voluntary associations and institutions... 'relate to economic and social objectives, to cultural and recreational activities, to sports, to various professions, and to political affairs'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1882). Society should be ordered in such a way as to enable people to participate in important events-as well as to have time for rest-within their various communities, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable.
Take Action: Find out if there are any organizations in your parish where you can provide volunteer support.
Rights and responsibilities
All persons have certain rights and certain responsibilities because they are made in the image of God. All persons in a community have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and the responsibility to see to the common good of the community. For society to be healthy, people must be aware of both their rights and their responsibilities.
Examples of rights are food, housing and health care. Responsibilities include paying taxes, voting and respecting public property. The Catechism praises "those nations whose systems allow the greatest possible number of citizens to participate in public life in a climate of genuine freedom" (1915). The use of rights and responsibilities must be meaningful and reciprocal for society to be well balanced.
Take action: Participating in ministries that feed the hungry or shelter the homeless can be difficult, but such ministries promote the dignity of all and improve society.
Option for the poor and vulnerable
The ministry of Jesus indicates the intense concern he had for the poor and vulnerable. Their tribulations often moved him to compassion; for example, his attention to a crowd that had not eaten for three days (see Mt 15:32), to a leper asking to be cured (Mk 1:40-41), to a widow who had just lost her son (Lk 7:12-13).
It is Christ's profound response to the experiences of those on the margins of society that we are commanded to imitate; indeed, our response to those who are "least among us" is the basis on which we will be judged (Mt 25:45).
Our faith is a faith of action. "If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and nothing to eat for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,' but you do not give them what is necessary for the body, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16)." (James 2:15-16).
Participate in solutions
Christ was not a bystander. Likewise, our faith compels us to participate in solutions that address the needs of the poor. homeless and marginalized of our communities.
Take Action: Many parishes have food drives, clothing drives or other means to help the poor. What can you do to help?
Dignity of work and workers' rights
Work, at its best, is a meaningful expression of a person's gifts and talents. Scripture tells us that work has been an important human task since the beginning of creation (see Gen 2:15). We must build society so that each person has the opportunity to discern his or her gifts and apply them in meaningful work.
While work is one way people can use their gifts to improve the world, it is also how most people support their families. Everyone has the right to humane treatment in the workplace, including fair pay, reasonable working hours and time to care for sick family members.
Take action: Supporting improved working conditions is a key step in ensuring that everyone has adequate food and safe shelter.
Solidarity
Our faith teaches us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-16). Our way of living directly influences others' experience of Christ. We are called to be examples of Christ to the world, modeling his love, mercy and compassion for all.
Solidarity means taking care of each other: family, friends and strangers alike (although, as mentioned above, it all starts with family). It can be difficult to see how our actions-right where we are-can affect the world. But this approach can lead us to accompany our brothers and sisters on their life journeys to help create communities in which all are respected, protected and treated justly.
This requires us to do more than charity in addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable. We must also address any policies that create an imbalance of equality. In this way, we help build God's kingdom, a place of peace and justice, here on earth, and we witness to Christ's love for others.
Take Action: Talk with family and friends about what action best shows Christ's love for those in need.
Caring for creation
All of creation is beautiful in the eyes of God, who made us responsible for caring for it (see Gen 1:27-31). The Earth needs care, and there are things that we can do to help care for the creation. Being aware of our own energy habits and working to be more efficient is a great way to preserve creation for all. We can all do something, and even small efforts build society in cooperation with God to form a more just world.
Take action: Pick up trash in your neighborhood, plant flowers in your yard or hang a bird feeder in a tree. We can all beautify and preserve creation.
Conclusion
Each of the seven themes of Catholic social teaching has emerged from God's teaching in the Bible and has been developed by the Church over time to help us better live out Christ's commandments. Meditating on these themes and acting on them, even on a small scale, can help society in a much broader way.
With every way you choose to live your life, the catholic social doctrinePray for the people you meet, that they may know and experience Christ through these examples of love for others.
