The Christian knows that in the social doctrine of the Church can be found the principles for reflection, the criteria for judgment and the directives for action which are the starting point for the promotion of an integral and solidary humanism. Making this doctrine known constitutes, therefore, a genuine pastoral priority, so that men and women will be enlightened by it and will be thus enabled to interpret today's reality and seek appropriate paths of action: “The teaching and spreading of her social doctrine are part of the Church's evangelizing mission.”
Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops
(Content on this page is taken directly from the above websites)
(Content on this page is taken directly from the above websites)
Introducing…
Catholic Social Teaching #2
Background
Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God's special love for the poor and called God's people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind"(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with "the least of these," the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice. It is also known as Catholic Social Justice (CSJ).
CSJ is very broad and contains many subtopics, ranging from international to local issues that call on the participation of all Catholics. These subtopics are clustered into 7 themes and each week, we will be exploring a different theme and how each applies in modern times.
In the act of creating man and woman and establishing their relationship with each other and with him, God reveals our eminently communal and social nature. In the coming of Jesus Christ, we understand the Trinitarian nature of God. Jesus reveals God as Father and sends the Holy Spirit as his gift to us to dwell in our hearts and to form us into community. God's nature is communal and social; therefore our nature, created in his image, is communal and social as well.
In a global culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that 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. While our society often exalts individualism, the Catholic tradition teaches that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community. Every society worthy of the name can be sure that it stands in the truth when all of its members, thanks to their ability to know what is good, are able to pursue it for themselves and for others. It is out of love for one's own good and for that of others that people come together in stable groups with the purpose of attaining a common good. 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. Our Church teaches that the role of government and other institutions is to protect human life and human dignity and promote the common good.
Other Current Relevant Topics (not complete)
Marriage
Sexuality
Homosexuality
Contraceptions
Theology of the Body
Parenting
Parenting
Careers & Vocations
Civic Duties
Immigration
Racism
Sexism
Education
Poverty (Domestic & International)
Unemployment
Homelessness
Welfare
Healthcare
International Relations
War & Conflict
Our faith calls us beyond knowledge of the issue to action…
Suggestions for actions
1) Pray
2) Become educated
3) Incorporate into your daily lives
Examine your activities and use the CST themes to direct your actions
Do you spend quality time with your family on a regular basis? (Free parenting classes at St. Anne, taught by Elizabeth Middleton, licensed therapist & parishioner, 949-375-0577)
Have you visited those with no families?
Have you introduced yourself to fellow parishioners? (See bulletin for a name tag.)
4) Volunteer-do works of charity
Parish community (Join one of the many parish ministries, see bulletin for contacts.)
Self-Help Interfaith Program (SHIP), Jan 29-Feb 12 (See bulletin.)
Catholic Worker (http://occatholicworker.org/)
You can also research any of the above topics to find local volunteer opportunities.
5) Become an activist-do works of justice
Find a cause that you are passionate about and work to change policy or laws to address the problem’s root cause.
Comments and questions are welcome at http://learncst.blogspot.com/
You can also submit them in the “CST” envelope at the back of the church.
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