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Principles
of Catholic Social Teaching
Excerpted
from US Catholic Bishops.
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.
Source:
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
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