1. LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

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.  Every person is created 'in the image of God. Every person is precious. All social laws, practices, and institutions must protect, not undermine, human life and human dignity-from conception through natural death.

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.  We are social beings. We realize our dignity and human potential in our families and communities. The family is the basic cell of society; it must be supported. Government has the mission of protecting human life, promoting the common good of all persons, and defending the right and duty of all to participate in social life.

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.  The Church upholds both personal responsibility and social rights. The right to life is fundamental and includes a right to food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, and essential social services. Every person has the right to raise a family and the duty to support them. Human dignity demands religious and political freedom and the duty to exercise these rights for the common good of all persons.

Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring.  The Church does not pit one social group against another but instead follows the example of our Lord, who identified himself with the poor and the vulnerable (cf. Mt 25:31-46). Giving priority concern to the poor and the vulnerable strengthens the health of the whole society. The human life and dignity of the poor are most at risk. The poor have the first claim on our personal and social resources.

A Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation.  Workers have rights to decent work, just wages, safe working conditions, unionization, disability protection, retirement security, and economic initiative. The economy exists for the human person; the human person does not exist for the economy. Labor has priority over capital.

We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.  The Church speaks of a A universal  common good that reaches beyond our nation's borders to the global community. Solidarity recognizes that the fates of the peoples of the earth are linked. Solidarity requires richer nations to aid poorer ones, commands respect for different cultures, demands justice in international relationships, and calls on all nations to live in peace with one another.

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.  Good stewardship of the earth and of all its creatures (including human beings) is a complex challenge. Humans are part of creation itself, and whatever we do to the earth we ultimately do to ourselves. We must live in harmony with the rest of creation and preserve it for future generations.

LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

"All offenses against life itself, such as murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia and wilful suicide; all violations of the integrity of the human person. . . all offenses against human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children, degrading working conditions where men are treated as mere tools for profit rather than free and responsible persons: all these and the like are criminal: they poison civilization ... and militate against the honor of the creator.'

-Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudiurn et Spes), no. 27 '

Every individual, precisely by reason of the mystery of the Word of God who was made flesh (cf. Jn l.- 14), is entrusted to the maternal care of the Church. There- fore every threat to human dignity and life must necessarily be felt in the Church's very heart; it cannot but affect her at the core of her faith in the Redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God, and engage her in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of life in all the world and to every creature (cf. Mk 16:15).'

-Pope John Paul 11, The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae), no. 3

CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION

'It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. Participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility... As far as possible, citizens should take an active part in public life.'

-Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1913-1915

'One must pay tribute to those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part m public life in a climate of genuine freedom. . . ."

-Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modem World (Gaudium et Spes), no. 32

'It is necessary to go back to seeing the family as the sanctuary of life. The family is indeed sacred: it is the place in which life-the gift of God-can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. In the face of the so-called culture of death, the family is the heart of the culture of life.'

-Pope John Paul 11, On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (Centesimgs Annus), no. 39

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

"it is not right ... for either the citizen or the family to be absorbed by the state; it is proper that the individual and the family should be permitted to retain their freedom of action, so far as this is possible without jeopardizing the common good and without injuring anyone."

-Pope Leo XIII, On the Condition of Workers (Rerum Novarum), no. 52 '

[The State] has also the duty to protect the rights of all it’s people, and particularly of its weaker members, the workers, women and children. It can never be right for the State to shirk its obligation to work actively for the betterment of the condition of [workers]."

-Pope John XXIII, On Christianity and Social Progress (Mater et Magistra), no. 20

'Beginning our discussion of the rights of man, we see that every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life; these are primarily food, clothing, Shelter, rest, medical care, and finally the necessary social services. Therefore a human being also has the right to security in cases of sickness, inability to work, widowhood, old age, unemployment, or in any other case in which he is deprived of the means of subsis- tence through no fault of his own."

-Pope John XXIII, Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris), no. II "

[The Catholic tradition calls for] a society of free work, of enterprise and of participation. Such a society is not directed against the market, but demands that the market be appropriately controlled by the forces of society and by the State, so as to guarantee that the basic needs of the whole of society are satisfied.'

-Pope John Paul 11, On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (Cenwimus Annus), no. 39

6. SOLIDARITY

   'This moreover must be repeated: what is superfluous in richer regions must serve the needs of the regions in want. ... Their avarice if continued will call down the punishment of God and arouse the anger of the poor. . . ."

   -Pope Paul VI, On the Development of Peoples (Popglorum Progressio), no. 49

   'Because peace, like the kingdom of God itself, is both a divine gift and a human work, the Church should continually pray for the gift and share in the work. We are called to be a Church at the service of peace, precisely because peace is one manifestation of God's word and work in our midst."

   -National Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Challenge of Peace. God's Promise and Our Response, no. 93

   "Interdependence must be transformed into solidarity, based upon the principle that the goods of creation are meant for all. That which human industry produces through the processing of raw materials, with the contribution of work, must serve equally for the good of all.... "Solidarity helps us to see the 'other'-whether a person, people or nation-not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded when no longer useful, but as our 'neighbor,' a 'helper,' to be made a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God.'

   -Pope John Paul 11, On Social Concern (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis), no. 39

7. CARE FOR GOD"S CREATION

For each theme read a few of the passages cited. Consider how the scriptural passage reflects the theme

1. LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

3. HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

   Catholic social teaching recognizes three sets of rights: the right to life (including food and shelter), economic rights (including education and employment), and political and cultural rights (including religious freedom). With rights come responsibilities to others, to our families, and to the common good of all.

   • Deuteronomy 5:17, 30:19 (right to life)

   • Sirach 34:22 (rights of workers)

   • Psalm 146:5-8 (freedom from oppression)

   • Isaiah 10:1-2 (against unjust laws)

4. OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

   All members of society and society as a whole have a special obligation to poor and vulnerable persons. God's covenant includes a special concern for these persons.

   • Exodus 22:20-22;

   • Leviticus 19:33-34;

   • Deuteronomy 24:17-18 (laws protecting aliens, widows, orphans)

   • Exodus 22:24-26;

   • Leviticus 25.23-28;

   • Deuteronomy 15:1-11, 23:20, 24:6 and 10- 1 3 (laws protecting debtors)

   • Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 26:12-13 (laws providing for the poor)

   • Matthew 25:31-46 (judgment of nations)

   • Luke 4:16-21 (Jesus' mission to the poor/outcast)

   • Luke 14:12-14 (reach out to the poor/vulnerable)

   With rights come responsibilities to others, to our families, and to the common good of all

5. THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS

   Human dignity finds special expression in the dignity of work and in the rights of workers. Through work we participate in creation. Workers have rights to just wages, rest, and fair working conditions.

   • Genesis 2:2-3 (God labors and rests)

   • Genesis 2:15 (humans cultivate earth)

   • Exodus 20:9-11, 23:12, 34:21;

   • Leviticus 23:3;

   • Deuteronomy 5.-12-15 (Sabbath gave laborers rest)

   • Leviticus 19:13;

   • Deuteronomy 24:14-15;

   • Sirach 34:22;

   • Jeremiah 22:13;

   • James 5:4 (wage 'ustice)

   • Isaiah 58-3 (do not drive laborers)

   • Matthew 20:1-16 (Jesus uses wage law in parable)

   • Mark 6:3 (Jesus worked as carpenter)

   • Mark 2:27 (Sabbath is for benefit of people

   • Matthew 10:9-10; Luke 10.7;

   • 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (laborer deserves pay)

 

6. SOLIDARITY

   We are called to global solidarity. We are one human family regardless of national, racial, ethnic, gender, economic, or ideological boundaries. Global solidarity expresses concerns for world peace and international development

   • Genesis 22:17-18;

   • Psalm 22-28-29 (save all nations)

   • Isaiah 2:1-4;

   • Micah 4:1-3 (peace for all nations)

   • Romans 10:12 (no national distinctions in God)

   • Galatians 3:28 (all one in Christ)

7. CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION

• Romans 8:18-25 (all creation awaits redemption)

• Copyright © 2000, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.