Term
| Life and Dignity of the Human Person |
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Definition
| 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 the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person. |
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Term
| Call to Family, Community, and Participation |
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Definition
| 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 ability 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. |
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Term
| Rights and Responsibilities |
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Definition
| “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. |
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Term
| Option for the Poor and Vulnerable |
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Definition
| “A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are fairing.” In a society with a deepening divide between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-41) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. All of society benefits when the most vulnerable among us are treated with dignity and their basic human needs are met. |
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Term
| Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| “We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship (taking care) 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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