the Church's social

The center of the Church's social teaching is the life, dignity, and rights of the human person. We are called in a special way to serve the poor and vulnerable; to build bridges of solidarity among peoples of differing races and nations, language and ability, gender and culture.

our own nation

As in our own nation, poverty around the world falls most heavily and directly on women and children. They are the most likely to suffer from the chronic hunger which results from poverty and powerlessness. Their future is mortgaged to flawed "development" which increases a nation's gross national product, but worsens its distribution, helping the rich at the expense of the poor.

It is women and children who suffer most when the elites of poor nations invest abroad rather than at home, and when foreign aid from more affluent nations is reduced. And they are the first victims of the cuts in social services made by developing countries to "adjust" their economies in order to pay their burdensome debts.

Building peace.............

Building peace, combating poverty and despair, and protecting freedom and human rights are not only moral imperatives; they are wise national priorities. Given its enormous power and influences in world affairs, the United States has a special responsibility to ensure that it is a force for justice and peace beyond its borders. “Liberty and justice for all” is not only a profound national pledge; it is a worthy goal for our nation in its role as a world leader

A consistent theme.........

A consistent theme of Christian social teaching is the option or love of preference for the poor. Today, this preference has to be expressed in worldwide dimensions, embracing the immense number of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, those without medical care and those without hope

Beyond differences of language

Beyond differences of language, race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and nation, we are one human family. Whether at World Youth Day, on World Mission Sunday, or in the daily celebration of the liturgy, the Church gathers people of every nation, uniting them in worship of the one God who is maker and redeemer of all. In so doing, the Church attests to the God-given unity of the human family and the human calling to build community.

daily work

It is in their daily work… that persons become the subjects and creators of the economic life of the nation. Thus, it is primarily through their daily labor that people make their most important contributions to economic justice.

a community with a mission

no member of the church should merely be passive, but we all are called to be the instrument of Christ's work in the world. the church is not just a community where people come to find their own salvation. it is above all an instrument where God is at work bringing salvation to the world.

just as Christ himself is the light of all nations (lk. 2:32) so also his body of the church is called upon to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (mt.5:13-14) the yeast that has to transform humanity (mt. 13:33). what is the mission of the church in your world.

The Church's teaching..........

on justice and peace is not simply a mandate, but a challenge to every believer and every christian community of faith.

The demands of solidarity require a greater awareness and integration into the ongoing life of the Church. The Church's universal character can be better reflected in how every parish prays, educates, serves, and acts. A parish reaching beyond its own members and beyond national boundaries is a truly "christian" parish. An important role for the parish is to challenge and encourage every believer to greater global solidarity.

Homeless in DC

Homelessness is the condition and social category of people who lack housing, because they cannot afford, pay for, or are otherwise unable to maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing.

The term homelessness may also include people whose primary nighttime residence is in a homeless shelter, in an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines a "chronically homeless" person as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years."


homeless in the u.s. by states. National Alliance to End Homelessness

Human Dignity

Work should not leave people poor but should provide wages sufficient to achieve a standard of living that is in keeping with human dignity.

Care for God’s Creation

On a planet conflicted over environmental issues, the Christian tradition insists that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just a 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.

The world that God created has been entrusted to us, yet our use of it must be directed by God's plan for creation, not simply by our own benefit. Our stwardship of the earth is a kind of participation in God's act of creating and sustaining the world. In our use of creation, we must be guided by our concern for the welfare of others, both around the world and for generations to come, and by a respect for the intrinsic worth and beauty of all God's creatures.

New York Times. Video Library Player: Rampant Crime on Johannesburg's Edge

In a settlement near Johannesburg, South Africa, crime is rampant, there are hardly any policemen, and justice sometimes falls into the hands of violent mobs. Warning: Video contains graphic images. click here