Vigils Reading

THE SOCIAL TEACHING

OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

From a pastoral letter of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops5

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In the Catholic social vision, the human person is central, the clearest

reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes

from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or

gender, age or economic status. The test of every institution or policy is whether

it enhances or threatens human life and human dignity. We believe that people

are more important than things.

Flowing from our God-given dignity, each person has basic rights and

responsibilities. These include the rights to freedom of conscience and religious

liberty, to raise a family, to immigrate, to live free from unfair discrimination,

and to have a share of earthly goods sufficient for oneself and one’s family.

People have a fundamental right to life and to those things which make life truly

human: food, clothing, housing, health care, education, security, social services,

and employment. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities

– to one another, to our families, and to the larger society, to respect the rights

of others and to work for the common good.

The human person is not only sacred but social. We realize our dignity

and rights in relationship with others, in community. No community is more

central than the family; it needs to be supported, not undermined. It is the basic

cell of society, and the state has an obligation to support the family. The family

has major contributions to make in addressing questions of social justice. It is

where we learn and act on our values. What happens in the family is at the basis

of a truly human social life. We also have the right and responsibility to

participate in and contribute to the broader communities in society. The state

and other institutions of political and economic life, with both their limitations

and obligations, are instruments to protect the life, dignity, and rights of the

person; promote the well-being of our families and communities; and pursue

the common good. Catholic social teaching does offer clear guidance on the role

of government. When basic human needs are not being met by private initiative,

then people must work through their government, at appropriate levels, to meet

those needs. A central test of political, legal and economic institutions is what

they do to people, what they do for people, and how people participate in them.

Poor and vulnerable people have a special place in Catholic social

teaching. A basic moral test of a society is how its most vulnerable members are

faring. This is not a new insight; it is the lesson of the parable of the Last

Judgment. Our tradition calls us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable

first. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our sisters and

brothers, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response. We

must seek creative ways to expand the emphasis of our nation’s founders on

individual rights and freedom by extending democratic ideals to economic life

and thus ensure that the basic requirements for life with dignity are accessible

to all.

5 Pastoral Letters & Statements of the U.S. Catholic Bishops – vol. VI – National Conference of Catholic Bishops

United States Catholic Conference – Washington DC – pg 217f11