Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

The Catholic Church instructs us to value human life and dignity as sacred, and to treat everyone as family regardless of whatever nationality, race, ethnicity, economical status, and ideological differences. In Pope Francis’ letter called Fratelli Tutti, he states “The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of color, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development.” When Asian Americans are hypersexualized in society, it can damage our confidence and personal dignities. In the same document, he also affirms “...human beings have the same inviolable dignity in every age of history and no one can consider himself or herself authorized by particular situations to deny this conviction or to act against it.” It is nobody’s job but themselves to handle their desires.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Pharisees test Jesus by asking him which commandment in the law he believes is the greatest. Jesus replies that the whole law and the prophets depend on two commandments, one of them being “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22: 39) Solidarity in the Catholic Social Teachings means to stand with one another as brothers and sisters in spite of our differences. As peacemakers, our job is to end violence and conflict in the world and promote reconciliation and unity. St. John XXIII says, “The solidarity which binds all men together as members of a common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon the hunger, misery and poverty of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even elementary human rights.” Incidents such as the Atlanta Spa Shootings and Asian communities being harassed defy this message.