Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teachings can be seen as a guide to building a just society despite the challenges we face in our modern society. The US Bishops have identified these seven key themes which are Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Solidarity, and Care for God’s Creation. The themes that connect to my topic the most are Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, and Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
Catholic Social Teachings can be seen as a guide to building a just society despite the challenges we face in our modern society. The US Bishops have identified these seven key themes which are Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Solidarity, and Care for God’s Creation. The themes that connect to my topic the most are Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, and Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Life and Dignity of the Human Person is that “human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.” This connects to the issue of violence towards women in Haiti. This violence comes from the gangs as a way to instill fear and gain control which leaves the women in Haiti feeling violated, vulnerable, and victimized. A reading from the gospel of Luke says, “The good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life” (Luke 10:25-37, NRSV). This scripture is called the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s about the story of a man who had been physically abused and no one stopped to help him, except for a Samaritan. This teaches us to be kind and to treat others with compassion despite what they look like or what their background is. God calls on us to teach others with respect and compassion and I feel like this resonates with this specific issue in Haiti.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The government in Haiti is unstable and has an ongoing issue of gang violence that is hurting, killing, and kidnapping the citizens of Haiti. This Catholic Social Teaching is “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.” Haiti is an unsafe environment and this Catholic Social Teaching can provide a sense of building a stronger community and supporting families who are suffering. In the reading of Jeremiah, it says, “If you act justly with one another, God will dwell in the land” (Jeremiah 7:5-7, NRSV). In this scripture, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Israel saying the importance of relationship with God and to live justly. He is also saying that if you honor God and repent for your actions then God will reciprocate the same. I feel like this is a powerful message especially for the people in Haiti doing the violence. I see this as a reminder to those who are hurting others that there is a way to reconcile and repent for all of your wrongdoings.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable “instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first” and to keep them in our minds. There has been a significant rise to the poverty of Haiti during the political turmoil. It is important to address these issues and this Catholic Social Teaching is a call for advocating for the poor and working towards creating a more just society. According to the book of Exodus, it says, “You shall not oppress the poor or vulnerable. God will hear their cry” (Exodus 22:20-26, NRSV). This verse is explaining how God tells the Israelites to think about how they treat people who may not look like them and in this case it is the poor. The scripture suggests that God calls us to show compassion towards those who are in need. God also reminds us that if we oppress the poor, that He will hurt and cry.
