Goodbye!

Over the past couple of weeks, Emon, Dylan, and I have told you all about the several key themes of the Catholic Social Teachings. We’ve told you about how they are lived out all over the world, and how you can live them out in your own community. Even though this was an assignment, I think we’ve learned a valuable lesson about loving one another. The stress of having two weeks to write a two thousand word blog brought us together, and I hope our words will bring others together. Perhaps this won’t reach the entire world, but it will reach someone.

“If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.”

-Emily Dickinson

Sincerely, Sarah

Rights and Responsibilities

Catholics teach that human dignity can be protected and a healthy place can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are too. For that, every person has a right to life and a right to those things required for human life. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to each other, to our families, and to the world.

Every person has a right to life and has a part of life. Meaning that every human has the right to what is needed to live a full and good life, things like the employment, health care, and education required for a good life. The right to exercise religious freedom publicly and privately by individuals and institutions along with freedom of conscience need to be constantly defended. In a way, the right of free religious beliefs can protect all other rights.

The Church helps property and teaches that “every man has by nature the right to possess property as his own." The right to private property is not absolute, however, and is limited by the concept of the social mortgage. It is just for its members to destroy property used in a bad way by others, or for the state to sort out wealth for people who have unjustly hoarded it. Rights are duties and responsibilities to each other, our families, and to the church. Rights should be understood and used in a moral way made in dignity of each human person.
Dylan Williams

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

We are call to participate in the church and in our community. We can’t just stay back and let other people do things for you. We can’t just yet people run over you and you not say a word. We have to stand up and have a voice in the community. We have to participate in the church. This is why we have the Vatican 2 so young people can have a voice, and not just ordain religious. We all have a say in our community and in our faith. We are one body and we all make the kingdom of God.

There are many ways to participate and in the community. You can go to church and sang in the church. You can play music, and be in the choir. You can be a alter server, and a married deacon. You can be a server and give food to the poor and clothes. You can be a gift barrier and pray for the church and community. There is many ways to participate in the church. Blessed Pope John 2 tried to push the Vatican two among the church. The church is just a building. The people in the community make up the whole church with a capital C.
Emon Smith

The Dignity of Worker and the Rights of Workers

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers - The human person is central, the clearest reflection of God among us. Each person has a basic dignity from God, not from any accomplishment.

“The economy must help people, not the other way around”

(The 1986 US Bishops letter, Economic Justice for All).

Work is more than a way to make a life; it is an act of continuing a share in God’s creation. workers serve to the very common good through the services or materials they help provide and by creating jobs that sustain the dignity and rights of workers to create work, to decent and just wages, to a decent benefits and security in their old age, to the choice of whether to organize and join unions, to the opportunity for legal conditions for the immigrant workers, to private property, and to the economic plan.

Workers also have responsibilities to provide a fair day’s of work for a fair day’s pay, to treat employers and co-workers with respect, and to carry out their work in ways that contribute to the common good. Workers, employers, and unions should not only advance their own interests, but also work together to improve economic justice and the being of all. There is not a better time that we need to know about this.

-Dylan