SEVEN MAJOR THEMES IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Please click

SEVEN MAJOR THEMES IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Please click to continue

Objectives Become familiar with seven major themes in Catholic Social Teaching. Understand the link between these themes and our everyday work at Catholic Charities. Apply concepts to everyday work situations and answer questions in light of these themes.

What is Catholic Social Teaching? Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is an essential element within the Catholic faith. It is fundamental to our commitment to the poor and disenfranchised, the less fortunate and the vulnerable. As humans, we must respect one another and develop a proper understanding of human life and dignity. CST emphasizes the need for people to commit themselves to building a fair and just society and to lead unselfish lives through example.

Major Themes in CST The following examples reflect various themes within CST. These themes include: 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 Care for God’s Creation

What To Do Next This CST Worksheet will help guide you through this training. You will be asked to: Answer the question with what you believe is the correct response Write down the correct response Reflect upon each theme as it relates to your work Reminder: You will not be graded on this task. It is simply a tool to help facilitate your understanding of the purpose of our work at the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Life & Dignity of the Human Person Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. People do not lose dignity due to factors such as poverty, age, gender, disability, race and ethnicity, or a lack of success. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Life & Dignity of the Human Person Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation A homeless person arrives at a shelter in need of assistance. The individual appears not to have showered in a long time and clearly lacks proper hygiene. It is your responsibility to conduct an intake interview. Based on the previous theme, how would you proceed? a) Conduct the interview to the best of your Click again for the best response ability.

Call to Family, Community & Participation Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation The person is not only sacred, but also social. How we shape our society – through economic, political, and social institutions – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened. We believe people have a right and a duty to actively participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all – especially the poor and vulnerable.

Call to Family, Community & Participation - Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation A Haitian family whose home had been destroyed by the recent earthquake comes to you with the hope of finding a place to live. The family has been actively searching for housing for over a year, but to no avail. Although you are fairly busy, you recognize that this family is in desperate need of assistance. Based on the previous theme, what would you do? a) Ask a coworker to take over the case. b) Give them a few names and phone numbers of local apartments to rent. c) Put aside some time to explore safe, clean, and affordableClick housing for the again for thefamily. best answer

Rights and Responsibilities Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and basic responsibilities are met. Catholic social teaching recognizes three sets of rights: 1. 2. 3. Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation The right to life (including food & shelter). Economic rights (including education and employment). Political and cultural rights (including religious freedom). With rights come responsibilities to others, to our families and to the common good of all.

Rights and ResponsibilitiesApplication Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation While working at a soup kitchen, you notice an impoverished man praying before eating his meal. Though he is sitting alone and speaking quietly, you are able to discern that he is praying to a non-Christian God. A fellow volunteer, who happens to be a devout Catholic, becomes noticeably concerned and asks if the man should be confronted. Please select the most appropriate response from the following options: a) Tell the volunteer that the man may be able to stay depending on his religious beliefs. Click for the response b) Remind theagain volunteer thatbest the man has a right to express

Option for the Poor & Vulnerable Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation While the common good embraces all, those who are weak, vulnerable, and most in need deserve preferential concern. This preferential option for the poor and vulnerable includes all who are marginalized in our nation and beyond— unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and terminally ill, and victims of injustice and oppression.

Option for the Poor & Vulnerable Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation A man comes into your offices for therapy. You remember having seen him at a local homeless shelter a few months ago. You know that this man will be unable to pay for therapy. Which option best reflects the previous theme? a) b) c) Refuse to treat the man because he will not be able to pay for therapy. Treat the man only if he promises to pay at a later date. for the Offer toClick treatagain the man at abest rateresponse he can afford.

The Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic

The Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers – Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation While talking with a custodian, you learn that she is not being granted the same medical benefits that are typically given to employees in her position. She is afraid to speak up to her supervisor in fear of potentially being fired. Which of the following options best reflects the previous theme? a) b) Report the discrepancy with the expectation that you will somehow be compensated. Click fortothe response Advise the again woman do best less work until she is

Solidarity Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation We are one human family – whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions and requires us to eradicate racism and address the extreme poverty and disease plaguing so much of the world. Solidarity also includes the Scriptural call to welcome the stranger among us – including immigrants seeking work, a safe home, education for their children, and a decent life for their families.

Solidarity - Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation A man walks into your offices in need of employment assistance. He explains that he is desperate for work, as he has been unemployed for nearly a year. While he is filling out paperwork, he notes that he is not of the Christian faith. Please select an appropriate course of action: a) Kindly explain that he cannot be granted services because this is a Catholic charity. b) Help the man find employment, but ask him to put effort into exploring the Christian faith. Click again for the best response c) Provide assistance regardless of the man’s

Care for God’s Creation Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day 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 Gods creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. In our use of resources, we must be guided by our concern for the welfare of others, both around the world and for generations to come.

Care for God’s Creation Application Life and Dignity of The The Human Human Person Person Call to Family, Family, Community, and and Participation Participation Rights and Responsibilit ies Option Option for for the Poor and Vulnerable Vulnerable Dignity of Work and the Rights Rights of of Workers Workers Solidarity Care for God’s Creation Catholic Charities supports a number of community service activities that allow individuals to care for nature and appreciate their surroundings. Which of the following activities represents the current theme in action? a) b) c) Taking senior citizens for a nature walk Organizing a trash pick-up with other volunteers Click again for the best response Setting up a field day for children in a day care

CONGRATULATIO NS! YOU FINISHED THE SEVEN MAJOR THEMES IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING TRAINING MODULE Thank you for your participation.

Additional Online Resources Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teachi ng Catholic Charities Homepage US Conference of Catholic Bishops: Seven T hemes of Catholic Social Teaching