- The gospel proclaims that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God

1. Faith and Justice - The gospel proclaims that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God - Made in a divine image, we are endowed with a human soul with two great powers 1.) Intellect 2.) Free will

2. 1.) Human Intellect Enables us to recognize and understand God’s command to do good and avoid evil

3. 2.) Free will Enables us to choose good with the guidance of our conscience and to obey God’s law of love

4. - Original sin has weakened us, inclining us to commit evil by making bad judgments and choosing lesser goods ________________________________________ • Malnutrition is responsible for the death of over five million children per year • Nearly three billion people, live on less than $2.00 per day • Over 46 million babies have been aborted in the U.S. since Roe vs. Wade

5. Catholic Social Justice Teaching - The church doctrine (teaching) attempts to understand how societies work - It makes moral judgements about economic and social matters in light of revealed truth

6. Flows primarily from the life and words of Jesus Christ Catholic Social Justice Rooted in teachings of the Hebrew prophets

7. - Aspects of Catholic Social Justice Teaching 1.) It gives us principles for reflection 2.) It provides criteria for judgment 3.) It gives guidelines for action

8. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Sharing Catholic Social Teaching - Purpose is to alert Catholics that the Church’s teaching on social justice is an essential part of our faith - The wheel of justice presents the principles of Catholic social justice. • Our ultimate destination is God’s kingdom • Along the way there are obstacles • The principles on the wheel need to be applied to smooth out the road that leads us to God

9. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Wheel of Justice Stewardship Solidarity 9 8 Respect for Life Work & Workers 1 2 7 Human Dignity 6 Family Community Participation 3 Option for the Poor 5 4 Common Good Rights & Duties

10. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 1.) Principle of Dignity of the Human Person - Every person deserves respect - Our dignity does not come from what we do or what we have, it comes from being God’s special creation

11. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 2.) Principle of Respect for Human Life - Every stage of a human’s life is precious and worthy of our respect and protection 3.) Principle of the Call to Family, Community, & Participation - People have a right and duty to participate in society seeking together the common good and well-being of all

12. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 4.) Principle of Rights and Responsibilities - The essential, fundamental right is the right to life - Every person has the right to the necessities that make for human decency • Faith • Food and Shelter • Education • Health care

13. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 5.) Principle of the Common Good - Social conditions that permit people to reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity - Essential elements 1.) Respect for the person 2.) Social well-being and establishment of the group 3.) Peace and security

14. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 6.) Principle of the Preferential Option; Love for the Poor and Vulnerable - Poor and Vulnerable are our brothers and sisters - They deserve respect, the protection of their rights, and justice 7.) Principle of Dignity of Work; Rights of Workers - Economy must serve the people, not the other way around - Workers’ rights

15. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 8.) Principle of Solidarity - We need to commit ourselves to the common good - We must work for peace and justice in the world marked by violence and war 9.) Principle of Stewardship - We respect our loving Creator by being good stewards of the earth

16. How Christians View the Human Person Our view of how humans should act depends on how we see ourselves If we see ourselves created in God’s image, then we know we are called to reflect all the qualities of the Creator

17. How Christians View the Human Person • Foundation of Catholic Social Teaching is that each of us is made in God’s image: • Each human being has tremendous dignity • Each human being is a child of God • We are special in God’s eyes • We have rights and responsibilities • We have a spiritual nature • God made us for himself • We possess freedom; we must use it responsibly • We are social beings • We image God best when we love one another • God made us co-creators with him • We are wounded by sin and inclined to evil and error

18. How Christians View the Human Person - Jesus has much to reveal to us about who we are and how we should treat each other - We are saved through Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection We are to be compassionate like Jesus

19. a claim we can make on other people and on society so we can live a full, human life. Right Our Rights as Humans

20. Our Rights as Humans Universal rights – the rights are for every human being Inviolable rights – these rights are untouchable because they come from God Inalienable rights – these rights are inherent and beyond challenge

21. Our Rights as Humans Peace on Earth - Named the fundamental human rights: Right to Life Moral and Cultural Rights Right to Worship God Right to Choose Freely One’s State of Life Economic Rights The Right of Meeting and Association The Right to Emigrate and Immigrate Political Rights