CST and Social Justice

Themes of CST: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, the Dignity and Rights of Workers, Solidarity, and Care For God's Creation

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Impact of CST Class

Before taking this class, I never really understood how much Catholic Social Teaching impacts every person every day. I also never realized that there is so much I can do. I learned how much bias I have towards people and now that I am aware of it, I have found myself more open to talking to new people and wanting to know more about those that I may have had a prejudice towards. This class has really changed the way I view the world and the people in it. I have developed a new outlook on the people in our world especially the poor and vulnerable and the working class. The activities we participated in during class taught me that there are people suffering everywhere and to never take things for granted. I learned about extreme financial situations, that happen everywhere in the world today, that cause people to lose everything and this has really impacted the way I choose to spend my money. This class has changed my perception of the world and the people in it for the better. I feel that what I have learned will definitely help me in life especially as I continue to meet new people and explore new places. I hope to act selflessly and to not give into prejudice or bias, but rather to show compassion and interest in new people and ideas.

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This is a clip from a reading of Psalm 104 and it gives a great perspective on creation from the eyes of God and the Catholic Church. The preacher talks about how we are to have relationships with one another, God, and with creation (though we forget about the Earth because we don’t see it as our responsibility). God’s purpose for creating humanity was so we could be stewards to creation, not to destroy it and cultivate it for our own selfish desires, but to practice hospitality as God continues to do over and over again. He also preaches about how it’s not all about us, it is all about God. We want to bring God joy when he sees the beauties of the earth He created, not the pollution of the waters and air. We also have to remember that God’s not finished creating so we have to be prepared for the future by fixing the present.

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This source discusses the Catholic Church’s view on the environment. They address the moral dimensions of these environmental issues and the needs of the most vulnerable among us "the least of these." (Mt 25:40) . There is an article about an organization called The Environmental Justice Program (EJP). This program educates and motivates Catholics to a deeper reverence and respect for God's creation and encourages them to address environmental problems, especially as they affect poor and vulnerable. This organization along with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)  is apart of the  Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development (JPHD). This department promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and opportunities to live the Baptismal call to love God and neighbor. They work continuously to help those who are impacted by pollution and help these people find healthcare, food, better living conditions, and access to education. 

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Greed is Blinding

Greed continues to stop us from seeing the big picture. People always need more and continue to take more and more resources, but too much cultivating has a huge negative impact on the environment and is unessecary. Humans have become so accustomed to having resources given to them easily that we forget there are some humans that don’t have this luxury and are struggling to survive. Our continued cultivation of resources leaves farmers without soil and crops with no place to grow. People who live off the land need these resources, that people continually take for themselves, to live. We need to see what our greediness is doing to God’s creation and to the people of this world that aren’t as fortunate and continue to suffer especially with growing pollution. It’s a health hazard, leads to extreme illness, can lead to an insufficient amount of food, and even death. We need to take a step back, stop taking, and start cleaning and giving back all we have stripped from the earth. 

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Is Pollution what God wanted?

Matthew 6:26 says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Humans seem to continuously act as though God only has a heart for them. The pillar of CST is Care for God’s Creation, not just a few humans. We are called to take care of the earth and ensure its survival for future generations, but the environment is in grave danger.  Genesis 6:19  says "And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.” The story of Noah and the Arc shows God’s love for all creatures that they might not perish, but continue to live on in the new world. God cares deeply for all creatures and we are to be stewards to the earth as it is our responsibility as Catholics to keep it beautiful. Pollution is a huge problem in today’s world and it especially impacts the poor and vulnerable which is why Catholics need to take action and work together to stop the consistent polluting of the earth and start cleaning it up before it’s too late.

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This video is by a young man named Johnathon Brown. He expresses his feelings about pollution and how it has impacted his life. He really enjoys the world, but he can also see the impact humans are making. He talks about how there is a continuous cycle of pollution that continues to happen in our world and befalls the next generation again and again. He proposes the best solution is to change the mentality of the people to really make a difference.

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How To “Care for God’s Creation”

Pope Francis says, “ Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given “. Creation is a gift and thus we must accept it graciously and take care of it. The earth is precious and there are lots of ways to help care for it. We must protect the life and dignity of the human person because of the protection of the environment and the protection of human life go hand in hand. We can also help in other ways like using reusable bags, saving electricity, producing and emitting fewer greenhouse gases, and reducing the amount of food waste we produce.

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This website is for the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. This source gives a great description of this theme of CST and ways to help. We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of God’s creation. We have a moral obligation to protect the planet, to respect God’s creation, and ensure a safe and hospitable environment for human beings, especially children at their most vulnerable stages of development. As stewards to creation, we are called by God to share the responsibility for the future of the earth. Some examples of ways to help are: Examine your own lifestyle and see how your family can be a better steward for the environment, Plant a garden in your parish, and Recycle. 

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This audio clip is by Bishop David M. O’Connell for the world day of prayer for care of creation. This clip is a great source for learning about this theme of CST and takes quotes and teachings from the Bible and Religious leaders to help communicate the importance and need to care for God’s creation. As Christians, this is a central part of our faith. We are to reaffirm our personal vocation to be stewards of creation. Pope Francis puts before us our responsibility as part of creation that God has given to us, to protect earth as our home. He asks us to be grateful and reflect on this. The impact of environmental pollution is also important because it particularly affects the lives of the poor in the world. Bishop David also tells us we must commit ourselves to preserve creation for our posterity.

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We are called to care for God’s creation. The video gives great insight into how caring for God’s creation directly translates into care for our brothers and sisters. Farming is affected by not caring for God’s creation because environmental changes affect the ability for crops to grow. This means people who rely on farming as a food source are directly affected by how we choose to care for the earth. There are many ways to live out this call to stewardship such as recycling, or corporate decisions that affect the environment. 

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Stewards of the Environment

Care for God’s creation is a theme of Catholic Social Teaching. This theme is about becoming a steward of the environment. We are required, by our faith,  to take care of our Earth and protect it. We show our respect for God by caring for his creation and ensuring the instilled beauty continues to be seen. 

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What is CST? - The Overview

Catholic Social Teaching is the Church’s social teaching about building a just society. It’s also focused on living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It is the Catholic doctrine on human dignity and the common good in a society. The foundations for CST are laid out by Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum (around the industrial revolution).

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Catholic Social Teaching and its Basis

Life and Dignity of the Human Person is one of the teachings of CST. It’s the Catholic Church’s proclamation that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. It focuses on a consistent ethic of life from womb to tomb. This is the basis for all other CST themes. It is the universal idea of protecting life and liberty and believing that every person is precious and more important than things. 

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Any human society, if it is to be well-ordered and productive, must lay down as a foundation this principle, namely, that every human being is a person, that is, his nature is endowed with intelligence and free will. Indeed, precisely because he is a person he has rights and obligations flowing directly and simultaneously from his very nature.

Pacem in Terris (“Peace on Earth”), Pope John XXIII, 1963, #9.

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This article from The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website talks about the Church’s role in CST. It is an essential part of our faith that is rooted in God’s love for the poor and the respect for human life and dignity. “Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family.“ We are to love one another as God loves us and to help those who cannot help themselves especially the poor and vulnerable.