The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition is best understood through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections during September, the Saint Francis Peace & Justice committee will highlight the key themes at the heart of Catholic social tradition.

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
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. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and assisted suicide. The value of human life is being threatened by increasing use of the death penalty. 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.

2.  Call to Family, Community and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. 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. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

3.  Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

4.  Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

5.  Dignity of Work & Rights of Workers
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 organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

6.  Solidarity
We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that “loving our neighbor” has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

7.  Care for God’s Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of 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 God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
 
 
 

Think about ways "how" you have responded to the voice of your neighbor in need.  Think about the motives "why" you responded in the way you did.    Fill in these blanks:  “I was _______ and you _______.” (cf. Matthew 25:31-46)

The following themes are motives "why" we respond to those in need.  Notice that they do not tell us exactly “how” to respond.

• Life and dignity of the human person - All people are holy, made in the image of God.
• Call to family, community and participation - People are both holy and social; when one suffers, we all suffer.
• Rights and responsibilities - People have a basic right to life, food, shelter, health care, education and work.
• Option for the poor and vulnerable - The "Jesus" test of a community (of society) is how it treats its neediest members.
• Dignity of work and the rights of workers - Money, work and business exist to serve people, not the other way around.
• Solidarity - We want justice for all people.
• Care for God's creation - The environment is God's sacred creation.

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Lenten Energy Fast; 
Working for peace and nonviolence; 
Advocacy for the Unborn; 
Women’s Human Rights; 
Transportation Ministry; 
Car Donation Transfers (& car repairs); 
Crop Walk, 
Food Collections; 
Shelter Support; 
Religious Action for Affordable Housing; 
Mission Trips to Detroit, 
Honduras, 
Sacaba, Bolivia, 
New Orleans, 
Special Second Collections; 
etc; 

2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Advocacy for the Unborn; 
Women’s Human Rights; 
Health Care Initiatives; 
Affordable Housing; 
Civil Rights; 
etc;

3. Rights and Responsibilities
Advocacy for the Unborn; 
Civil Rights (MLK Mass and dinner); 
Lenten Energy Fast; 
Voting; 
etc;

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Civil Rights; 
Lenten Energy Fast; 
Advocacy for the Unborn; 
Health/healthcare for the Poor; Crop Walk, Food Collections; Transportation Ministry;  Car Donation Transfers (& car repairs); Shelter Support; Religious Action for Affordable Housing; Mission Trips to Detroit, Honduras, Sacaba, Bolivia, New Orleans, Peace and Nonviolence; etc;

5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Crop Walk, Food Collections; Shelter Support; Religious Action for Affordable Housing; Mission Trips to Detroit, Honduras, Sacaba, Bolivia, New Orleans, etc;

6. Solidarity
Peace and Nonviolence; Women’s Human Rights; Health/healthcare for the poor; Lenten Energy Fast; Green Team-Care for Creation; Crop Walk; Food Collections; Shelter Support; Religious Action for Affordable Housing; Mission Trips to Detroit; Honduras; Sacaba, Bolivia; New Orleans; Soup Sale to Benefit Our Sister Parish, Corpus Christi; Special Second Collections; etc;
 

7. Care for God’s Creation
Lenten Energy Fast; Green Team-Care for Creation; Parish Energy Evaluation & Energy Education/Training Program; Advocacy for the Unborn; etc...;

The following efforts belong in the scope of our St. Vincent Christian Service Committee:

-- Food Collections;
-- Shelter Programs;
-- Mission Trips to Detroit,
-- Mission Trips to Honduras & and/or Guatemala, &
-- Mission Trips to Sacaba, Bolivia.

---------------------------------------------------
And, here are some Other "General" Projects at St. Francis, which are Supporting Themes of Catholic Social Teaching:

-- Car Donation Transfers (& car repairs) to help people get to work and to medical care.
-- Transportation Ministry, finding drivers to give people rides to medical appointments, as well as, rides to church.
-- Tax Filing Assistance, for low income households.
-- Rebuilding a Home each year with Christmas in Action (& Habitat for Humanity some years).
-- Serve a Meal for Hungry at Delonis Center, Shelter.
-- Sustainable Garden Project for Single Parents at Perry Nursery School.
-- Christmas Dinner Party for Perry Nursery School
-- Christmas Giving Tree
-- Christmas Re-gift Box
-- Clothing Collection Box for HERO (Homeless Empowerment Relationship Org.)
-- Career Network - Job Seekers
-- Justice for Immigrants
-- Migrant Ministry
-- Jail Ministry
-- Special Collections (India - Home of Hope - Orphanage?)
      (Support of Holy Family Camp Alabaré?)
-- Stephen Ministry, follow-up one-to-one listening.
-- Alcoholics and Addicts Find Recovery Community
-- Counseling Assistance Program
-- Community Kitchen @ St. Francis PAC, a bulk-buying club.
-- Human Trafficking (Dick did a project on Human Trafficking in 2006 September in collaboration with our Pro-Life committee.)

One of the goals of our five-year strategic plan for Social Ministry is to define and communicate our Catholic Social Teaching themes to the people of St. Francis.  [See Parish Pastoral Plan 2009-2014, page 27, Focus Area: Social  Ministry]  See: www.stfrancisa2.com/ppp/

As our FIRST STEP (2010-02-01) each team/group took some time in prayerful reflection and/or discussion to answer this question, "How does your ministry effort address one (or more) of the major themes from Catholic Social  Teaching?"  (We considered current ministry efforts in progress and those being planned for next year 2010 - 2011, not the past efforts.)
 
 

"How does your ministry effort address one (or more) of the major themes from Catholic Social  Teaching?"

(#1) Many of the people who are helped by the activities of the SVdP/Christian Service committee have low visibility in our productivity-oriented society.  They have been marginalized by physical impairment, unemployment, lack of education, or some other factor that makes them seem unnecessary or undesirable.  Each person's value in society must be recognized, and hopefully our volunteers impart that recognition to the people we work with. 
[Chris Kempton]

(#1 & #4)  Stephen Ministry recognizes the life and dignity of the human person.  Taking time to listen carefully and holding what is said in confidence expresses that dignity. We also look to help those who are vulnerable.  By providing support and encouragement we address the needs of those who are suffering among us.  [Marty Javornisky] 

(#1)  Life and Dignity of the Human Person theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by:
- Working for peace and nonviolence project;
- Pro-LIFE sub-committee/task force;
- 2nd Special Collection for Pregnancy Help Center.
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#1)  Our Transportation Ministry, for example, has helped members of our community maintain meaningful employment that builds a sense of personal dignity and worth. 
[Chris Kempton]

(#1) Our efforts on behalf of peace reflect the fact that war is the ultimate insult to the dignity of the human person. 
[James Varani]

(#2)  Call to Family, Community, and Participation theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by: 
- Voting information/resources (anticipated for fall 2010 elections).
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#2)  Our efforts on behalf of peace are based on the understanding that no matter how society is organized, we are all members of one family of God. Every one is a brother or sister. Every conflict, therefore, is between brothers and sisters. As parents, nothing "hurts" us more than seeing our children in conflict with one another. It is contrary to the basic principles of family life. My belief is that God, our father, sees war (all conflict) in the same way. 
[James Varani]

(#2) We try hard to nurture volunteer opportunities for families to experience together.  The IHN Alpha House family shelter week always has several families volunteering together, to help at a center that has a mission of helping low-income families stay together. 
[Chris Kempton]

(#3)  Rights and Responsibilities theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by: 
- Women’s human rights project.
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#4)  Option for the Poor and Vulnerable theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by: 
- Lenten project – fundraising for Food Gatherers; 
- Special collections for:  Holy Cross Children’s Services; St. Vincent de Paul; 
- Health / healthcare for the poor and special collection for Hope Clinic; 
- CROP Walk; 
- Religious Action for Affordable Housing (RAAH) and other housing-related efforts.
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#4 & #1)  Stephen Ministry recognizes the life and dignity of the human person.  Taking time to listen carefully and holding what is said in confidence expresses that dignity. We also look to help those who are vulnerable.  By providing support and encouragement we address the needs of those who are suffering among us.  [Marty Javornisky] 

(#4)  The numerous direct service ministries overseen by the Christian Service committee try to ease the burdens our needy experience for basic day-to-day necessities of life, so that they can pursue lasting solutions to the larger problems they face. 
[Chris Kempton]

(#4)  War is hell – for all, but especially for the poor and vulnerable.   It is the poor and vulnerable who suffer the most from every bad thing that comes along.  Thus, the Catholic Church’s “preferential option for the poor” cannot be expressed in a community at war.
[James Varani]

(#5) 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 participation in God’s creation. Modern warfare is dependent on the economic capacity of the community.  Modern warfare requires that the economic capacity of the community supports the war effort.  It is difficult (at best) for workers in a wartime economy to fully participate in the call to be co-creators with God. 
[James Varani]

(#5)  All workers' activities must be respected and valued.  Unfortunately, some jobs are looked down upon, or not compensated in a way that allows the job holder to maintain the necessities of life.  St. Francis assists with ministries for migrant farm workers, one of the most marginalized labor populations in our community.  Our transportation ministry has also helped people maintain jobs that, while important, unfortunately do not pay well enough to offset the transportation costs they present. 
[Chris Kempton]

(#6)  Our social ministry projects help a wide cross-section of people, both inside our local community (see above #__), and in our region (via sister parish programs).  We are active in a number of interfaith efforts in the community, Alpha House being one example, which demonstrate a common commitment to justice with other faith communities. 
[Chris Kempton]

(# 6) In Solidarity we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, ... 
[Chris Kempton]

(#6)  Solidarity theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by:
- Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;
- Soup sale fundraiser to benefit Corpus Christi (our sister parish in Detroit);
- Going South (rebuilding in New Orleans project);
- Establishing prayer partners for the Peace and Justice Committee.
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#7)  Care for God’s Creation theme the Peace and Justice Committee addresses by:
- Lenten Energy Fast project;
- St. Francis Green Team – join MI Interfaith Power & Light; parish energy evaluation from MI-IP&L
- St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project.
[Kelly Gauthier]

(#7)  Our efforts on behalf of peace recognize that modern war, especially all-out nuclear war, is the ultimate environmental disaster. Nuclear war is incompatible with our call to be stewards of creation. 
[James Varani]