guiding guiding principles guiding guidingprinciples principles principles guiding guiding principles guiding guidingprinciples principles principles SOCIAL SOCIAL NATURE NATURE OFOF HUMANITY HUMANITY SOCIAL SOCIAL NATURE NATURE OF OF HUMANITY HUMANITY All of All us ofare us are social social by nature by nature andand are are called called RIGHTS RIGHTS AND AND RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES RIGHTS RIGHTS AND AND RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES Every Every person person hashas basic basic rights rights andand responsibilities responsibilities to live to live in community in are community with others — our others — our full full All of Allus ofare us social social by nature by with nature and and are are called called SOCIAL SOCIAL NATURE NATURE human human potential isn’tisn’t realized realized in solitude, in solitude, to live to live inpotential community in community with with others — our others — our fullbut fullbut OF OF HUMANITY HUMANITY SOCIAL SOCIAL NATURE NATURE in community in community with with others. others. How How we organize organize human human potential potential isn’t isn’t realized realized in solitude, inwe solitude, but but OF OF HUMANITY HUMANITY ourcommunity our families, families, societies societies and and communities communities All of All us of are us are social social by nature by nature and and are are called called in in community with with others. others. How How we organize we organize directly directly affects human human dignity dignity and and our our ability ability to live to live in community inaffects community with with others — our others — our full full our our families, families, societies societies and and communities communities All of All us of are us are social social by nature by nature and and are are called called to achieve to achieve our our full full human human potential. potential. human human potential potential isn’t isn’t realized realized in solitude, in solitude, but but directly directly affects affects human human dignity dignity and and our our ability ability to live to live in community in community withwith others — our others — our full full in in with with others. others. How How we organize organize to community achieve tocommunity achieve our our fullisn’t full human human potential. potential. human human potential potential isn’t realized realized in solitude, inwe solitude, but but ourcommunity our families, families, societies societies and and communities communities in in community with with others. others. How How we organize we organize directly affects affects human human dignity dignity andand ourour ability ability ourdirectly our families, families, societies societies and and communities communities to achieve to achieve our our full full human human potential. potential. directly directly affects affects human human dignity dignity andand our our ability ability thatthat flow flow from from our our human human dignity dignity andresponsibilities and thatthat Every Every person person has has basic basic rights rights and and responsibilities RIGHTS RIGHTS AND AND belong to us to from as usour human asour human beings beings regardless regardless thatbelong that flow flow from human human dignity dignity and and thatof thatof RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES RIGHTS RIGHTS AND AND any any social social or political orhuman political structures. structures. The The rights rights belong belong to us toas us as human beings beings regardless regardless of are of are RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES numerous numerous and and include include those those things that that make make Every Every person person has basic basic rights rights andthings and responsibilities responsibilities any any social social or has political or political structures. structures. The The rights rights are are life truly truly human. human. Corresponding Corresponding to our to our rights rights thatlife that flow flow from from our our human human dignity dignity and and that that numerous numerous and and include include those those things things that that make make Every Every person person has has basic basic rights rights and and responsibilities responsibilities are are duties duties and and responsibilities responsibilities to respect to respect the the belong belong to us to as us human as human beings beings regardless regardless of of life truly life truly human. human. Corresponding Corresponding to our to our rights rights thatthat flowflow from from our our human human dignity dignity andand thatthat rights rights ofduties of and and tostructures. work tostructures. work for for the the common common any social social or political or political The The rights rights are any are duties and and responsibilities responsibilities to respect to respect the the belong belong toothers us toothers as us human as human beings beings regardless regardless of are of are good good of all. of numerous numerous and and include include those those things things that that make make rights rights ofsocial others of others and and tostructures. work tostructures. work for the for the common common any any social orall. political or political The The rights rights are are life life truly truly human. human. Corresponding Corresponding to our to our rights rights good good of all. ofand all.and numerous numerous include include those those things things that that make make are are duties duties and and responsibilities responsibilities toto respect toour respect the the life truly life truly human. human. Corresponding Corresponding to our rights rights STEWARDSHIP STEWARDSHIP rights rights ofduties others of others and and to work to work for the common common are are duties and and responsibilities responsibilities tofor respect tothe respect the the good good of of STEWARDSHIP STEWARDSHIP rights rights of others ofall. others and and to work to work for the common common There There is all. inherent is inherent integrity integrity tofor all tothe of allcreation of creation SACREDNESS SACREDNESS AND AND to achieve to achieve our our full full human human potential. potential. DIGNITY DIGNITY OFOF THE THE SACREDNESS SACREDNESS AND AND HUMAN HUMAN PERSON PERSON DIGNITY DIGNITY OF OF THE THE HUMAN HUMAN PERSON PERSON Created Created in the in the image image of God, of AND God, all human all human life life is is SACREDNESS SACREDNESS AND sacred sacred and possesses possesses a dignity a dignity comes comes Created Created in and the in the image image of God, of God, allthat human allthat human life is life is DIGNITY DIGNITY OFOF THE THE SACREDNESS SACREDNESS AND AND directly directly from from our our creation creation and not not from from anyany sacred sacred and and possesses possesses a dignity aand dignity that that comes comes HUMAN HUMAN PERSON PERSON DIGNITY DIGNITY OF OF THE THE action action offrom our offrom our own. directly directly ourown. our creation creation andand not not from from anyany HUMAN HUMAN PERSON PERSON Created Created in the in the image image of God, of God, all human all human life life is is action action of our of our own. own. sacred sacred and possesses possesses a dignity a dignity comes comes Created Created in and the in the image image of God, of God, allthat human allthat human life is life is directly directly from from our our creation creation and not not from from anyany sacred sacred and and possesses possesses a dignity aand dignity that that comes comes action action offrom our offrom our own. directly directly ourown. our creation creation andand not not from from anyany THE THE COMMON COMMON GOOD GOOD THE THE COMMON GOOD In order In order for COMMON for all of allus of to ushave toGOOD have an opportunity an opportunity to to OPTION OPTION FOR FOR THE THE POOR POOR OPTION OPTION FOR FOR THE THE POOR POOR In every In every economic, economic, political political and and social social decision, decision, grow grow and develop develop fully, fully, a certain aan certain social social fabric fabric In order In and order for all for of allus of to us have to have opportunity an opportunity to to must must exist within within society. society. is the is the common common grow grow andexist and develop develop fully, fully, a This certain a This certain social social fabric fabric THE THE COMMON COMMON GOOD GOOD good. good. Numerous Numerous social social conditions — economic, conditions — economic, must must exist exist within within society. society. This This is the is the common common THE THE COMMON COMMON GOOD GOOD political, political, material material and and cultural — impact cultural — impact ourour In order In order for for all of all us of to us have to have an opportunity an opportunity to to good. good. Numerous Numerous social social conditions — economic, conditions — economic, ability ability tofor realize to realize our our human human dignity and and reach reach grow grow and and develop develop fully, fully, a cultural — impact certain adignity certain social social fabric fabric political, political, material material and and cultural — impact our our In order In order all for of all us of to us have to have an opportunity an opportunity to to our our full full potential. potential. must must exist exist within within society. society. This This isdignity the is and the common common ability ability to realize to realize our our human human and reach reach grow grow and and develop develop fully, fully, a certain adignity certain social social fabric fabric a weighted aInweighted concern concern must must beand given beand given to the to the needs needs In every every economic, economic, political political social social decision, decision, of the of the poorest poorest and and most most vulnerable. When weneeds we a weighted a weighted concern concern must must bevulnerable. given be given toWhen the to the needs OPTION OPTION FOR FOR THE THE POOR POOR dothe this do this wepoorest we strengthen strengthen the the entire entire community, community, of of the poorest andand most most vulnerable. vulnerable. When When we we OPTION OPTION FOR FOR THE THE POOR POOR because because the the powerlessness powerlessness of any of any member member In In economic, economic, political political and and social social decision, decision, doevery this doevery this we strengthen we strengthen the the entire entire community, community, wounds wounds the the rest rest of society. of society. a weighted a weighted concern must must beof given be given to the to the needs needs because because theconcern the powerlessness powerlessness any of any member member In every In every economic, economic, political political and and social social decision, decision, of the of the poorest poorest and most most vulnerable. When weneeds we wounds wounds the the rest rest ofand society. of society. a weighted a weighted concern concern must must bevulnerable. given be given toWhen the to the needs dothe this do this wepoorest we strengthen strengthen the the entire entire community, community, of of the poorest andand most most vulnerable. vulnerable. When When we we because because the the powerlessness powerlessness ofentire any ofcommunity, any member member do this do this we strengthen we strengthen the the entire community, wounds wounds the rest rest of society. of society. because because thethe the powerlessness powerlessness of any of any member member good. good. Numerous Numerous social social conditions — economic, conditions — economic, our our full full potential. potential. must must exist exist within within society. society. This This is the is the common common political, political, material material andand cultural — impact cultural — impact ourour good. good. Numerous Numerous social social conditions — economic, conditions — economic, ability ability to material realize to material realize our our human human dignity dignity andand reach reach political, political, and and cultural — impact cultural — impact our our our our fullto full potential. potential. ability ability realize to realize our our human human dignity dignity andand reach reach our our full full potential. potential. wounds wounds the the restrest of society. of society. SUBSIDIARITY SUBSIDIARITY SUBSIDIARITY SUBSIDIARITY A higher A higher level level of government — or of government — or organization — organization — SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY WeWe are are all part all part of one of one human human family — whatever family — whatever good good of and and itof requires requires careful careful stewardship stewardship of of our all our There There isitall. inherent is all. inherent integrity integrity to all toof allcreation of all creation resources, resources, ensuring ensuring that that we we useuse andof and distribute and and it requires it requires careful careful stewardship stewardship all ofdistribute our all our STEWARDSHIP STEWARDSHIP them them justly justly and and equitably — as equitably — as well as planning asdistribute planning resources, resources, ensuring ensuring thatthat we use wewell use and and distribute STEWARDSHIP STEWARDSHIP for There for future future generations. generations. There is inherent is inherent integrity integrity to all to of allwell creation of creation them them justly justly and and equitably — as equitably — as well as planning as planning and and it requires itinherent requires careful careful stewardship stewardship of of our all our for future for generations. generations. There There isfuture is inherent integrity integrity to all toof allcreation of all creation resources, resources, ensuring ensuring that that we we useuse andof and distribute and and it requires it requires careful careful stewardship stewardship all ofdistribute our all our them them justly justly and and equitably — as equitably — as well as planning asdistribute planning resources, resources, ensuring ensuring thatthat we use wewell use and and distribute for for future future generations. generations. them them justly justly and and equitably — as equitably — as wellwell as planning as planning should should not not perform perform any function function or duty or duty thatthat A higher A higher level level of government — or of any government — or organization — organization — cancan be not handled be handled more more effectively effectively at at lower aduty lower level level should should not perform perform any any function function or aduty or that that SUBSIDIARITY SUBSIDIARITY by by who are are closer closer to the to the problem and and canpeople can bepeople handled be who handled more more effectively effectively at aproblem at lower a lower level level SUBSIDIARITY SUBSIDIARITY have have better alevel better understanding understanding of of the issue. issue. A higher A level of government — or ofare government — or organization — organization — by people byahigher people who who are closer closer to the to the the problem problem andand our national, national, racial, religious, religious, economic economic or or Weour We are are all part allracial, part of one of one human human family — whatever family — whatever ideological ideological differences — and differences — and in an in increasingly an increasingly our our national, national, racial, racial, religious, religious, economic economic or or SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY interconnected interconnected world, world, loving loving our our neighbor neighbor hashas ideological ideological differences — and differences — and in an in increasingly an increasingly SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY global global We We aredimensions. are all dimensions. part all part of one of one human human family — whatever family — whatever interconnected interconnected world, world, loving loving our our neighbor neighbor has has for future for future generations. generations. have have a better a better understanding understanding of the of the issue. issue. global global dimensions. dimensions. should should not not perform perform any function function or duty or duty thatthat have have ahigher better a better understanding understanding of the of the issue. issue. A higher A level level of government — or of any government — or organization — organization — cancan be not handled be handled more more effectively effectively at at lower aduty lower level level should should not perform perform any any function function or aduty or that that by by who are are closer closer to the to the problem and and canpeople can bepeople handled be who handled more more effectively effectively at aproblem at lower a lower level level have have better a better understanding understanding of of the issue. issue. by people bya people who who are are closer closer to the to the the problem problem andand our our national, national, racial, religious, religious, economic economic or or global global dimensions. We We are are all dimensions. part allracial, part of one of one human human family — whatever family — whatever ideological ideological differences — and differences — and in an in increasingly an increasingly our our national, national, racial, racial, religious, religious, economic economic or or interconnected interconnected world, world, loving loving our our neighbor neighbor hashas ideological ideological differences — and differences — and in an in increasingly an increasingly global global dimensions. dimensions. interconnected interconnected world, world, loving loving our our neighbor neighbor has has action action of our of our own. own. Photos (left to Photos right)(left by: Silverlight to right) by: forSilverlight CRS; Sarafor A. CRS; Fajardo/CRS; Sara A. Fajardo/CRS; Kent Truog for Kent CRS. Truog for CRS. ©2014 Catholic ©2014 Relief Catholic Services. Relief All Services. Rights Reserved. All RightsMK1464 Reserved. MK1464 Photos (left toPhotos right) by: (leftSilverlight to right) by: for Silverlight CRS; Sara A. forFajardo/CRS; CRS; Sara A. Kent Fajardo/CRS; Truog forKent CRS.Truog for CRS. ©2014 Catholic©2014 ReliefCatholic Services. Relief All Rights Services. Reserved. All Rights MK1464 Reserved. MK1464 Photos (left to Photos right)(left by: Silverlight to right) by: forSilverlight CRS; Sarafor A. CRS; Fajardo/CRS; Sara A. Fajardo/CRS; Kent Truog for Kent CRS. Truog for CRS. ©2014 Catholic ©2014 Relief Catholic Services. Relief All Services. Rights Reserved. All RightsMK1464 Reserved. MK1464 Adapted from the “Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching” from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Adapted from the “Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching” from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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