CST FINAL - matching

compassion

compassion

concern for the suffering of others and the desire to relieve it

enlightened self-interest

the realization that by helping others we, in the end, really helping ourselves

individualism

a belief that each person should take responsibility for their own life, and that others should not be expected to help them if they fail to take responsibility for themselves

hope

a belief in the possibility that what one wants can actually happen

human dignity

the basic goodness and equal worth of human beings that comes from being created in God’s image and being loved by God

free will

the ability of a person to choose among options and to make decisions with freedom; self-determination is the grounds for an authentic relationship with God

Original Sin

the sin of Adam and Eve that disrupted the order of creation and brought suffering into the world

sin

any thought, word, or action against God

justice

loving relationships among human beings, God, and creation so life can flourish as God intends

grace

transforming love of God

subsidiarity

the moral principle that large organizations and governments should not take over responsibilities and decisions that can be handled by individuals and local organizations, and that large corporations and governments have the responsibility to support the good of human beings, families, and local communities, which are the center and purpose of social life

capitalism

competition in free market, private ownership of goods

socialism

no private ownership of goods; creation/distribution controlled by gov or whole community

communism

goods owned in common and available to all as needed

natural law

the expression of the original moral sense that God gave us that enables us to discern by our intellect and reason what is good and what is evil; rooted in our desire for God, and it is our participation in his wisdom and goodness because we are created in his divine likeness

marginalized

relegated to unimportant or powerless position in society or group

encyclical

teaching letter from pope to members of Church on topics of social justice, human rights, and peace

Age of Enlightenment

a movement that began in the 19th century that considered human reason as supreme in the acquisition and development of knowledge and so questioned both the possibility of Revelation and the teachings of the Church

solidarity

union in heart and mind with all people; leads to the just distribution of material goods, creates bonds between opposing groups and nations, and leads to the spread of spiritual goods such as friendship and prayer

social justice

the defense of human dignity by ensuring that all essential human needs are met and that essential human rights are protected for all people

awareness

perceiving the world from God’s point of view to better recognize the ways it can be made a better place to live (circle of faith-in-action step 1)

analysis

ask “why is the world the way it is?” and “how can it be made as good as God intends” (circle of faith-in-action step 2)

action

act for justice in ways that make life better for everyone (circle of faith-in-action step 3)

culture

the shared values, beliefs, and ways of relating and living together that characterize a particular group of people

worldview

the basic beliefs that guide the way someone relates to the world

respect

“to look again”

interdependence

the state of things or people depending on one another

social structures

the patterns of relationships that shape any society

power

the God-given ability everyone has to affect their own life, the lives of others, and the world around them– including its social structures– in either positive or negative ways

civil disobedience

intentionally breaking laws that are unjust

culture of life

a worldview that recognizes that all human life comes from God and is meant to return to God; it respects and protects human life in all its stages, from conception to natural death

culture of death

a worldview that fails to respect and protect human life in all its stages

euthanasia

a direct action, or a deliberate lack of action, that causes the death of a person who is disabled, sick, or dying

suicide

the ultimate rejection of God’s gifts of hope and love

retributive justice

the approach to those who have committed crimes that is concerned with punishing or rewarding an individual

abolition

the action of terminating a system, practice, or institution

seamless garment

another name for the consistent ethic of life, taken from the image of Jesus’ tunic in the Gospel of John, which refers to the ethical, religious, and political threads of moral issues that are unified in one vision

sacred

a place, object, or person that is considered holy because it is dedicated to God or set aside for religious purposes

capital punishment

the practice of killing people as punishment for serious crimes

abortion

the deliberate termination of pregnancy and ending of life of an unborn chid in the womb

institutional violence

violence that occurs as a result of unjust social structures rather than as a direct result of one person’s actions

spiral of violence

the tendency of violent acts to escalate as each party in a conflict responds to violence with even greater acts of violence

shalom

a Hebrew word for peace that invites action to establish the presence of love, harmony, safety, and healing for all

conscientious objection

opposition on moral or religious grounds to serving in the armed forces or to bearing arms

amnesty

a pardon offered for past wrongdoings

peace

the harmony that results when people resolve conflicts by working in love for the good of all

pacifism

opposition to the use of war or violence to solve conflicts and a commitment to nonparticipation in violence in any way

proportionality

a rule of the just-war theory stating that the good to be gained by war must outweigh the damage and costs caused by it

just-war theory

the premise that considers the use of military force morally acceptable when specific criteria have been met

reconciliation

true forgiveness required for peacemaking

poverty

the experience of not having the basic necessities for living a full and dignified life

chronic hunger

the situation when a person is unable to consume enough food to maintain a normal, active lifestyle over an extended period

starvation

when the body does not receive enough calories to maintain itself; the metabolism slows down, and body begins to feed on itself

malnutrition

a physically dangerous situation caused by inadequate nutrition; getting enough calories to prevent the body from feeding on itself, but the diet is limited, often consisting of three to four foods

literal homelessness

without shelter

hidden homelessness

people whose poverty prevents them from living in sufficient housing

refugees

a person who flees to another country to escape danger in their home country

food insecure

the inability to obtain or afford nutritionally sufficient food on a regular basis

affordable housing

housing for which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of their income for total costs, including utilities

nearness of death

the conditions of chronic hunger, health problems, and violence that put those who live in extreme poverty at greater risk of death than people who are not poor