Catholic social teaching

love your neighbour

* CST is based on loving God and loving your neighbours as inseparable parts of a whole; you cannot love one without loving the other.
* This belief is based on Jesus’ greatest commandment (Mark’s Gospel): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

parable of the sheep and the goat

* In his parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew’s Gospel), Jesus taught that whatever we do for our brothers and sisters, we do for him. He taught that we should feed the hungry, welcome strangers and help the sick; we cannot ignore the needs of others.

environmental concerns

* Pope Francis wrote his encyclical *Laudato Si* to address environmental concerns (e.g. climate change) and world poverty that are leading to a decline in human life, a breakdown of society and social injustice around the world. Pope Francis urges solutions to be found and for the world to listen to “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.

Catholic teaching about justice

* Justice is one of the four cardinal virtues of Christianity based on the belief that God wants the world to be ruled justly where all people are treated fairly and equally.

helping the poor

* Jesus taught the rich should share their wealth. In his conversation with the rich man (Mark’s Gospel), he told the man to give everything he had to the poor. Pope Francis reinforces this: ^^“Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them” (Evangelii Gaudium^^).

catholic teachings on peace and reconsiliatoin

* St Paul taught in his letter to the Romans that Christians should “make every effort to do what leads to peace” and the Catechism supports this by saying “Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic Prince of Peace”.

forgiveness

* Forgiveness is fundamental as it leads to reconciliation through the ending of conflict.


* Through forgiveness, Christians repair relationships with others and with God. In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew’s Gospel), Jesus taught us to say “as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

how is catholic social teaching reflected in catholic lives

* Christians believe they are called by God to love their neighbour as Jesus commanded in their daily lives, practising justice, peace and reconciliation with those around them.
* Christians may do this through their choice of career/job (e.g. nursing, teaching, law).
* Christians may be involved with charities who work for justice and peace (e.g. CAFOD).
* Christians also do this through prayers of intercession, including bidding prayers at Mass.

CAFOD

* Long-term development programmes to LEDCs/LICs can become self-sufficient.
* Short-term / emergency aid to respond to natural disasters and refugee crises.
* Raising awareness in MEDCs/HICs through education so more people help.
* Speaking out on behalf of poor communities to bring about social justice.