Social Teaching

’The teaching of Christ even requires that we forgive injuries and extend the law of love to include every enemy, according to the command of the new law: ‘You have heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy.  but I say to you: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you.’ ‘(Matt.5: 43,44)

’It is everyone’s duty, but especially that of Christians, to work with energy for the establishment of universal brotherhood, the indispensable basis for authentic justice and the condition for enduring peace....’

‘Christians must first of all renew their confidence in the forcefulness and special character of the demands made by the gospel.; The gospel is not out of date.... its inspiration, enriched by the living experience of Christian tradition over the centuries, remains ever new....’

‘... the present state of affairs must be confronted boldly, and its concomitant injustices must be challenged and overcome.  Continuing development calls for bold innovations that will work profound changes.... Everyone must lend a ready hand to this task, particularly those who can do most by reason of their education, their office, or their authority.’

‘In teaching us charity, the Gospel instructs us in the preferential respect due to the poor and the special situation they have in society: the more fortunate should renounce some of their rights so as to place their goods more generously at the service of others.’

‘A consistent theme of Catholic Social Teaching is the option of love of preference for the poor.  Today, this preference has to be expressed in worldwide dimensions, embracing the immense numbers of the hungry, the needy the homeless, those without medical care, and those without hope.’

‘The way society responds to the needs of the poor through its public policies is the litmus test of its justice or injustice.’

‘Yet He frees all so that by putting aside love of self and bringing all earthly resources into the service of human life they can devote themselves to that future when humanity itself will become an offering accepted by God.’

‘For unless the Christian message of love and justice shows its effectiveness through action in the cause of justice in the world, it will only with difficulty gain credibility with the people of our times.’