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Practicing Catholic Social Teaching is Charity!<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/vote-ballot-cast-election-politics-charity-citizen-duty-law-government-man.jpeg\")
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Practicing Catholic social teaching is charity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What is Charity?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822)<\/a> <\/span><\/span>It is the \u201clove of neighbor, grounded in the love of God\". (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCharity is the \"actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span> and \"is first and foremost a responsibility of each individual member of the faithful\u201d. (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCharity requires engaging, directly, those around us who are in need<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nWithout Charity There is No Social Justice<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cWhen animated by charity, commitment to the common good has greater worth than a merely secular and political stand would have.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span>As Pope Francis says, \u201cif we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church\". (Pope Francis, Missa Pro Ecclesia Homily)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWithout charity [corporal and spiritual works of mercy and implementing Catholic social teaching] the Church warns us that social justice results in a cold, legalistic public square \u2013 a society lacking true solidarity<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\nWe must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nPracticing Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Charity can be expressed in three ways: corporal works of mercy; spiritual works of mercy; or, implementing the tenets of Catholic social teaching in society.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Corporal Works of Mercy <\/strong>are feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; visit the sick; visit the imprisoned; bury the dead. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Spiritual Works of Mercy <\/strong> are to admonish the sinner; instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful; comfort the sorrowful; bear wrongs patiently; forgive all injuries; pray for the living and the dead.<\/span><\/p>\nApplying Catholic Social Teaching is Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering, but it is also an act of charity, even if we do not know that person, to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering.\" (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 186)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOur catechesis, whether as children or adults, typically fails to reveal that practicing Catholic social teaching is charity. It fails to identify that \u201cCharity is at the heart of the Church\u2019s social doctrine.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 2)<\/a><\/span> That, \u201cTo defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in our life are\u2026exacting and indispensable forms of charity<\/strong>\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 1)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe practice of Catholic social teaching \"is the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly<\/strong>, outside the institutional mediation of the polis.\" (emphasis ours) (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd, this has been clear for decades. Pope Pius XII said in 1949, \u201cThe social program of the Catholic Church is based upon three powerful pillars: truth, justice and Christian charity.\u201d (\u201cCatholic Social Principles: The Social Teachings of the Catholic Church Applied to American Economic Life\u201d by Rev. John F. Cronin, S.S., The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, WI, 1955.)<\/span><\/p>\nWhile Pope Benedict XVI more recently said, \"'Caritas in Veritate\u2019 is the principle around which the church\u2019s social doctrine turns\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 6)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWe must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching is a \"Requirement\"<\/span><\/h2>\n
Practicing Catholic social teaching is binding<\/strong> - a \u201crequirement\u201d of lay spirituality \u2013 of living out our lives in the world. \u201cEvery Christian is called to practice this charity in a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\nCatholic social teaching \u201cis the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIn reality, social instruction \u2018incarnates\u2019 the faithful in society. It places a duty upon Christians to give flesh to his or her faith\u2026The time for the church to be silent about her specific and binding foundation thus lies behind us\u201d. (Paul Cardinal Cordes, Not Without the Light of Faith: Catholic Social Doctrine, speech at The Australian Catholic University, 27 November 2009)<\/span><\/p>\nPope Benedict XVI acknowledged that his seminal social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate<\/a>,<\/span> was focused on this 'requirement': \u201cIt was the problem of a positive laicity, practiced and interpreted correctly\u201d that is \u201calso a fundamental theme of the encyclical Caritas in Veritate.\u201d (Address to the Roman Curia)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPracticing Catholic social teaching is not an option.<\/strong> As Catholics we must live our faith in the Public Square - for the betterment of all. And this requires personal conversion. We are being called to \u201can exacting and indispensable form of charity\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 1)<\/a><\/span>\u00a0grounding us in faith in the risen Christ as the basis of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Social Justice?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCharity vs. Justice<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHow to be a Real Social Justice Warrior?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocial Justice Issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocial Justice Quotes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nJustice Quotes from the Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Relationship Between CST, Social Justice, and Charity<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nKarl Marx and Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Christian Humanism?<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhat is Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
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Practicing Catholic social teaching is charity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What is Charity?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822)<\/a> <\/span><\/span>It is the \u201clove of neighbor, grounded in the love of God\". (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCharity is the \"actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span> and \"is first and foremost a responsibility of each individual member of the faithful\u201d. (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCharity requires engaging, directly, those around us who are in need<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nWithout Charity There is No Social Justice<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cWhen animated by charity, commitment to the common good has greater worth than a merely secular and political stand would have.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span>As Pope Francis says, \u201cif we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church\". (Pope Francis, Missa Pro Ecclesia Homily)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWithout charity [corporal and spiritual works of mercy and implementing Catholic social teaching] the Church warns us that social justice results in a cold, legalistic public square \u2013 a society lacking true solidarity<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\nWe must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nPracticing Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Charity can be expressed in three ways: corporal works of mercy; spiritual works of mercy; or, implementing the tenets of Catholic social teaching in society.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Corporal Works of Mercy <\/strong>are feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; visit the sick; visit the imprisoned; bury the dead. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Spiritual Works of Mercy <\/strong> are to admonish the sinner; instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful; comfort the sorrowful; bear wrongs patiently; forgive all injuries; pray for the living and the dead.<\/span><\/p>\nApplying Catholic Social Teaching is Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering, but it is also an act of charity, even if we do not know that person, to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering.\" (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 186)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOur catechesis, whether as children or adults, typically fails to reveal that practicing Catholic social teaching is charity. It fails to identify that \u201cCharity is at the heart of the Church\u2019s social doctrine.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 2)<\/a><\/span> That, \u201cTo defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in our life are\u2026exacting and indispensable forms of charity<\/strong>\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 1)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe practice of Catholic social teaching \"is the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly<\/strong>, outside the institutional mediation of the polis.\" (emphasis ours) (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd, this has been clear for decades. Pope Pius XII said in 1949, \u201cThe social program of the Catholic Church is based upon three powerful pillars: truth, justice and Christian charity.\u201d (\u201cCatholic Social Principles: The Social Teachings of the Catholic Church Applied to American Economic Life\u201d by Rev. John F. Cronin, S.S., The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, WI, 1955.)<\/span><\/p>\nWhile Pope Benedict XVI more recently said, \"'Caritas in Veritate\u2019 is the principle around which the church\u2019s social doctrine turns\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 6)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWe must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching is a \"Requirement\"<\/span><\/h2>\n
Practicing Catholic social teaching is binding<\/strong> - a \u201crequirement\u201d of lay spirituality \u2013 of living out our lives in the world. \u201cEvery Christian is called to practice this charity in a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\nCatholic social teaching \u201cis the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIn reality, social instruction \u2018incarnates\u2019 the faithful in society. It places a duty upon Christians to give flesh to his or her faith\u2026The time for the church to be silent about her specific and binding foundation thus lies behind us\u201d. (Paul Cardinal Cordes, Not Without the Light of Faith: Catholic Social Doctrine, speech at The Australian Catholic University, 27 November 2009)<\/span><\/p>\nPope Benedict XVI acknowledged that his seminal social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate<\/a>,<\/span> was focused on this 'requirement': \u201cIt was the problem of a positive laicity, practiced and interpreted correctly\u201d that is \u201calso a fundamental theme of the encyclical Caritas in Veritate.\u201d (Address to the Roman Curia)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPracticing Catholic social teaching is not an option.<\/strong> As Catholics we must live our faith in the Public Square - for the betterment of all. And this requires personal conversion. We are being called to \u201can exacting and indispensable form of charity\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 1)<\/a><\/span>\u00a0grounding us in faith in the risen Christ as the basis of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Social Justice?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCharity vs. Justice<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHow to be a Real Social Justice Warrior?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocial Justice Issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocial Justice Quotes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nJustice Quotes from the Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Relationship Between CST, Social Justice, and Charity<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nKarl Marx and Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Christian Humanism?<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhat is Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822)<\/a> <\/span><\/span>It is the \u201clove of neighbor, grounded in the love of God\". (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Charity is the \"actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span> and \"is first and foremost a responsibility of each individual member of the faithful\u201d. (Deus Caritas Est, 20)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Charity requires engaging, directly, those around us who are in need<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Without charity [corporal and spiritual works of mercy and implementing Catholic social teaching] the Church warns us that social justice results in a cold, legalistic public square \u2013 a society lacking true solidarity<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n We must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Corporal Works of Mercy <\/strong>are feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; visit the sick; visit the imprisoned; bury the dead. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Spiritual Works of Mercy <\/strong> are to admonish the sinner; instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful; comfort the sorrowful; bear wrongs patiently; forgive all injuries; pray for the living and the dead.<\/span><\/p>\n Our catechesis, whether as children or adults, typically fails to reveal that practicing Catholic social teaching is charity. It fails to identify that \u201cCharity is at the heart of the Church\u2019s social doctrine.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 2)<\/a><\/span> That, \u201cTo defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in our life are\u2026exacting and indispensable forms of charity<\/strong>\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 1)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The practice of Catholic social teaching \"is the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly<\/strong>, outside the institutional mediation of the polis.\" (emphasis ours) (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And, this has been clear for decades. Pope Pius XII said in 1949, \u201cThe social program of the Catholic Church is based upon three powerful pillars: truth, justice and Christian charity.\u201d (\u201cCatholic Social Principles: The Social Teachings of the Catholic Church Applied to American Economic Life\u201d by Rev. John F. Cronin, S.S., The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, WI, 1955.)<\/span><\/p>\n While Pope Benedict XVI more recently said, \"'Caritas in Veritate\u2019 is the principle around which the church\u2019s social doctrine turns\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 6)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n We must understand: to practice Catholic social teaching is charity!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic social teaching \u201cis the institutional path \u2014 we might also call it the political path \u2014 of charity\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cIn reality, social instruction \u2018incarnates\u2019 the faithful in society. It places a duty upon Christians to give flesh to his or her faith\u2026The time for the church to be silent about her specific and binding foundation thus lies behind us\u201d. (Paul Cardinal Cordes, Not Without the Light of Faith: Catholic Social Doctrine, speech at The Australian Catholic University, 27 November 2009)<\/span><\/p>\n Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that his seminal social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate<\/a>,<\/span> was focused on this 'requirement': \u201cIt was the problem of a positive laicity, practiced and interpreted correctly\u201d that is \u201calso a fundamental theme of the encyclical Caritas in Veritate.\u201d (Address to the Roman Curia)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Practicing Catholic social teaching is not an option.<\/strong> As Catholics we must live our faith in the Public Square - for the betterment of all. And this requires personal conversion. We are being called to \u201can exacting and indispensable form of charity\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 1)<\/a><\/span>\u00a0grounding us in faith in the risen Christ as the basis of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n What is Social Justice?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Charity vs. Justice<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n How to be a Real Social Justice Warrior?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Social Justice Issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Social Justice Quotes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Justice Quotes from the Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Relationship Between CST, Social Justice, and Charity<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Karl Marx and Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What is Christian Humanism?<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tWithout Charity There is No Social Justice<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cWhen animated by charity, commitment to the common good has greater worth than a merely secular and political stand would have.\u201d (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a> <\/span>As Pope Francis says, \u201cif we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church\". (Pope Francis, Missa Pro Ecclesia Homily)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Practicing Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Charity can be expressed in three ways: corporal works of mercy; spiritual works of mercy; or, implementing the tenets of Catholic social teaching in society.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nApplying Catholic Social Teaching is Charity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering, but it is also an act of charity, even if we do not know that person, to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering.\" (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 186)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching is a \"Requirement\"<\/span><\/h2>\n
Practicing Catholic social teaching is binding<\/strong> - a \u201crequirement\u201d of lay spirituality \u2013 of living out our lives in the world. \u201cEvery Christian is called to practice this charity in a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t