Social Justice

Mission: To Coordinate services related to basic human needs and to advocate, educate and take action on social justice efforts in accord with Catholic Social Teaching

The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It offers moral principles and coherent values that are badly needed in our time. In this time of widespread violence and diminished respect for human life and dignity in our country and around the world, the Gospel of life and the biblical call to justice need to be proclaimed and shared with new clarity, urgency, and energy.

Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1998.

Educates and encourages members of the parish on our call to care for God’s created environment. A recycle drive is held during the Parish Festival, a native plant garden is maintained and recycling efforts are made known to our parish.

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of Gods creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

Sanctity of Human Life promotes life from birth to natural death; educating our parish family on the Catholic Social Teaching regarding the death penalty, stem-cell research, abortion, natural family planning, assisted suicides and end-of-life issues. The ministry advocates for those individuals suffering from the effects of actions that harm themselves and others. In accord with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, legal issues surrounding the dignity and sanctity of human life are explored and parishioners are encouraged to work to change unjust laws and practices. New members are always welcome! For more information please contact: the parish office at 616-842-0001

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Resources