“Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

This entry is different from most because it’s not discussing a certain, regular life, lay person concern that many of us experience. Rather, it’s a guide to what Mother Church teaches about certain social issues. The closer we get to the election, the more inundated we are to the commercials and ads bad-mouthing one opponent or another. Understand that this is not trying to force anyone into voting for one candidate or another. Just like what some priests do, it is a guide to tell you what we believe and how to understand our stance on social issues to guide you in your choices. Sadly some Catholics would say that the Church leaders don’t seem to stand up and explain exactly what we believe. Even our Holy Father kept his comments to a simple statement in regards to whom we should vote for in the US for our president. Pope Francis encouraged us to choose the “lesser of two evils.”  Although many people believe that the Church and her leaders should stay out of political commentary (often under the guise of separation of Church and state), it is our clerics and leaders job to tell us what Jesus taught and what the Church believes and stands for. Bishop Coffey of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA has stated many times that our silence and inaction as Catholics would only cause more suffering and problems in our country. He said, “Sometimes priests or bishops or religious people get accused of being too political when they get involved with these things, but I certainly think priests and pastors need to be courageous and talk about it from the pulpit.” The charge begins with our Church leaders but it must be spread through us, the lay Catholics who are regularly out in the world. SO…how can we do that if we’re not 100% what the Church teaches? Read on.

The Catholic Church has seven main themes within the realm of Catholic social teaching. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) mentions this on their website, “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.” This is what we are supposed to be considering when we are voting for people in all branches of the government, local to federal. These seven themes are:

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
• Solidarity
• Care for God’s Creation

As one may expect, first and foremost we believe in LIFE and the dignity of a human person. We believe that all human life, from conception to natural death, no matter race or creed, is sacred. We believe that all life must be dealt with dignity to thrive and be who they were called to be. It is our first theme because it is at the base of every other social teaching. This is the theme that often gets non-catholics, and secular society as a whole, upset with us faithful Catholics. It is in this belief that requires us to be against abortion, the death penalty, cloning, suicide, intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks, etc. As Bishop Coffey once said, “There are many important issues that face us, you can’t worry about any of those issues if you’re not born.” It is for this teaching that we must pray for a conversion of hearts the most, because a recent pew study showed that 56% of catholics support legal abortion in all or most cases. When Jesus walked the earth he cared for all life, even the ones that were shunned by society, not wanted. For example, the Samaritan woman, who Jesus broke societal and religious customs to honor the dignity of her. (see John 4:1-42) All life is precious in the eyes of God. 

The second theme focuses on the idea that not only is a person sacred, but also social. We are not hermits who hide from the world. How we organize society will directly affect human dignity and each one of our capacities to fulfill our calling. That is why we need to have a push toward the sanctity of marriage and the family. The vocation of marriage needs to be protected and strengthened, not cheapened and debilitated. If we are called to participate in society and evangelize, then we need to all be seeking the common good, pushing for the well-being of all, via the teachings of Christ. “The first and fundamental structure for a ‘human  ecology’ is the family . . . founded on marriage, in which the  mutual gift of self as husband and wife creates an environment in which children can be born and develop their potentialities, become aware of their  dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny.” (St. John Paul II, On the Hundredth Year [Centesimus Annus], no. 39) This theme sounds anti-divorce and anti-gay, which causes issue with our non-catholic friends. The Church is pro-marriage, but also understands that the sacrament of a specific marriage might have had a deep issue from the start, be it because of abuse, lack of knowledge or intent, and other reasons. This is why the annulment process is a thing. Divorce itself doesn’t keep you from receiving communion. Those who are separated or divorced are not excommunicated from the Church. It also doesn’t mean that any children from the marriage are illegitimate. In regards to being anti-gay, I’ve always thought of it this way – all people, regardless of sexual orientation, are expected to follow the same rules, to live our universal call to holiness. As a heterosexual woman, I need to do what it takes to be holy, as does the homosexual man that might be sitting next to me at Mass. If you break the commandments, and are living in sin – regardless of your sexual orientation – you cannot/should not be receiving communion until you have gone to confession. But the core of this teaching starts at home. We must teach our children about the importance of marriage and the family. 

The third theme is about our rights and responsibilities. Human dignity is protected and properly cared for if our human rights are protected. In tandem with our rights, we have duties and responsibilities not only to ourselves, but also to everyone else around us. We are all endowed with basic, inalienable rights that are necessary for our development. It is our responsibility to ensure that the welfare of all is taken care of, that life is protected, that stability and security is provided, that justice is fairly distributed, and that peace is chosen over violence. “Society as a whole, and the state in particular, are obliged to defend and promote the common good.” (Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home [Laudato Si’], no. 157)

Following our rights and responsibilities is how we care for those who are most vulnerable. There must be just options for the poor and vulnerable in our society. Catholic Charities is a great example of this theme. They help with affordable housing, food, clothing, healthcare, disaster relief, immigration services, and much more. The deep division between rich and poor is spoken about at great lengths in Sacred Scripture. Consider Matthew 25:31-46, where we hear about the Last Judgment. This is the section where we are told that at the Final Judgment the sheep will be separated from the goats, and that those people who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, cared for the sick, and so on, will be given eternal life. “He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ l And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Mt 25:45-46) We are called to consistently practice the corporal works of mercy, which came from Jesus. We should always be treating everyone we meet as if they are Christ in disguise. 

The next theme is about dignity in regards to work and the workers. We all know that the economy should serve society. We work to make money so we can afford the basic needs of life – food, shelter, clothing – but our work is also how we participate in God’s creation. As we hear in the Book of Deuteronomy, “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithes of your produce for that year and deposit them within your own communities, that the Levite who has no hereditary portion with you, and also the resident alien, the orphan and the widow within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied; so that the LORD, your God, may bless you in all that you undertake.” (Dt 14:28-29) The Israelites understood that they need to not only care for themselves, but also for their neighbor. This care comes from working, having dignity in your work, and not neglecting your responsibilities. However, all workers have rights that need to be met. Not just a right to financial compensation, but a general respect for workers as people. “You shall not exploit a poor and needy hired servant, whether one of your own kindred or one of the resident aliens who live in your land, within your gates. On each day you shall pay the servant’s wages before the sun goes down, since the servant is poor and is counting on them. Otherwise the servant will cry to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty.” (Dt 24:14-15)

The sixth theme of social teaching is solidarity, which is defined as a unity or agreement of a feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest. We are one human family, regardless of ethnicity, language, economic status, and ideology. We truly need to be our brother’s keeper, respecting them as human beings and that they have a purpose on earth. At the center of this theme is the need to pursue justice and peace. As Pope Paul VI taught – “If you want peace, work for justice.” We must consider, when voting and participating in society, that we are called to love one another as God loves us, which means we need to always stand together for peace and justice, even when the world seems to be crumbling around you.

Lastly, we have a theme of caring for God’s creation. All life is sacred, so we not only need to respect human life, but also show respect for all God created. Many people promote care for our environment around and on Earth Day, but this is something we need to be always living. Anything from God is considered good. so all creation is necessary and inherently good. “The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole. . . Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person, considered in himself and in relation to others. It would be wrong to uphold one set of duties while trampling on the other.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth [Caritas in Veritate], nos. 48, 51)

Although this diatribe was meant to be a guide, in the end, it is our choice to follow the social teachings of the Church. Our free will allows us to pick and choose when we follow God and when we do not. If we take a deep look at how we live and how we think, we can easily see if we put God’s call for us to be holy at the forefront or not. Our politicians will face the same judgment that we do. But the Catholic Church is not supposed to be undermined and changed by society, but rather we, as the evangelizers of Her, need to change how we live to promote Her. As G.K. Chesterton wrote, “We do not want a Church that will move with the world. We want a Church that will move the world.” When you go to the polls in November, who will you promote? God? Secular society? Let the gifts from the Holy Spirit that we received at Confirmation (wisdom, fortitude, piety, etc) be what we use to help choose the best representation of what our world needs to survive. Never let hate win over love – God is always love, and everything God touches is good. “Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)