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Catholic Social Teaching Handout


Catholic Social Teaching Handout Reflection

There are a total of "nine themes that form the heart of Catholic social teaching" (1). What is most unique about it is that it is "grounded on a complete theological framework in which God is the ultimate source of our rights" (83). The first theme, which is "THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON AND HUMAN RIGHTS" stood out to me for several reasons. This principle reflects the mission of NDNU and especially Hallmark #2, which is to honor the dignity and sacredness of each person. In my Freshman Seminar class, I wrote on essay on the reasons why Sister Dorothy Stang lived out Hallmark #2 most distinctly through her words and actions because she lived a life dedicated to purpose, service, and the well being of others. I feel like honoring and recognizing people at their most human level is the first step to any change because we have to equate ourselves by seeing that though we are all made of different colors, we belong to one race of human beings.

Secondly, my high school religious studies teacher always reminded us that we are "made in the image and likeness of God" (81). This was something I highlighted on the handout because it means to treat others as God's children. But even further, it means that we have to love ourselves because our bodies are temples. Even if one is not religious and does not believe in God, it is okay, this statement is still applicable and followable, it just means to cherish the gift of life and of humans around us because we are that precious of a creation.

This section on human rights also highlights the fact that the world has been "filled with many types of inequality" (82). One thing I wrote in the margins is the myth of the American Dream. Looking back on our discussions of the Industrial Revolution, we can see how this is one aspect of the setting up of social division and stratification, and how history relates to humanity. And even worse, this is not even the fault of the victim. Labor workers were exploited and paid the least due to the fact that factory owners could control the means of production. So situations such as these are related to discussions on human rights because they really beg questions on whether human dignity is being recognized or not.

The reason I chose to focus on the theme of human dignity is because I feel that recognizing an individual's inherent humanity is what necessary to initiate any social change. It is social problems that affect humans at the most basic level. In other words, social issues such as poverty, hunger, joblessness, and enslavement are not meeting human rights. This ties back to our discussions on Classical Greek Humanism and Enlightenment ideals because then with belief in the capacity to initiate change, we can then bring our energy to our care for the environment, flora, and fauna.

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