Who Is My Neighbor?
~ When you hear the term social justice, what comes to mind? Advocating for the poor, the marginalized, the immigrant, the voiceless. Yes, yes, yes, and yes. What about advocating for the child in the womb or the elderly person nearing death? This, too, is social justice! A number of years ago, our bishops outlined 7 areas of Catholic Social Teaching intended to help us to build a just society and live out our call to holiness. They 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
At St Margaret of Scotland, we gratefully have ministries that work on a number of these fronts, helping to orient our hearts and our community towards the good, true, and beautiful. While we may be more naturally inclined toward some of these issues, it is important we understand each of them and work united as a Church to see them carried out.
The first of these areas is the right to life, without which no other right applies. From the USCCB:
”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.“
The USCCB reminds us we must protect life and dignity at every stage—for the preborn child in the womb, for the immigrant seeking safety, and for our elders nearing end of life. It’s all connected. If one group is seen as inconvenient or disposable, eventually all are at risk.
In the SMOS Respect Life ministry, we focus on the first pillar of Catholic Social Teaching. We support the life-nurturing ministries of Our Lady’s Inn and Coalition Life for the unborn and mothers in need of support. We plant seeds of chastity by sponsoring an essay contest for our 8th grade students. We pray for expectant mothers and those seeking a family. We work to educate on policy and other issues that affect life. To those who feel unsure about abortion – We get it. These are complex, emotional issues. Yet we don’t need all the answers to start asking better questions about life, our dignity, and how to make a more just society for all. Can we build such a culture of hope, one that joyfully respects every life?
Interested in learning more? Email us at RespectLifeSMOS@gmail.com, join our monthly meeting (3rd Sunday at 9 am, Sept-May, church basement), or just say hello after Mass. We would love to have you join us.
During the Summer months, this column will be highlighting the good work and parishioners involved in one of our various Social Justice Ministries. Each week, we will feature an article from a different ministry, written by one if its members, as a reflection on the calling to Catholic Social Teaching at St. Margaret of Scotland.