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Catholic Social Teaching (CST)Quotes"Since the Christian vocation is a call to transform oneself
and society with God's help, the educational efforts of the Church
must encompass the twin purposes of personal sanctification and
social reform in the light of Christian values."
It is imperative that no one, out of indifference to the course
of events or because of inertia, would indulge in a merely individualistic
morality. The best way to fulfil one's obligations of justice and
love is to contribute to the common good according to one's means
and the needs of others, and also to promote and help public and
private organizations devoted to bettering the conditions of life.
All must consider it their sacred duty to count social obligations
among their chief duties today and observe them as such. For the
more closely the world comes together, the more widely do people's
obligations transcend particular groups and extend to the whole
world. This will be realized only if individuals and groups practise
moral and social virtues and foster them in social living. Then,
under the necessary help of divine grace, there will arise a generation
of new women and men, the molders of a new humanity.
Charity will never be true charity unless it takes justice into
account ... Let no one attempt with trifling charitable donations
to exempt themselves from the great duties imposed by justice.
Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation
of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the
preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church's mission
for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every
oppressive situation.
We cannot be called truly “Catholic” unless we hear
and heed the church’s call to serve those in need and work
for justice and peace. Just as the social teaching of the Church
is integral to Catholic faith, the social justice dimensions of
teaching are integral to Catholic education and catechesis. They
are an essential part of Catholic identity and formation. If Catholic
education and formation fail to communicate our social tradition,
they are not fully Catholic.
Injustice is at the base of every revolution in history. The lesson is clear: a country that wants a safe and stable future will treat its poorest members very well. It is easy to speak fondly of being merciful to the poor and disenfranchised in society. What is difficult is to do justice for them because it would require so many changes in our own lives. Righteous anger is a holy thing. It fuels us for the journey to
justice. Nevertheless, when anger consumes us, justice disappears.
Justice limps along, but it gets there all the same.
Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things
that matter.
Those who follow compassion find life for themselves, justice
for their neighbour, and glory for God.
When we focus on our own frailty and weakness and the immensity
of what is wrong with the world we can feel hopeless. When we look
instead at what we can do and then begin to serve, hope grows, as
does our sense of being effective and worthwhile.
It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to
the common good; that is to say, to the good of all because we are
all really responsible for all.
Those who follow compassion find life for themselves, justice
for others and glory for God.
Justice is at the heart of faith itself. Political apathy is not an option for a Christian. The word that describes the relationship of the community to the “anawim”, the poor, is justice. Our culture has a preferential option for the rich, the powerful
and beautiful.
No-one so poor cannot give; no-one so rich cannot receive. You’re supposed to be the leaven in the loaf, not part of
the lump.
Love is the soul of justice.
The core of Israel’s faith is the doing of justice. Without doing justice God remains unknown. The biblical notion of justice is right relationship with God,
self, others, and creation.
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