Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead

“I/We” “tikkum olam”
“to heal the earth”
(Hebrew/Jewish - Inspired by the passion for justice of the Hebrew prophets and the scriptural call to care for the weak and to “let justice surge like water” (the Prophet Amos 5:24)

Study the basic tenets of Jesus of Nazareth’s and the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching. Possible building blocks for the human project of healing the earth is Catholic Social Teaching: (Find similar in major world religions. Founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ)

Luke 4: 18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me -To bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captive and recovery of sight to the blind. To let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year acceptable to the Lord.”

Catholic Social Teaching

1. Principle of Human Dignity - Life and Dignity of the Human Person: “Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family” (Reflections, p. 1).

2. The Principal of Respect for Human Life Rights and Responsibilities of Human Person “Every Person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity” (Reflections, pp. 1-2).

3. The Principle of Association - Call to Family, Community, and Participation “Our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society – in economics and politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individual to grow in community (Reflections, p. 4).

4. The Principle of Participation: The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers. “We believe that people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable” (Reflections, p. 5). “Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. IF the dignity of work is to be protected, than that basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work to decent and fair wages, to organize and join union, to private property, and to economic initiative” (Reflections, p. 5).

5. The Principle of Preferential Protection of the poor and vulnerable. “In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the last judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first” (Reflections, p. 5).

6. The Principle of Solidarity of the Human Family: “Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are out brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that loving our neighbor has global dimensions in an interdependent world” (Reflections, p. 5).

7. The Principle of Stewardship – Care of God’s Creation - “that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.”

8. The Principle of Subsidiarity: “the responsibilities and limits of government, and the essential roles of voluntary associations” (Reflections, p. 6).

9. The Principle of Human Equality “Equality of all persons comes from their essential dignity . . . While differences in talents are a part of God’s plan, social and cultural discrimination in fundamental rights . . are no compatible with God’s design” (Summary, 23-4)

10. The Principle of the Common Good “The common good is understood as the social conditions that allow people to reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity” (Summary, p. 25).

Global Issues according to Dr. Mary Hines: education, ethics, economic development Vehicles of mutual education: Use e-mail each day to disseminate information on the religion festival or political event being observed that day.

Visit religious sites in the Pittsburgh area on the festival days of their founders or core beliefs. Students can invite friends from our own university or from neighboring universities to talk informally about the experience of BEING a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Jew, a Catholic, a Christian a Wicca, an atheist.

Formally: Dr. Anne Clifford, a theology professor at Duquesne University could present her article: “The Global Horizon of Religious Pluralism.”

Campus Ministry could serve as a resource for inviting informed members of a world religion to dialogue on specific topics for courses. Posters and table displays in St Agnes Church.

Compare “Our Father” & “Works of Mercy” with similar teachings of founders/leaders/ of the world religions.