SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Social Justice Principle for September 2024 (adapted from NETWORK)

Unite with workers to build an economy that puts people, not profit, at the center.

Catholic Social Justice teaches us that work is more than a way to make a living; it is a formof continuing participation in God’s creation. Work should enhance the dignity of the person by allowing all workers to express their uniqueness in a way that contributes to the commongood. The community must also recognize the dignity of work by ensuring that it is justly rewarded with a living wage. As human beings are social, they have a fundamental right to organize collectively to create better working conditions for themselves and others.

We unite with workers to build an economy where each person can find a job that provides forher or his family. No worker should have to choose between losing a job and caring for a sickchild, and all workers should be afforded rest so that they can contribute to family and community life. We support the strengthening of unions since they allow people to advocate for work environments that recognize their essential human dignity.

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Social Justice Principle for April 2024 (adapted from NETWORK)

Nurture the earth, recognizing that we are interdependent with the rest of God’s creation.  God gave human beings the task of caring for and nurturing all of creation. Our health and well-being are dependent upon that of the earth and all its creatures. We must care for the earth in such a way that its bounty can provide for and sustain future generations. As creation was entrusted to all of God’s children, all people have an equal right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. Because those living in poverty are disproportionately affected by environmental ruin, we cannot separate concern for creation from concern for justice.  What can we at St. James do to follow this principle?

• Join the St. James Garden Group!
• Recycle and reuse.
• Support sustainable development.
• Celebrate Arbor Day, April 6 in Missouri, and Earth Day, April 22, internationally.
• Call for investments in green jobs.
• Advocate in solidarity with people living in poverty.

We follow Pope Francis in challenging a “throwaway culture” and an “economy of exclusion” as sources of harm to our common home.  We want future generations to thrive in a peaceful and healthy world, free from war over.  resources, where all have clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and nourishing food to eat.