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“In protecting the rights of private individuals.
. . special consideration must be given to the weak and the poor. For
the nation, as it were, of the rich, is guarded by its own defenses
and is in less need of governmental protection. . .”
-
Pope Leo XIII, On the
Condition of Workers (Rerum Novarum), no. 54
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“The prime purpose of this special commitment to
the poor is to enable them to become active participants in the life
of society. It is to enable all persons to share in and contribute to
the common good. The ‘option for the poor,’ therefore, is not an
adversarial slogan that pits one group or class against another.
Rather it states that the deprivation and powerlessness of the poor
wounds the whole community. The extent of their suffering is a
measure of how far we are from being a true community of persons.
These wounds will be healed only by greater solidarity with the poor
and among the poor themselves.”
-
National Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Economic Justice For All, no. 88
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“Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral
test is how our most vulnerable members are faring.” The Church does
not pit one social group against another but instead follows the
example of our Lord, who identified himself with the poor and the
vulnerable (cf. Mt 25:31-46). Giving priority concern to the poor and
the vulnerable strengthens the health of the whole society. The human
life and dignity of the poor are most at risk. The poor have the
first claim on our personal and social resources.
~
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All members of society and society as a whole
have a special obligation to poor and vulnerable persons. God’s
covenant includes a special concern for these persons.
- Exodus
22:20-22; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 24:17-18 (laws protecting
aliens, widows, orphans)
- Exodus
22:24-26; Leviticus 25:23-28; Deuteronomy 15:1-11, 23:20,
24:6 and 10-13 (laws protecting debtors)
- Deuteronomy
14:28-29, 26:12-13 (laws providing for the poor)
- Matthew
25:31-46 (judgment of nations)
- Luke 4:16-21
(Jesus’ mission to the poor/outcast)
- Luke 14:12-14
(reach out to the poor/vulnerable)
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In a world characterized by growing prosperity
for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims
that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are
faring. 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.
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