by Warren O. Brennan

Created on: May 31, 2010   Last Updated: June 02, 2010

Being Catholic is much more than reading the Bible, saying the rosary, or attending mass. There must be some type of proactive nature to your faith. Below is a grouping of tenets (some of which I adopted from an American Bishop's publication) that I found to be most central to the Catholic practice. They are by no means exclusive in nature, but are what being Catholic means to me.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable/Respecting all human rights.

Catholic Social teaching makes much reference throughout its history to assistance to the poor and marginalized. This theme is repeated numerous times in the Bible, from Jesus’ treatment of the poor to judgment day writing, as well as in modern day Catholic social actions supporting the needs of the downtrodden. This them is manifested in the value of respecting all human rights. Both principles express an affirmative responsibility for us as individuals to act in support of our fellow man. The principle of self pursuit is rejected and is instead replaced with an expectation placed upon us to respect other human beings and assist them where possible.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers/Pursuing justice.

From Rerum Novarum forward, the Church has expressed its passionate support for the rights of workers. While maintaining that it is not wrong for businesses to pursue profit, the Church has repeatedly said business must act within the confines of respect for the fundamental dignity of employees. This stance has connected the Church with pursuing justice for workers. Rather than mere charity towards those who are taken advantage of, the Church seeks to change the unjust system that exploits workers for profit gain. This has merged the theme of the rights of workers and the value of pursuing justice.

Solidarity/Being tolerant.

The Church maintains that we are all God’s people and therefore are all entitled to proper treatment from one another. This solidarity very necessarily requires us to be to tolerant of others’ culture, ethnicity, and values. We are called on to work for our fellow man, and

further the goal of creating a more accepting world. The theme that “I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper” has transcended tradition boarders and brought the Church to a level of global solidarity. This level of connection has brought with it the expectation that we be tolerant of the differences we all have. We should treat this differences not as characteristics that detach us from one another, but rather as unique gifts from God that celebrate the uniqueness of creation.

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