Social Concerns Column for Sunday, November 27, 2011

For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. --Psalm 11:7

Catholic Social Teaching: The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. 
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, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops, 1998

Learn More About Catholic Social Teaching. 
Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) or read the encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

First Friday Fast for Food Security
is a campaign by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  The goal is to deepen our compassion for the hungry by cutting back to $3 per person for food on the First Friday of the month.  It is a real challenge to eat on $3, and you may go hungry: just like people on food stamps.  Why not donate the money you do not spend on food to St. Vincent de Paul?  Learn the details on Facebook ("First Fridays for Food Security") or http://usccb.org/sdwp/Fasting-Resource-Intro-May-6.pdf

Benedict XVI's Message on World Food Day. 
“The Catholic Church is close to institutions that commit themselves to guarantee food. Through her structures and development agencies, she will continue to support them actively in this effort so that every nation and community will have the necessary food security, which no commitment or negotiation, no matter how accredited it is, will be able to ensure without real solidarity and genuine fraternity.”  Read the Pope’s entire message at: http://www.zenit.org/article-33674?l=english

Would you like to pursue a social justice project?
The St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry would like to help you to help others!  Call Joanne, 443-1422.

"Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" --Deuteronomy 27:19