Catechism index

2431 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice The responsibility of the state. "Economic activity, especially the activity of a market economy, cannot be conducted in an institutional, juridical, or political vacuum. On the contrary, it presupposes sure guarantees of …
2432 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice Those responsible for business enterprises are responsible to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. 217 They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only …
2433 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice Access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination: men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. 218 For its part society should, according to circumstances, …
2434 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. 220 In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each …
2435 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice Recourse to a strike is morally legitimate when it cannot be avoided, or at least when it is necessary to obtain a proportionate benefit. It becomes morally unacceptable when accompanied by violence, …
2436 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice Unemployment almost always wounds its victim's dignity and threatens the equilibrium of his life. Besides the harm done to him personally, it entails many risks for his family. 222
2437 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations On the international level, inequality of resources and economic capability is such that it creates a real "gap" between nations. 223 On the one side there are those nations possessing and developing …
2438 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations Various causes of a religious, political, economic, and financial nature today give "the social question a worldwide dimension." 224 There must be solidarity among nations which are already politically interdependent. It is …
2439 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility toward those which are unable to ensure the means of their development by themselves or have been prevented from doing so by tragic historical events. …
2440 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations Direct aid is an appropriate response to immediate, extraordinary needs caused by natural catastrophes, epidemics, and the like. But it does not suffice to repair the grave damage resulting from destitution or …
2441 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations An increased sense of God and increased self-awareness are fundamental to any full development of human society. This development multiplies material goods and puts them at the service of the person and …
2442 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations It is not the role of the Pastors of the Church to intervene directly in the political structuring and organization of social life. This task is part of the vocation of the …
2443 VI. Love For the Poor God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would …
2444 VI. Love For the Poor "The Church's love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition." This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and …
2445 VI. Love For the Poor Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches …
2446 VI. Love For the Poor St. John Chrysostom vigorously recalls this: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. the goods we possess are not …
2447 When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice. 240 The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. 241 Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of …
2448 When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice. 240 "In its various forms - material deprivation, unjust oppression, physical and psychological illness and death - human misery is the obvious sign of the inherited condition of frailty and need for salvation …
2449 When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice. 240 Beginning with the Old Testament, all kinds of juridical measures (the jubilee year of forgiveness of debts, prohibition of loans at interest and the keeping of collateral, the obligation to tithe, the …
2450 IN BRIEF "You shall not steal" (Ex 20:15; Deut 5:19). "Neither thieves, nor the greedy, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor 6:10).