Voices that Challenge - Young Adults Advocating Social Justice

Amber Stanley, one of our Voices, has created this poem to assist in the teaching and remembering of the Catholic Social Teaching themes.

Click here to view a picture of the circle

The Circle of Catholic Social Teaching

In the Catholic Social Teaching Circle there is the Life and Dignity of Each Person living anyplace
This means everyone is created to be equal no matter what your race
If you were sick or poor it wouldn’t matter to me or you
Because this Catholic Social Teaching Theme makes equality true

Next is Call to Family, Community, and Participation
This means we should work together and love one another no matter what the reason
Our family is the basic cell of society and you must support this theme
Dignity lies in community, no matter at times how hard it may seem

Now Rights and Responsibilities is the next principle we recall
It shows you that each of us is entitled to our basic needs and with them responsibilities befall
Every person has the right to things such as food, shelter, and clothes
But since our world cares about money, the poor not having this is what nobody knows

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable is another CST principle
It tells you that God is on the side of the poor and not those whose riches make them seem invincible
God doesn’t measure the success of the rich but observes the life of the poor
Because for them obstacles and challenges occur so much more

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers is a big deal these days
Because the poor should be treated fairly when working and receive a just wage
We all deserve protection, safe working conditions, and economic initiative
The poor are rich in love and the wealthy are rich in money…that’s all the difference is

Solidarity calls for everyone to work with one another
Even with different cultures, race, and religion everyone is a sister and brother
Common good reaches beyond our nations borders
For our world to live in peace is God’s biggest order

The CST circle is complete with Care for God’s Creation
We want to respect other living things for the future generations
God knows this is a challenge and that it is a tough thing to do
But humans would not have been created if it weren’t something we could live up to