As members of the body of Christ, we are each called to live out the Gospel not only in words, but in action. Catholic social teaching provides a blueprint for how we put our faith into action. This edition of focus presents the seven themes of Catholic social teaching and invites Catholics reflect on how they can incorporate these principles into their lives, so as to more actively proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ both in word and deed.
The Governor gave her final State of the State, and MCC provided support for legislation to limit children from accessing AI chatbots that mimic human relationships. Plus, an encouraging report on the number of Michiganders who are expected to become Catholic this Easter.
As the process for a new state budget begins, MCC shares how its advocacy efforts last year played a critical role in securing the support Catholic and nonpublic schools received in the current year budget.
MCC announced that Bill Stone has joined the organization as Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy, beginning today February 23. Stone will be responsible for guiding the organization’s advocacy work and will serve as the primary liaison between state government and the Catholic church in Michigan.
The process to pass the next state budget began this week. Read more on the Governor’s proposals regarding MCC priorities such as nonpublic schools and helping mothers and children. Plus, MCC offered support to improve education choice for public school parents, and more.
These nine advocacy principles originate from Catholic social teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within each principle are specific policy priorities MCC brings to dialogue that occurs at the state Capitol.
Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
All people must have access to basic human needs to ensure they can live in a dignified manner, with a particular concern for the poor, the vulnerable, and anyone who goes without those basic needs.
Faith-based organizations provide services to the needy and contribute to the common welfare of society through institutions like schools and hospitals. Faith is what animates these providers to serve and is the foundational dimension of their identity.
The human dignity of both the crime victim and the offender should be acknowledged within the criminal justice system when considering punishment and the capacity for rehabilitation.
The human dignity of the immigrant, the refugee and the asylee—regardless of personal circumstances, background, or even legal status—must not be forgotten when considering how to manage immigration practices.
Environmental stewardship has a moral dimension, particularly in the recognition of the impact that environmental deterioration has on people, families, and the poor.
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
