Call to Family, Community, and Participation

The second social teaching proclaims that the human person is not only sacred, but also social. It stresses that how we organize society in economics, politics, and law or policy directly affects human dignity and community. Society often proclaims the importance of individualism, but Catholic social teaching argues that human beings are fulfilled in community and family. The Catholic Church believes we have the responsibility to participate in society and to promote the common good, especially for the poor and vulnerable

Catholic Social Teaching opposes collectivist approaches such as Communism but at the same time it also rejects unrestricted laissez-faire policies and the notion that a free market automatically produces social justice. The state has a positive moral role to play as no society will achieve a just and equitable distribution of resources with a totally free market.

As Catholics, we have the responsibly to be active participants

In the lives of our family members In our community In those lives who are in our community

We are also called to be active participants

In our social life In our economic life In our political life

Family
Economic and social policies as well as organization of the work world should be continually evaluated in light of their impact on the strength and stability of family life. The longrange future of a society is intimately linked with the well-being of families, for the family is the most basic form of human community. Efficiency and competition in the marketplace must be moderated by greater concern for the way work schedules and compensation support or threaten the bonds between spouses and between parents and children. The first and fundamental structure for a "human ecology" is the family . . . founded on marriage, in which the mutual gift of self as husband and wife creates an environment in which children can be born and develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny.

Issues under Call to Family

Gay Marriage-The Catholic faith teaches that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. This is shown in the Bible in the story of Adam and Eve Divorce- When a marriage doesn't work, some people get a divorce and end the marriage. Marriage is unity made by God and is therefore unbreakable ( The Philippines is the only country which does not recognize divorce). Abortion- A baby is a gift from God, and and when a pregnant woman decides to abort her baby she is going against the Church and turning her back on the call to family (ei RH law in the Philippines).

Community/Participation
But God did not create man as a solitary, for from the beginning male and female he created them (Gen. 1:27). Their companionship produces the primary form of interpersonal communion. For by his innermost nature man is a social being, and unless he relates himself to others he can neither live nor develop his potential. The church believes that there is a need to expand economic participation, broaden the sharing of economic power, and make economic decisions more accountable to the common good. In order that the right to development may be fulfilled by action: (a) people should not be hindered from attaining development in accordance with their own culture; (b) through mutual cooperation, all peoples should be able to become the principal architects of their own economic and social development.

Government should not replace or destroy smaller communities and individual initiative. Rather it should help them contribute more effectively to social wellbeing and supplement their activity when the demands of justice exceed their capacities.
In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. . . . As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life (nos. 1913-1915).

Issues under Call to Participation/Community

Equitable distribution of wealth Racism/Discrimination Empowerment/Social Action Centers PPCRV Mining Education