Catholic Social Teaching Gift Guide
12/08/2009 02:07 PM
Still
looking for Christmas gifts? Consider something
related to Catholic social teaching.
Books All of these books are available at most Catholic bookstores or online booksellers.
Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic social doctrine is an integral part of the faith. Anyone wondering what the Catholic Church teaches about a social issue should start with the Catechism.
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council For Justice And Peace (USCCB Publishing) This compendium commissioned by Pope John Paul II is a must have for anyone who wants to understand the church’s social doctrine.
In Solitary Witness, Gordan Zahn (Templeton) This is the book that brought the story of Franz Jägerstätter to the world. Jägerstätter - now Blessed - was an Austrian peasant, husband, and father martyred for his refusal to serve as a soldier for Nazi regime. Blessed Franz’s letters and life reveal that he was more than a conscientious objector. He was a man of deep faith with a sincere desire to live his entire life in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Saint John Chrysostom on Wealth and Poverty (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press) A series of homilies given by the fourth century saint with lessons on charity and justice still relevant today.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien This Catholic infused book has layers and layers of discoveries, many of them mirroring Catholic themes of justice, the importance of community, and the dignity of persons.
The Radical Tradition: Revolutionary Saints in the Battle for Justice and Human Rights, edited by Gilbert Markus (Doubleday) This book tells the stories of saints throughout the church’s history who fought for charity and justice. It is an easy read and an ideal gift for teenagers. Although it is out-of-print, used and new copies are available through online bookstores.
iPhone and iPod Touch Apps
iPieta (iVerbum) This app has almost everything a student of social teaching needs - papal encyclicals, the documents of Vatican II, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa. Plus you get the Douay-Rheims bible, numerous prayers, a Catholic calendar, and spiritual works by the likes of St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Vianney, and more. In addition, most of the works are searchable and available in Latin. No internet connection is needed. ($2.99 at the iTunes app store.)
Other apps worth mentioning: iBreviary ($.99) and VerseWise Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition ($4.99).
Videos
Bella A pro-life film in the truest sense of the word. Beyond the story of redemption and pro-adoption message, the movie’s treatment of ordinary people, community, families, and even food reveal Catholic themes. Rated PG-13.
Amazing Grace The story of how William Wilberforce worked to abolish slavery in the United Kingdom. An example of politics conducted for the greater good. Rated PG.
Other videos worth mentioning: Entertaining Angels, a biography of Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day; Romero, about assassinated Archbishop Oscar Romero.
Miscellaneous
Saints Isidore and Marie Items Looking for a gift for a farmer or rancher family? Saint Isidore is the patron saint of farmers. His wife, Marie, is also a canonized saint. Prints, notecards, and prayer cards of the saint husband and wife are available from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (www.ncrlc.com) ($.20 to $4.00)
Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Items Help eradicate poverty by supporting farmers and artisans working toward sufficiency. Coffee, chocolate, jewelry, and more are available from Catholic Relief Services and its partner SERRV. (www.serrv.org and crs.org)
ONE This bi-monthly magazine is published by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA.) CNEWA is an agency of the Holy See supporting the churches of the east and providing humanitarian aid to the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe. Each issue introduces readers to the traditions, cultures, and social challenges in these diverse regions. (cnewa.org) ($24 yearly subscription)
Music
For listeners of rock, U2’s No Line on the Horizon. Although previous albums like How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb may directly tackle social issues, the lyrics in U2’s latest work get to closer to the heart of what it means to be a Christian in the world.
If you like contemporary sacred choral, try Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine. Actually, I would recommend anything composed by Arvo Pärt, but if you want just a taste, download get the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performance of this piece. Composed right after the Madrid train bombings, the voices sing:
Give peace, O Lord, in our time
Because there is no one else
Who will fight for us
If not You, our God.
A fitting Christmas message, indeed.
Books All of these books are available at most Catholic bookstores or online booksellers.
Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic social doctrine is an integral part of the faith. Anyone wondering what the Catholic Church teaches about a social issue should start with the Catechism.
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council For Justice And Peace (USCCB Publishing) This compendium commissioned by Pope John Paul II is a must have for anyone who wants to understand the church’s social doctrine.
In Solitary Witness, Gordan Zahn (Templeton) This is the book that brought the story of Franz Jägerstätter to the world. Jägerstätter - now Blessed - was an Austrian peasant, husband, and father martyred for his refusal to serve as a soldier for Nazi regime. Blessed Franz’s letters and life reveal that he was more than a conscientious objector. He was a man of deep faith with a sincere desire to live his entire life in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Saint John Chrysostom on Wealth and Poverty (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press) A series of homilies given by the fourth century saint with lessons on charity and justice still relevant today.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien This Catholic infused book has layers and layers of discoveries, many of them mirroring Catholic themes of justice, the importance of community, and the dignity of persons.
The Radical Tradition: Revolutionary Saints in the Battle for Justice and Human Rights, edited by Gilbert Markus (Doubleday) This book tells the stories of saints throughout the church’s history who fought for charity and justice. It is an easy read and an ideal gift for teenagers. Although it is out-of-print, used and new copies are available through online bookstores.
iPhone and iPod Touch Apps
iPieta (iVerbum) This app has almost everything a student of social teaching needs - papal encyclicals, the documents of Vatican II, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa. Plus you get the Douay-Rheims bible, numerous prayers, a Catholic calendar, and spiritual works by the likes of St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Vianney, and more. In addition, most of the works are searchable and available in Latin. No internet connection is needed. ($2.99 at the iTunes app store.)
Other apps worth mentioning: iBreviary ($.99) and VerseWise Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition ($4.99).
Videos
Bella A pro-life film in the truest sense of the word. Beyond the story of redemption and pro-adoption message, the movie’s treatment of ordinary people, community, families, and even food reveal Catholic themes. Rated PG-13.
Amazing Grace The story of how William Wilberforce worked to abolish slavery in the United Kingdom. An example of politics conducted for the greater good. Rated PG.
Other videos worth mentioning: Entertaining Angels, a biography of Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day; Romero, about assassinated Archbishop Oscar Romero.
Miscellaneous
Saints Isidore and Marie Items Looking for a gift for a farmer or rancher family? Saint Isidore is the patron saint of farmers. His wife, Marie, is also a canonized saint. Prints, notecards, and prayer cards of the saint husband and wife are available from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (www.ncrlc.com) ($.20 to $4.00)
Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Items Help eradicate poverty by supporting farmers and artisans working toward sufficiency. Coffee, chocolate, jewelry, and more are available from Catholic Relief Services and its partner SERRV. (www.serrv.org and crs.org)
ONE This bi-monthly magazine is published by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA.) CNEWA is an agency of the Holy See supporting the churches of the east and providing humanitarian aid to the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe. Each issue introduces readers to the traditions, cultures, and social challenges in these diverse regions. (cnewa.org) ($24 yearly subscription)
Music
For listeners of rock, U2’s No Line on the Horizon. Although previous albums like How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb may directly tackle social issues, the lyrics in U2’s latest work get to closer to the heart of what it means to be a Christian in the world.
If you like contemporary sacred choral, try Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine. Actually, I would recommend anything composed by Arvo Pärt, but if you want just a taste, download get the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performance of this piece. Composed right after the Madrid train bombings, the voices sing:
Give peace, O Lord, in our time
Because there is no one else
Who will fight for us
If not You, our God.
A fitting Christmas message, indeed.
Virtue of Temperance
09/02/2009 03:28 PM
The final
installment of editorials looking at the cardinal
virtues and the making of public policy
has been posted.
Two Bishops - Two Letters - One Teaching
09/01/2009 12:03 PM
Within days of each
other, both bishops of North Dakota issued letters to
their priests and the faithful of their respective
dioceses on health care reform.
The
bishops did not coordinate the timing of the
letters. The fact that both bishops released
letters at this time, however, is not
surprising. The debate over health care reform
had reached high intensity when members of
Congress went home for the “August
recess.” Health care reform activity
shifted to the states.
Much of the activity focused on North Dakota in particular. Each member of the state’s congressional delegation is considered important to the outcome of health care reform legislation and Senator Kent Conrad is one of just six senators charged with developing legislation for consideration by the Senate.
As Bishop Paul A. Zipfel stated in his letter: “At the heart of the matter, the question of whether to reform our health care system and how to do it is a moral issue.” After all, health care reform touches upon questions of abortion, religious liberty, care for the poor and the immigrant, the role of government, and the stewardship of precious resources. As spiritual leaders and shepherds of the Church, the bishops have something to say on this important issue. Political developments led both of them to conclude that this was the right time.
Although parts of the letters emphasize different aspects of Catholic teaching with regards to how they apply to the question of health care reform, both letters reflect on the one Teaching of the Church.
Both bishops affirm the centrality of human life. Bishop Samuel A. Aquila writes, “Any attempt to provide greater access to health care without safeguarding human life from the moment of conception is inherently inconsistent” and the "killing of unborn children through abortion or as a means to do research has nothing to do with promoting health.” Citing Caritas in Veritate and Evangelium Vitae, Bishop Aquila notes the “clear the teaching of the Church that the destruction of human life by abortion and other evils can never be a neutral question or one that is promoted by any faithful Catholic.” Bishop Zipfel writes that health care legislation must “expressly and specifically prohibit any agency from funding abortion, mandating abortion coverage, or preempting state laws on abortion coverage.”
Both bishops affirm the need for reform that truly expands health care coverage to all. Bishop Zipfel states: “Catholic teaching insists that basic health care is a right and is essential to protect human life and dignity. Health care reform that protects human life and advances universal coverage is a moral imperative and urgent national priority.” Bishop Aquila writes: “Access to health care ought to be available to all people, including the poor, legal immigrants, the handicapped, and especially the elderly and unborn members of society.”
Both bishops call for real conscience protection. Bishop Zipfel states that any health care reform proposal must include protection for health care providers. Bishop Aquila expands on the subject, noting the importance of legal protection of conscience not just for health care providers, but also for other participants in the delivery and financing of health care.
Both bishops urge reform that includes legal immigrants. In Catholic teaching, health care should not depend on where you are from. The call for inclusion of legal immigrants reflects a priority of USCCB. Bishop Zipfel reminds us that “Legal immigrants pay taxes and contribute to the U.S. economy and social life in the same manner as U.S. citizens do. Moreover, since health care is a basic human right having access to it should not depend on where you were born.” Bishop Aquila’s letter mentions the same need twice, noting that care for the legal immigrants cannot be overlooked for utilitarian reasons. In Catholic teaching, health care should not depend on where you are from.
Both bishops call for a system a system that respects the different segments and entities in a strong health care system. Reaffirming the position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Zipfel calls for pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism that includes variety of options and restrains costs equitably across the spectrum of payers. Bishop Aquila ties this same concept to the Church’s teaching on subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is the principle that states “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1883). According to the classic principle of subsidiarity in Catholic social thought, many different communities within society share responsibility for the common good. “Honoring the principle of subsidiarity will enable all men and women to be true participants in contributing to the goal of providing greater access to health care,” writes Bishop Aquila.
Even as they affirm the same principles, the two bishops provide different reflections. Bishop Aquila, for example, reflects on the duties of Catholics to form their conscience on such matters to the natural law. Bishop Zipfel focuses more on the priorities for reform at this present time.
Both bishops have something to offer to all Catholics of North Dakota on this fundamentally moral issue.
Read the letter of Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, Bishop of Bismarck
Read the letter of Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo
The
bishops did not coordinate the timing of the
letters. The fact that both bishops released
letters at this time, however, is not
surprising. The debate over health care reform
had reached high intensity when members of
Congress went home for the “August
recess.” Health care reform activity
shifted to the states.
Much of the activity focused on North Dakota in particular. Each member of the state’s congressional delegation is considered important to the outcome of health care reform legislation and Senator Kent Conrad is one of just six senators charged with developing legislation for consideration by the Senate.
As Bishop Paul A. Zipfel stated in his letter: “At the heart of the matter, the question of whether to reform our health care system and how to do it is a moral issue.” After all, health care reform touches upon questions of abortion, religious liberty, care for the poor and the immigrant, the role of government, and the stewardship of precious resources. As spiritual leaders and shepherds of the Church, the bishops have something to say on this important issue. Political developments led both of them to conclude that this was the right time.
Although parts of the letters emphasize different aspects of Catholic teaching with regards to how they apply to the question of health care reform, both letters reflect on the one Teaching of the Church.
Both bishops affirm the centrality of human life. Bishop Samuel A. Aquila writes, “Any attempt to provide greater access to health care without safeguarding human life from the moment of conception is inherently inconsistent” and the "killing of unborn children through abortion or as a means to do research has nothing to do with promoting health.” Citing Caritas in Veritate and Evangelium Vitae, Bishop Aquila notes the “clear the teaching of the Church that the destruction of human life by abortion and other evils can never be a neutral question or one that is promoted by any faithful Catholic.” Bishop Zipfel writes that health care legislation must “expressly and specifically prohibit any agency from funding abortion, mandating abortion coverage, or preempting state laws on abortion coverage.”
Both bishops affirm the need for reform that truly expands health care coverage to all. Bishop Zipfel states: “Catholic teaching insists that basic health care is a right and is essential to protect human life and dignity. Health care reform that protects human life and advances universal coverage is a moral imperative and urgent national priority.” Bishop Aquila writes: “Access to health care ought to be available to all people, including the poor, legal immigrants, the handicapped, and especially the elderly and unborn members of society.”
Both bishops call for real conscience protection. Bishop Zipfel states that any health care reform proposal must include protection for health care providers. Bishop Aquila expands on the subject, noting the importance of legal protection of conscience not just for health care providers, but also for other participants in the delivery and financing of health care.
Both bishops urge reform that includes legal immigrants. In Catholic teaching, health care should not depend on where you are from. The call for inclusion of legal immigrants reflects a priority of USCCB. Bishop Zipfel reminds us that “Legal immigrants pay taxes and contribute to the U.S. economy and social life in the same manner as U.S. citizens do. Moreover, since health care is a basic human right having access to it should not depend on where you were born.” Bishop Aquila’s letter mentions the same need twice, noting that care for the legal immigrants cannot be overlooked for utilitarian reasons. In Catholic teaching, health care should not depend on where you are from.
Both bishops call for a system a system that respects the different segments and entities in a strong health care system. Reaffirming the position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Zipfel calls for pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism that includes variety of options and restrains costs equitably across the spectrum of payers. Bishop Aquila ties this same concept to the Church’s teaching on subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is the principle that states “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1883). According to the classic principle of subsidiarity in Catholic social thought, many different communities within society share responsibility for the common good. “Honoring the principle of subsidiarity will enable all men and women to be true participants in contributing to the goal of providing greater access to health care,” writes Bishop Aquila.
Even as they affirm the same principles, the two bishops provide different reflections. Bishop Aquila, for example, reflects on the duties of Catholics to form their conscience on such matters to the natural law. Bishop Zipfel focuses more on the priorities for reform at this present time.
Both bishops have something to offer to all Catholics of North Dakota on this fundamentally moral issue.
Read the letter of Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, Bishop of Bismarck
Read the letter of Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo
The Virtue of Fortitude and Lawmaking
06/30/2009 02:11 PM
Taxes!
03/27/2008 01:32 PM
This
month's column discusses Catholic teaching on
taxes.
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
As Christians, we have obligations toward the common good. For that reason, we have a duty to pay taxes. Jesus did not consider it unjust to pay taxes to Caesar. (Mk 12:13-17; Mt 22:15-22; Lk 20:20-26) Saint Paul insisted on the civic duty to pay taxes. (Rm 13:7) The Catechism says: Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes . . .” (Catechism, No. 2240.)Read more . . .
St. John Chrysostom on Helping Without Judging
12/22/2007 10:51 AM
December'
editorial now posted.
Many people feel that we should not help those who have brought their problems on themselves through laziness, drug or alcohol use, self-centeredness, illegal entry into the country, or other undesirable behaviors. Providing assistance in those cases, it is thought, only encourages more bad behavior.
The Church's teachers, however, have long cautioned against judging a person's worthiness as a condition for providing assistance. Read more . . .
Many people feel that we should not help those who have brought their problems on themselves through laziness, drug or alcohol use, self-centeredness, illegal entry into the country, or other undesirable behaviors. Providing assistance in those cases, it is thought, only encourages more bad behavior.
The Church's teachers, however, have long cautioned against judging a person's worthiness as a condition for providing assistance. Read more . . .
New (Old) Editorials Added
11/07/2007 03:44 PM
Editorials written
for the New Earth and the Dakota Catholic Action
dating from 2001 to 2003 have been added to
the editorial
page.
Column for August/September Posted
10/01/2007 09:13 AM
It is often said that
the states are laboratories for the development
public policy. Our federal system allows states to
enact legislation independent from each other, each
responding to their unique history, traditions, and
conditions. When one state enacts legislation, other
states may follow and try to improve on its example.
Inevitably, someone, looking at another state, will ask, “Why don't we do that?” What works or is possible in one state, however, may not work or be possible in another state. Here is a look at some laws in other states that have not been embraced in North Dakota. (Read More . . .)
Inevitably, someone, looking at another state, will ask, “Why don't we do that?” What works or is possible in one state, however, may not work or be possible in another state. Here is a look at some laws in other states that have not been embraced in North Dakota. (Read More . . .)
Dodson Responds to Omdahl Column
08/08/2007 03:40 PM
Former
lieutenant governor Lloyd Omdahl recent column in the Forum
discusses the faith-based and community
initiatives. Here is North Dakota Catholic
Conference executive director Christopher
Dodson's letter in response.
Ten Commandments Monument
08/07/2007 01:51 PM
New Editorial Posted
06/26/2007 11:48 AM
We have posted the column for June. It
discusses federal issues.
Elusive Dignity
01/06/2007 11:32 AM
A new column,
which will appear in the New Earth and the
Dakota Catholic
Action, has been
posted
here. The column discusses
the importance and the elusiveness of human
dignity -- an appropriate subject for the start of
the legislative session.
