Catholic Social Teaching |
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Catholic Social Teaching Related to Immigrants and Refugees
Information in brackets refers to Church documents. See bottom of page
Fundamental Teaching
1. All human beings are created in the image of God.
This affirms the dignity of each person – man, woman, child (CCC no. 2334).
We are social by nature and all must relate to one another (GS no. 32).
All have the right to migrate when needed for our good. (PT no 25).2. The Catholic Church has a right and responsibility to speak up regarding migrant issues.
The Church, founded by Jesus Christ, is an expert in humanity (GS no. 3).
The Church does not restrict religion to selected areas of life (GS no. 43).3.The Catholic Church has the mission to guide moral judgment (CCC no. 2420).
Specific Teaching
Responding to the reality of migration, the Church urges us to be...
1. A hospitable Church:
Giving signs of acceptance and solidarity to all newcomers (PP no. 67),
Helping families to remain together or to be reunited (GS no. 6),
Freeing persons from isolation (GS no 32).2. A culturally rich and enriching Church:
Respecting the culture of each migrant (CCC no. 814),
Encouraging migrants to retain their language and culture (PT no. 96),
Affirming the richness of popular devotion and the expressions of faith of different migrant groups (CCC nos. 1674, 1676).3. A caring Church:
Responding to the migrants’ temporal and religious needs (GS no. 66),
Addressing the particularly oppressive situation of migrant women (GS no 29).4. A prophetic Church:
Defending the human rights of migrant workers and their families (JW no. 36),
Affirming the role of the laity in seeking solutions (CCC no. 2423),
Protecting the common good and social well-being, working for justice and peace for all concerned (CCC nos. 1906-09).5. A missionary and evangelizing Church
Proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action (EV no 29),
Forming communities of prayer and service (EV no 24),
Being mutually evangelized as we build up the Kingdom of God (AA no.3)
AA Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actusitatem),
Vatican II, 1965
CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994
EV On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelium Vitae), Paul
VI, 1975
GS Pastoral Constitution on the Church (Gaudium et Spes), Vatican
11, 1965
JW Justice in the World, Synod of Bishops, 1971
PP On the Development of Peoples (Populorum Progressio), Paul V1,
1967
PT Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris), John XX111, 1963
Taken from Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? A Catholic Educational Guide for Understanding and Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees. Copyright 1996, United States Catholic Conference, Washington, D.C.