Learn

Let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
Amos 5:24

If we are to live our faith, we must know our faith.  Catholic Social Teaching has long been called “the church’s best kept secret,” but we cannot allow ourselves to remain in ignorance of what is at the core of our Catholic faith.  St. James Cathedral offers a variety of ways in which we can learn more about the church’s teachings on a wide variety of social justice issues.

World Awareness Quiz

Test your knowledge of poverty and hunger around the world with this quiz from Catholic Relief Services. Click here to learn more about Operation Rice Bowl.

Poverty Quiz

Test your knowledge of poverty in the United States with this quiz from Education for Justice. Click here for more information on poverty in America.

Be One in a Million

Join Catholics to Confront Global Poverty.  On February 24, 2009, Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops launched their Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC.  This is a 2-year nationwide effort to get one million Catholics involved in the fight against global poverty by defending the life and dignity of people living in poverty throughout the world and urging our nation to act and advocate.  The Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative was inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 World Day of Peace Message.  To learn more about the initiative and to join click here.

Coffee: Solidarity in a Cup through Fair Trade Efforts

Seattleites are famous for their love of everything coffee but how much do you know about where your coffee comes from?  As stated on the Catholic Relief Services website, “Fair Trade is the only approach to coffee that guarantees farmers a fair price for their coffee and builds stable, long-term relationships based on mutual respect.”  Learn more about the work CRS is doing with coffee cooperatives around the world including coffee companies right here at home, use your purchasing power to advocate for fair trade, and contribute to the Fair Trade Fund by visiting http://www.crsfairtrade.org/products/coffee-overview/buy-coffee/.  The website also contains links to other fair trade foods and handcrafts from around the world.

Take the Catholic Campaign for Human Development's Poverty Quiz
According to the CCHD website, "The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education.  To learn more about CCHD and their Poverty USA site, click here. To take the poverty quiz on their site, click here.

Young Adults Justice Cafés  Are you a young adult interested in meeting other young adults who care about community, justice, and spirituality?  If so, check out the new Justice Cafés events being hosted by the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center.  These monthly gatherings of young adults will take place in coffee shops in various cities (including Seattle) and will center around discussions about issues of global concern.  For more information, visit the IPJC Web Hub at http://ipjcjusticecafe.ning.com/.  In addition to information, you can also find online discussions, social networking and intercity connections on the site. 

FOOD CONSUMPTION AROUND THE WORLD  Click here to see a sample of weekly food consumption throughout the world.  All photos by Peter Menzel.       

Pope Benedict’s new social encyclical,
Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth)

On July 7th, Pope Benedict released his first social encyclical, entitled Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth).  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has created a website with links to the document in various languages, an outline of the text, a blog, an action guide, small group and individual study guides, and more.   The USCCB site says the encyclical “is a call to see the relationship between human and environmental ecologies and to link charity and truth in the pursuit of justice, the common good, and authentic human development.  In doing so, the pope points out the responsibilities and limitations of government and the private market, challenges traditional ideologies of right and left, and calls all men and women to think and act anew.”  Access all of these resources at www.usccb.org/jphd/caritasinveritate/  For notable excerpts connected to the core principles of Catholic Social Teaching, click here: http://www.crs.org/united-states/caritas-in-veritate/.

 
New Pastoral Statement on the Death Penalty

The Washington State bishops have issued a new pastoral statement on the death penalty.  In the statement the bishops renew their opposition to the death penalty and call for a moratorium on executions “until the many questions surrounding capital punishment can be answered.”  To read the statement, click here. 
 
New Tool for Measuring Poverty in the United States

The Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asks “How do you measure poverty in the United States in a way that better promotes the life and dignity of the human person?  A new tool has emerged that shows incredible promise for this vital question.  The Measure of America Report uses the Human Development Index to look at the everyday experience of people throughout the U.S.  Their research has resulted in some striking findings, and some incredible opportunities for determining how well poverty is (or is not) being addressed.  Recently, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has looked at how to integrate this tool into its mission and work, particularly in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Domestic Social Development Office.  To learn more about the report and its findings, including interactive maps of poverty in the United States, go to www.measureofamerica.org.

How much do you know about the world?

Take the World Awareness quiz adapted from online resources at the Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl page.  

Economic Justice for All

More than 20 years ago, the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a landmark pastoral letter, “Economic Justice for All”.  In light of the current economic crisis and to enable us to participate in the political debates concerning the government’s response to the crisis, we should keep in mind the principles of “Economic Justice for All.”  For the complete text of “Economic Justice for All” click here.

Click here for a summary of seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

Click here for the church’s teaching on:

Faithful Citizenship

The Church teaches that participation in the political process is a moral obligation for all Catholics.  Participation in the political process involves exercise of conscience as we analyze the important issues of the day in light of Catholic Social Teaching.  How do we form our consciences for this responsibility?  Read about what the church teaches in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,  www.faithfulcitizenship.org. 

Biloxi Mission Trips

Click here to learn more about the Cathedral's own Biloxi Mission Trips in 2005, 2006, and 2008.

The Washington State Catholic Conference

The Washington State Catholic Conference is the public policy voice of the bishops of Washington State.  Click here to learn more about the positions of the Catholic Church in Washington on state issues:  http://www.thewscc.org/


Archdiocese of Seattle

Jim Thomas, Director of Adult Faith Formation for Catholic Social Teaching and Family Life, 206-382-4268.

Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center

The Mission of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center is to promote “just structures in the church and world, with a particular focus on the Pacific Northwest.  IPJC is sponsored by sixteen religious communities and collaborates with Catholic, ecumenical, interfaith and other organizations. In carrying out this mission”.  IPJC offers a variety of educational opportunities including a Legislative Action Center, the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, Women’s Justice Circles, workshops, conferences, and a quarterly justice journal.  For more information, visit their website at www.ipjc.org

Catholic Community Services and the Catholic Housing Services

Catholic Community Services and the Catholic Housing Services are Catholic leaders in advocacy and direct service in Western Washington.  Their mission states that “Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel imperative, Catholic Community Services and the Catholic Housing Services are outreaches of the Catholic Church in Western Washington, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Seattle and the Boards of Trustees. CCS and CHS answer the Gospel call to loving and compassionate service with particular concern for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the dignity of the human person. Our employees and volunteers come from many faith traditions to serve and support poor and vulnerable people through the provision of quality, integrated services and housing. Our focus is on those individuals, children, families, and communities struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism. We actively join with others to work for justice.”  To learn more about the work of CCS and CHS, visit their website at: www.ccsww.org.  

Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910 in Washington, DC.  Catholic Charities works with individuals, families and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.  To learn more about CCUSA, visit their website at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services is an international organization that was founded by the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 1943.  CRS now serves more than 80 million people in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.  The mission of CRS is to “assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.  Although our mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, our operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.  Within the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering of the world.”  To learn more about CRS, visit their website at www.crs.org.      

Pax Christi is an international Catholic peace movement that works on a global scale.  The movement addresses a variety of issues relating to human rights, human security, demilitarization and disarmament, just world order, and religion and violent conflict. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.paxchristi.net/international/eng/index.php

Pax Christi Statement on Afghanistan  Read Pax Christi’s newest statement on Afghanistan, It is Time to End the Trail of Resentment and Hatred: A Sign-On Statement on Afghanistan.

Learn more about Catholic Social Teaching on the environment

Join the Catholic Campaign on Climate Change and take the St. Francis pledge to care for creation and the poor  www.catholicclimatecovenant.org.