Catholic Teachings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Catholic Teachings - Essay Example Catholic teaching teaches its followers that they should not be better off than the followers of other religions. However, the world is still filled with many poor and underprivileged people while very rich religious people and institutions continue to bask in their wealth. Catholics believe that they should work towards eradicating poverty and assist others in improving their living standards. Catholics basically follow the First Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says: freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people. the peoples of the United Nations havedetermined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36 Every individual is both sacred and social. A person appreciates his or her dignity and rights in relationship with others in the community. The community must allow all individuals to grow and achieve fulfilment. The organization of society - in economics and politics, in law and policy - directly influences human dignity and the ability for individuals to develop in community. The compulsion to "love our neighbour" not only has an individual aspect, but it also involves a broader social obligation. Each person is responsible in contributing to the good of the whole society. This behaviour spread throughout all communities in every nation will lead to moral world development and encourages individuals to strive to attain better world economic development. Society is judged morally by the way it treats its poorest citizens as the plight of the poor demands a moral claim from the conscience of the community. Powerlessness and deprivation of the poor hurts the whole community.A community can be strengthened if its members give greater attention to the needy and those at society's fringes. The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Workers have a right to productive work, to fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a right to