The Office of Life, Justice & Peace provides resources and information to parishioners on Catholic social teaching, its themes, and specific issues. To request materials, please e-mail the Office.

Interested in learning more? Read one of our books. Find a complete list books available for checkout from the Office library below.

General Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

• A Catholic Call to Justice: An Activity book for Raising Awareness of Social Justice Issues (Ages 14-22) -- CCHD, CRS, 1998

 

• Catholic Social Teaching, Learning and Living Justice -- Michael Pennock, 2000

        (This textbook, and accompanying teacher's manual, covers a number of justice issues,              including a chapter on Justice and the Right to Life, Justice and Poverty, Justice and                  Racism, and Justice and the Environment)
 

• Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret -- Peter J. Henriot, Edward P. DeBerri, Michael J. Schultheis, 1995 (A brief overview of the development of social teaching along with detailed outlines of the major social teaching documents).

 

• The Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching -- Marvin L. Krier Mich, 2005
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church -- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004
• A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching -- Kevin E. McKenna, 2002
• Connecting Faith and Life -- Foley and Schmaltz, 1987
• Contemporary Catholic Social Teaching (contains Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno, US Bishops Pastoral Message on 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) -- USCCB, 1991
• In All Things Charity: A Pastoral Challenge for the New Millennium -- USCCB, 1999
• In the Footsteps of Jesus, Resource Manual on Catholic Social Teaching - USCCB, 2004
• Leaven for the Modern World: Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Education -- Ronald Krietemeyer, 2000
• Living God's Justice: Reflections and Prayers -- The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors, 2006
• Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action -- Thomas Massaro, S.J., 2000
• Quest for Justice: A Compendium of Statements of the United States Catholic Bishops on the Political and Social Order 1966-1980 -- USCCB, 1981
• Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching -- Kenneth R. Himes, OFM, 1998
• Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions (Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops) (Leader's Guide included) -- 1998

Papal Encyclicals

• Caritas In Veritate (Charity in Truth) -- Pope Benedict XVI, 2009
• Centesimus Annus (On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) -- Saint John Paul II, 1991
• Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) -- Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
• Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) -- Pope Francis, 2013
• Evangelium Vitae (On Human Life) -- Saint John Paul II, 1995
• Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) -- Saint John Paul II, 1981 (Includes Study Guide)
• Laudato Si': On Care for our Common Home -- Pope Francis, 2015 (Available for purchase)
• Laudato Si': Sobre el Cuidado de la Casa Común (Disponible para compra)
• Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) -- Saint John XXIII, 1963
• Solicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concern) -- Saint John Paul II, 1987

 

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

• The Dignity of a Person (Dignitas Personae) - - Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, 2008
• The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae): On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life -- Saint John Paul II, 1995
• El Evangelio De La Vida: Sobre el Valor y el Carí¡cter Inviolable de la Vida Humana 
• Proclaiming the Message of Life -- Fr. Frank Pavone
• Sharing the Heart of Christ: Post-abortion Ministry -- Priests for Life  

Death Penalty

• Choose Life! Building Opposition to the Death Penalty (A comprehensive look at Catholic teaching on the death penalty and offers suggestions for parishes to get involved in this issue). Roundtable, 2000
• Dead Man Walking -- Sister Helen Prejean, 1993
• Reflections on Dead Man Walking -- Sister Helen Prejean, 2000
• The Oregon Death Penalty Document -- Rachel Cunliffe Hardesty, 2000
• A Tortured History: The Story of Capital Punishment in Oregon -- William R. Long
• Understanding Capital Punishment: A Guide through the Death Penalty Debate -- Death Penalty Information Center, 2003
• U.S. Bishops' Statement on Capital Punishment, 1998   

Human Trafficking

• How You Can Fight Human Trafficking: Over 50 Ways to Join the Fight

Immigration

• Immigration and the Next America: Renewing the Soul of Our Nation  -- Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, 2013
• The Second Wave: Hispanic Ministry and the Evangelization of Cultures -- Allan Figueroa Deck, 1989
• Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope: A Pastoral Letter on Migration
• Juntos en el Camino de la Esperanza: Ya No Somos Extranjeros 
• Together A New People: Pastoral Statement on Migrants and Refugees USCCB, 1986
• We Are Strangers No Longer: Summary of the Pastoral Letter on Migration
• Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity USCCB, 2000
• Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? Reflections on Understanding and Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees USCCB: Migration and Refuge Services

Media and Culture

• Christians Living in the US Culture -- Thomas E Clarke, 1988

Nonviolence

• Jesus and Nonviolence: A Thrid Way -- Walter Wink, 2003

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Peace

• Blessed Are the Peacemakers: 10 Steps to Peace -- Mary E Latela, 2003
• Building Peace, A Pastoral Reflection on the Response to the Challenge of Peace -- 1988
• The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response (A Pastoral Letter on War and Peace by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops) USCCB, 1983
• The Challenge of Peace: A Challenge to Parents (A Reflective Resource for Parents) -- Commission on Marriage and Family Life; USCCB, 1985
• The Challenge of Shalom for Catholics and Jews: A Dialogical Discussion Guide to the Catholic Bishops' Pastoral on Peace and War -- Annette Daum and Eugene Fisher, 1985
• Christian Parenting for Peace and Justice: Program Guide -- James and Kathleen McGinnis
• East Timor: Genocide in Paradise -- Matthew Jardine, 1995
• From Violence to Wholeness: A Ten Part Process in the Spirituality & the Practice of the Active Nonviolence -- Ken Butigan, 2002
• The International Arms Trade, An Ethical Reflection  Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1994
• El Comerio Internacional De Armas, Una reflexión etica 
• In the Name of Peace: Collective Statements of the United States Catholic Bishops on War and Peace, 1919-1980 -- USCCB, 1980
• Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation -- Naim Stifan Ateek, 2003
• Option for Peace: The Teaching of the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter on War and Peace (Leader's Guide Included) -- Fr. Richard J. Cassidy, 1984
• Out of Justice, Peace (Joint Pastoral Letter of the West German Bishops and Winning the Peace (Joint Pastoral Letter of the French Bishops) -- Edited by James V. Schall, 1984
• Partners in Peacemaking: Family Workshop Models (Guidebook for Leaders) -- James McGinnis, 1984
• Peacemaking: Family Activities for Justice and Peace -- Jacqueline Haessly, 1980
• Peacemaking: Moral and Policy Challenges for a New World -- edited by Gerard F Powers, Drew Christiansen, and Robert T Hennemeyer, 1997
• The Scent of Jasmine: Reflections for Peace in Everyday Life -- Patricia McCarthy, 1996
• The Social Thoughts of Thomas Merton: The Way of Non Violence and Peace for the Future -- Rev. David W. Givey, 2009
• Starting Out Right: Nurturing Young Children as Peacemakers -- Kathleen McGinnis and Barbara Oehlberg, 1991
• To Dwell in Peace: An Autobiography -- Daniel Berrigan, 1987

Racism

• The Church and Racism: Towards a More Fraternal Society -- Pontifical Commission Iustitia et Pax, 1988
• The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming -- Natasha Bowens, 2015
• Crossing the Racial Divide: America's struggle for justice and reconciliation (a study guide) -- Sojourners Magazine editors, 2005
• Here I Am, Send Me: A Conference Response to the Evangelization of African Americans -- USCCB, 1989
• Keep Your Hand on the Plow -- USCCB, Committee on African American Catholics, 1996
• Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: US Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism -- Committee on African American Catholics & USCCB, 2001
• Racial Justice and the Catholic Church -- Bryan Massingale, 2010
• Rising to Common Ground: Overcoming America's Color Lines -- Danny Duncan Collum, 2006
• Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity -- USCCB, 2000

Restorative Justice

• Camerado, I Give You My Hand: How a Powerful Lawyer-Turned-Priest is Changing the Lives of Men Behind Bars -- Maura Poston Zagrans, 2013

 

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

• The Age of Declining Turbulence, Are Alan Greenspan's Projections Wrong? -- Douglas N. Thompson, 2009
• Building Economic Justice: The Bishops' Pastoral Letter and Tools for Action -- USCCB, 1986
• Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the United States Economy -- USCCB, 1986
• Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy (Education Resource Directory) -- USCCB
• Justica Ecónomica Para Todos
• A Pledge of Commitment for Economic Justice -- USCCB
• 10th Anniversary Edition of Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the United States Economy -- USCCB, 1996
• A Decade Later: Economic Justice for All: Continuing Principles, Changing Context, New Challenges (USCCB)
• How Much is Enough? Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture -- Arthur Simon, 2003
• The Prophetic Imagination -- Walter Brueggemann, 2001
• Relieving Third World Debt: A Call for Co-responsibility, Justice, and Solidarity (USCCB, 1989)
• The Right to Development: Conciliar and Pontifical Texts 1960-1990 -- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1991
• Toward the Future, Catholic Social Thought and the U.S. Economy -A Lay Letter, 1984

Homelessness

• Street Journal: Finding God in the Homeless -- Gary N Smith, 1994
• Voices from the Street: Truths about Homelessness from Sisters of the Road -- Jessica P. Morrell, 2007
• What Have You Done To Your Homeless Brother? The Church and Housing Problems: Document of the Pontifical Commission "Iustitia et Pax" on the occasion of the international Year of Shelter for the Homeless, 1987

 
Hunger

• Exodus From Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger -- David Beckman, 2010  

Poverty

• Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation -- Jonathan Kozol, 1996
• Champions of the Poor: The Economic Consequences of Judeo-Christian Values -- Barend A deVries
• Credible Signs of Christ Alive: Case Studies from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development -- John P. Hogan, 2003
• Dispossessed: Life in Our World's Urban Slums -- Mark Kramer, 2006
• Empowerment and Hope: 25 years of turning lives around -- CCHD
• Justice in the Marketplace: Collected Statements of the Vatican and the US Catholic Bishops on Economic Policy, 1891-1984 -- USCCB, 1985
• Management of Values: The Ethical Difference in Corporate Policy and Performance -- Charles S McCoy, 1985
• No Shame in My Game: The Working Poor in the Inner City -- Katherine S Newman, 1999
• Pedagogies for the Non-Poor -- Alice Frazer Evans, Robert A Evans, William Bean Kennedy, 1987
• Poverty in American Democracy: A Study of Social Power -- CCHD, 1974

 
Community

• Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding & Mobilizing Community Assets - - John Kretzmann & John McKnight, 1993
• Faith Based Community Organizing: The State of the Field -- Mark R. Warren & Richard L Wood, 2001
• Renewing Congregations: The Contribution of Faith-Based Community Organizing 2002-2003
• Reviving the Common Good: A Pastoral Letter on Social Justice -- 1991

 

Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

• Voices and Choices: A Pastoral Message on Justice in the Workplace from the Catholic Bishops of the South
• Voces y Opciones: Una Carta Pastoral sobre la justicia en el lugar de trabajo de los Obispos Católicos del Sur

 

Solidarity

• The Church in America: The Way to Conversion, Communion, and Solidarity in America -- Pope John Paul II, 1999
• A Jubilee Call for Debt Forgiveness -- CCHD, 1999
• Prayer without Borders: Celebrating Global Wisdom -- Catholic Relief Services, 2004
• The Road to Survival -- Catholic Relief Services, 2006
• Solidarity will Transform the World: Stories of Hope from Catholic Relief Services --Jeffry Odell Korgen, 2007
• Statement on Central America -- USCCB, 1987
• A Time for Dialogue and Healing: A Pastoral Reflection on United States - Vietnam Relations -- USCCB, 1989
• The True Cost of Low Prices -- Jeffry Odell Korgen, 2013
• A Word of Solidarity, A Call for Justice: A Statement on Religious Freedom in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union -- USCCB, 1988
• You Did It for Me: Care of Your Neighbor as a Spiritual Practice -- Kevin E. McKenna, 2005

 

Rights and Responsibilities

• Human Rights and the Church: Historical and Theological Reflections -- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1990
• Respect for Human Rights: The Secret of True Peace (Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace ) -- Pope John Paul II, 1999

 

Care for Creation

• "And God Saw That It Was Good": Catholic Theology and the Environment -- USCCB, 1996
• Climate Change: The Facts -- Institute of Public Affairs, 2015
• Love God Heal Earth: Leading Religious Voices Speak Out on Our Sacred Duty to Protect the Environment
• On Care for Creation: A Collection of Articles and Homilies -- Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Journal, Volume 24, No. 1, Summer 2004
• Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice -- 202nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 1990
• The Telling Takes US Home: Taking Our Places in the Stories That Shape Us (A People's Pastoral from the Catholic Committee of Appalachia) -- 2015

Other Books

• The Catholic Worker Movement: Intellectual and Spiritual Origins -- Mark and Louise Zwick, 2005
• Cloud of Witness -- Jim Wallis & Joyce Hollyday, 2005
• Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life -- Henri Nouwen, Donald P. McNeill, Douglas A. Morrison, 1983
• Connecting Young Adults to Catholic Parishes -- USCCB, 2010
• Dorothy Day: Catholic Worker (for the young reader) -- St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981
• Gandhi the Man: The Story of His Transformation -- Eknath Easwaran, 2006
• Geno: The Life and Mission of Geno Baroni -- Lawrence M O'Rourke, 1991
• Interpretando Las Senales De Neustro Tiempo: Siete Semanas para Pequenas Comunidades en Proceso a un Cambio Social (2001)
• Jesus Before Christianity -- Albert Nolan, 2006
• Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom -- Albert Nolan, 1976
• Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation -- Parker J. Palmer, 2000
• Listening -- Andrew Wolven & Carolyn Gwynn Coakley, 1988
• The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millennium -- Walter Wink, 1998
• Reading the Signs of the Times: A Seven-Week Small-Group Process for Social Change (2001)
• Sons and Daughters of the Light -- USCCB, 2010
• Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion -- Fr. Greg Boyle, 2010