The Office of Life, Justice & Peace provides resources and information to parishioners on Catholic social teaching, its themes, and specific issues.

Give parishioners something to take, learn, or pray. The available materials are listed below. To request materials, please e-mail the Office. There is no charge.  

• General Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
• Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation
• Solidarity
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
• Care for God's Creation

 

General Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Faith and Human Development Series (USCCB, Catholic Campaign for Human Development)

• A Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace
• Novena for Justice and Peace
• A Justice Prayer Book
• Scripture Guide 

A Faith Sharing Experience for Christian Communities Series  (USCCB) 

NOTE: Each booklet can be used as a 6-week study guide

• Book 1: Sharing the Tradition, Shaping the Future: A Faith Sharing Experience for Christian Communities

 

• Book 2: The Call to Family, Community, and Participation

 

• Book 3: Dignity of the Human Person

 

• Book 4: Preferential Option For and With the Poor

 

• Book 5: Solidarity with the Poor

 

• Principles, Prophecy, and a Pastoral Response: An Overview of Modern Catholic Social Teaching (USCCB, Catholic Campaign for Human Development)  
• Card: Themes from Catholic Social Teaching (USCCB)  ​
• Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice (USCCB, 1998)  
• Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples

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CST Principle: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

• Dignity of the Human Person (Sharing the Tradition Series: Book 3) (USCCB)   
• Why You Matter: A Reflection on Human Dignity (USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities)
• Respect Life: Every Child Brings Us God's Smile (Pope Benedict XVI)
• Contraception: The Fine Print (USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities)
• On Embryonic Stem Cell Research (USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities)
• Live-Giving Love in an Age of Technology (USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities)
• Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics (A Statement from the USCCB, 1998)
• Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life (USCCB)
• Poster: Every Child Brings Us God's Smile (English on side one; Spanish on side two)

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Aids

• Hope and Dignity in the Developing World

Death Penalty

• A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death
• Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty

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End of Life

• To Live Each Day With Dignity (USCCB Statement on Physician-Assisted Suicide, 2012)

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Human Trafficking

• On Human Trafficking (USCCB, Migration and Refugee Services)
• Human Trafficking/Catholic Social Teaching on Migration (USCCB, Migration and Refugee Services)

Immigration

• Prayer Card: An Immigrants Prayer
• Unity in Diversity: A Scriptural Rosary (USCCB, Migration and Refugee Services)
• 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
• 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)
• Immigration and the Next America: Renewing the Soul of Our Nation (Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, 2013)

Media and Culture

• Renewing the Mind of the Media: A Statement on Overcoming Exploitation of Sex and Violence in Communications (USCCB)

Peace

• Building Peace (Catholic Relief Services, 2010)
• Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Catholic Framework for Action

        (A Pastoral Message of the USCCB, 1994)

• Praying for Peace and Protection
• Sowing Weapons of War (A Pastoral Reflection on the Arms Trade and Landmines) (USCCB, 1995)
• When Evil Strikes: The Catholic Response to Terrorism
• Prayer Card: Assisi Pledge for Peace

Racism

• Brothers and Sisters to Us: U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism in Our Day (USCCB)

Restorative Justice

• Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice (USCCB, 2000)

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CST Principle: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

• Preferential Option For and With the Poor (Sharing the Tradition Series: Book 4) (USCCB) 
• A Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good (USCCB) 
• A Justice Prayer Book (Catholics find guidance on how to more fully realize their identity as followers of Jesus Christ through service, advocacy, and solidarity for and with the poor.)
• For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food to Eat: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers

Economic Justice

• Food Security and Economic Justice: A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger (Catholic Rural Life)

• Poster: Economic Justice For All
• Card: Economic Justice For All: A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (USCCB)

Hunger

• Food Policy in a Hungry World: The Links That Bind Us Together (USCCB)
• Food Security and Economic Justice: A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger (National Catholic Rural Life Conference)
• For I Was Hungry & You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers and Farmworkers (USCCB)
• People Like Us (On U.S. Poverty)
• A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children (A Pastoral Reflection) (USCCB)

Poverty

• Poverty and Faithjustice: An Adult Program for Dialogue on Christian Discipleship in the United States (USCCB, Catholic Campaign for Human Development)
• People Like Us (On U.S. Poverty)
• Food Security and Economic Justice: A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger (Catholic Rural Life)
• A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children (A Pastoral Reflection) (USCCB)
• Haciendo un Lugar en la Mesa: Comités Doméstica y Polí­tica Internacional (USCCB)

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CST Principle: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

• The Call to Family, Community, and Participation (Sharing the Tradition Series: Book 2)

Family

• Families, the Economy, and the Church (USCCB's Committee on Marriage and Family Life, 1987)
• On the Family: Familiaris Consortio -- Pope John Paul II, 1981
• Family: Spiritual Thought Series -- Pope Benedict XVI
• Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan (USCCB)
• Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan: Leaders' Guide (USCCB)
• Violence in the Family: National Concern, A Church Concern (USCCB, 1979)

Participation

• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility (USCCB)

 

CST Principle: Solidarity

• Solidarity with the Poor (Sharing the Tradition Series: Book 5) (USCCB)
• A Call to Solidarity with Africa (USCCB)
• Brothers and Sisters to Us: U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism in Our Day (USCCB)
• Called to Global Solidarity: International Challenges for US Parishes (USCCB) ​
• Face the Fast: A Catholic Relief Services' Resource Guide for Participating in Food Fast, a hunger awareness program for Catholic youth in the United States (Also available in DVD)
• Food Policy in a Hungry World: The Links That Bind Us Together (Pastoral Reflections on Food and Agricultural Policy) (USCCB, 1989)
• Getting Involved: A comprehensive look at all of Catholic Relief Services domestic programs plus its work overseas
• Hope and Dignity in the Developing World (the battle against aids),  

       (Catholic Relief Services, 2009)

• Bookmark: Catholic Relief Services Pledge to Combat Global Poverty

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CST Principle: 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" -- 2000, bilingual
• On Human Work: A Resource Book for the Study of Pope John Paul II's Third Encyclical (USCCB, 1982)
• A Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good (USCCB)

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CST Principle: Care for God's Creation

• Prayer Card: St. Francis of Assisi -- The Canticle of the Sun (USCCB)
• Faithful Stewards of God's Creation: A Catholic Resource for Environmental Justice and Climate Change (USCCB)  
• Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good (USCCB) ​
• Why Catholics Care for Creation (Catholic Update, St. Anthony's Messenger Press)
• Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (USCCB) 
• Renewing the Face of the Earth: A Resource for Parishes (USCCB)
• The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good (Catholic Bishops of the Region) + Reflection Guide
• Let the Earth Bless the Lord: God's Creation and our Responsibility (USCCB) 
• John Paul II: The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility (USCCB) 
• Renew the Face of the Earth: An Easter Season Activity for Parishes (St. Juan Diego Parish)