Obligations of Individuals Societal Obligations 1. Help shape a just, loving society so it promotes love of God and neighbor. A key way to do this is to live: inner conversion; be just, loving, moral. Minimally, try to root out any laws or practices that cause sin or undermine human dignity. 1. Guarantee the conditions that allow associations and individuals to obtain their due, according to their vocation and nature.

2. Take special vigilance to see that God’s little ones are cared for in society. Support those causes, laws, and institutions that guarantee the rights of the poor. 2. Root out any form of social, religious, cultural, racial, economic, ethnic, or sexual discrimination that denies people their fundamental human rights.

3. Treat each person as another self. Exercise the virtue of solidarity by viewing others as members of one family under a loving God. (Lord’s Prayer) 3. Guarantee the most basic right of all, the right to life. Outlaw unspeakable crimes like murder, euthanasia, assisted suicide, fetal experimentation, and abortion

4. Exercise your right to participate in society. Everyone has a duty to participate according to one’s position, role, talents, and interests. Minimally, one must meet family and work obligations, contribute to the Church community and be involved in public affairs. 4. Create a climate where people can participate and contribute to the common good. See to honest, just, and open communication based on trust, freedom, justice, and solidarity.

5. Respect those who have legitimate positions of authority and obey established laws. As good citizens, pay taxes, exercise the right to vote, and defend one’s country. Welcome immigrants. Protest, even through civil disobedience, unjust laws undermine human dignity. 5. Those who hold public authority must always promote the common good, recognize the sovereignty of the law, promote the principle of subsidiarity and the practice of limited government.

Support and defend the family Look out for the needs of the poor and defenseless through distributive justice Guarantee the right of religious freedom Promote peace within and outside the country See that all access to the economic and political spheres Ensure a morally fit environment where virtue can thrive, for example, by dealing with pornography

From page 66 Catholic Social Teaching by Michael Pennock