Social Justice and the Economy
“Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to her as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word.”
— Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est
For the Poor and Vulnerable
The Church has long advocated for the poor, especially encouraging lawmakers to consider firstly how new policies affect the poorest members of our society. Care for the poor emphasizes the virtues of charity and justice and manifests itself in a variety of policy actions, including:
Job creation for all who can work.
Just wages which place the dignity of the worker ahead of market value.
Elimination of unjust discrimination in employment.
Supporting the right of worker organization and collective bargaining.
Affirming the right to economic freedom and the right to private property.
Protecting the vulnerable from usury, particularly in the form of payday lending.
Welfare policy which reduces both poverty and dependency while strengthening families.
Increasing quality and quantity of affordable housing.
Agriculture policy which sustainably feeds the hungry.
Caring for Creation
The cry of the poor is inextricably intertwined with the destruction of our common home. “We must answer the question that Pope Francis posed to the world: ‘What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?’” (Laudato Si’, no. 160). The Indiana Catholic Conference, advocates for policies that prudently address the issue of global climate change, particularly emphasizing the disproportional impact on the poor and developing nations.