Right and Responsibilities

The 3rd of the 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching is Rights and Responsibilities. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

 
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
 
Supporting the poor, those in poverty and the less fortunate, are human situations that interrupt or can devastate normal life, such as we understand it. The loss of a job, death of a bread winner, financial or health issues come to mind. Veterans, who have served in war and return to their families, may suffer debilitating effects for the rest of their lives. Mental health issues can also affect families. In other words, families and individuals in our own communities may experience suffering that is kept from the greater community, for they are embarrassed or guilt ridden and don’t know how to improve the current tough situation they live in.
 
All of us have the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but we all have the responsibilities to one another to assist the lessor of our human family’s and to society as a whole. Currently our parish and people around the world are supporting the people of Ukraine, as we should. But the question is, how do we do this? 

Isaiah 1:16-8 reads, “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord.” 

Our St. Hubert parishioners participate in a variety of ministries, and one, in the Catholic tradition is Community Life. This vital ministry contributes money and goods for the needs of both parishioners and the community at large. It distributes financial aid to needy parishioners and neighbors to assist them with paying rent, utility and medical bills and purchasing perishable food.
 
Our parish continues to do much, but much is needed by all to lighten the load and share with the poor, building up the body of Christ, the Church. Let us continue on doing more not less, as goodness is shared by all.
 
To learn more about how you can help our Community Life and Sharing Parish ministries, please visit the St. Hubert website.

Deacon Larry Smith