"The Church hears the suffering
cry of all who are uprooted from their own land,
of families forcefully separated, of those who,
in the rapid changes of our day, are unable to
find a stable home anywhere. She senses the
anguish of those without rights, without any
security, at the mercy of every kind of
exploitation, and she supports them in their
unhappiness."
(Pope John
Paul II, Message for World Migration Day,
2000 - no. 6)
In its history, America has experienced many
immigrations, as waves of men and women came to
its various regions in the hope of a better
future. The phenomenon continues even today,
especially with many people and families from
Latin American countries who have moved to the
northern parts of the continent, to the point
where in some cases they constitute a
substantial part of the population. They often
bring with them a cultural and religious
heritage which is rich in Christian elements.
The Church is well aware of the problems created
by this situation and is committed to spare no
effort in developing her own pastoral strategy
among these immigrant people, in order to help
them settle in their new land and to foster a
welcoming attitude among the local population,
in the belief that a mutual openness will bring
enrichment to all."
(John Paul
II, Ecclesiae in America, 1999 -
no. 65)
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH SECOND
EDITION
PART THREE,
SECTION
ONE, CHAPTER TWO,
ARTICLE 3 -
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1928 Society ensures social justice when it provides
the conditions that allow associations or
individuals to obtain what is their due,
according to their nature and their vocation.
Social justice is linked to the common good and
the exercise of authority.
1929 Social
justice can be obtained only in respecting the
transcendent dignity of man. The person
represents the ultimate end of society, which is
ordered to him:
What is at
stake is the dignity of the human person,
whose defense and promotion have been
entrusted to us by the Creator, and to whom
the men and women at every moment of history
are strictly and responsibly in debt.
1930 Respect for the human person
entails respect for the rights that flow from
his dignity as a creature. These rights are
prior to society and must be recognized by it.
They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of
every authority: by flouting them, or refusing
to recognize them in its positive legislation, a
society undermines its own moral legitimacy. If
it does not respect them, authority can rely
only on force or violence to obtain obedience
from its subjects. It is the Church's role to
remind men of good will of these rights and to
distinguish them from unwarranted or false
claims.
1931Respect for the human person proceeds
by way of respect for the principle that
"everyone should look upon his neighbor (without
any exception) as 'another self,' above all
bearing in mind his life and the means necessary
for living it with dignity." No legislation
could by itself do away with the fears,
prejudices, and attitudes of pride and
selfishness which obstruct the establishment of
truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will
cease only through the charity that finds in
every man a "neighbor," a brother.
1935 The
equality of men rests essentially on their
dignity as persons and the rights that flow from
it:
Every form of social or
cultural discrimination in fundamental
personal rights on the grounds of sex, race,
color, social conditions, language, or
religion must be curbed and eradicated as
incompatible with God's design.
