The human person is both sacred and social. We realize our dignity and rights in relationship with others, in community. We are called to respect all of God's gifts of creation, to be good stewards of the earth and each other. See selected quotations. Rights and Responsibilities People have a fundamental right to life, food, shelter, health care, education and employment.
All people have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to respect the rights of others in the wider society and to work for the common good. See selected quotations. The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.