Theme F

• Human rights


  What we expect because we are human
• The UN Declaration of Human Rights: 'All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.'
• All laws are built on the UN Declaration of Human Rights
• Some of the UN Declaration of Human Rights


  • All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
  • Everyone has the right to life, liberty (freedom) and security
  • Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
  • Everyone has the right to work, education and a standard of living adequate for health and well being
• Christians believe that all people have human rights because


  • They are created by God and have the spirit of God within them
  • Everyone is loved by God
  • Jesus showed a special care for the poor, weak and needy so Christians should try to provide justice for them too
• Key themes


  • Rights/responsibilities
  • Human rights
  • Harmony
  • Tolerance
  • Equality
  • Justice
  • Stewardship
• Prejudice


  Pre-judging. Holding opinions which are not based on evidence.
• Prejudice


  • "All homosexuals are promiscuous."
  • "All Bangladeshis are lazy."
• Discrimination


  Acting on prejudice. Treating people unfairly based on how you view them.
• Discrimination


  • Excluding homosexuals
  • Not employing Bangladeshis
• Direct discrimination


  Acting against someone overtly because of prejudice – e.g. violence, threats, abuse.
• Indirect discrimination


  Treating someone differently because of prejudice, but the victim may be unaware – e.g. not employing/promoting them.
• Stereotyping


  Generalising opinions to whole groups of people
• Stereotyping


  • "All people who wear hoods can't be trusted."
• Scapegoating


  Blaming a vulnerable person or group of people for something that has gone wrong
• Scapegoating


  • Hitler pins blame for economic collapse of 1920s/30s on the Jews.
• Causes of Prejudice


  • Fear of difference
  • Lack of understanding or knowledge
  • Upbringing – parental influence
  • Peer pressure
  • Media coverage
  • Stereotyping – possibly from bad experience
• Positive discrimination


  Used to promote opportunities for minority groups in society, eg, black policemen, state school students at Oxford
• How can prejudice be broken down and discrimination stopped?


  1. Education about the dignity and value of all and importance of equality for all

  2. Churches can welcome people from all races and provide services in different languages

  3. Interfaith dialogue (interaction between different faith groups such as Muslims and Christians or Hindus and Jews. It aims to promote cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions)

  4. Youth clubs can welcome and provide services for all

  5. Support charities which promote equality eg, MENCAP which works with people with learning difficulties or Amnesty International which works for human rights and dignity for all

  6. The media could show positive images and representations

  7. Apply UK law which states it is illegal to discriminate against a person because of his/her race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins. It applies to employment, housing, education and the provision of goods and services. The Commission for Racial Equality will take legal action against people who discriminate because of racial prejudice

  8. Implement equal opportunity policies

  9. Non-violent forms of protest such as marches, boycotts, peace rallies, strikes and speeches to protest against segregation and discrimination, like eg, ML King Jr.
• Arguments against women priests


  • Women have maternal instincts and a responsibility for children, which may get in the way of exercising a priestly ministry
  • Men are better than women at leadership roles
  • Some people think the female psyche cannot cope with the pressures of ministry
  • The Churches need to cater for people who disagree with female ministry so it is better if at least one Church does not ordain women
  • It is not sexist to say that women should not be priests, women may be called to different though not inferior roles
  • It is the tradition of the Church that women are not ordained
  • It says in Paul's teaching that women should not speak in a teaching role in Church. 'As in all the churches of God's people, the women should keep quiet in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak; as the Jewish law says, they must not be in charge. If they want to find out about something they must ask their husbands at home. It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in church.' 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
  • Ordaining women might cause a complete split (a schism) in the Church
  • The unity of the Church is more important than women's ordination. Jesus did not pray for the ordination of women but he did pray for the unity of the Church
  • Only men can really represent Christ as Jesus was a man
  • Jesus called only men to be Apostles
  • For the Catholic Church to ordain women and give them equality it would need the equality of women to be recognised throughout the world as it is a world wide Church
• Arguments for women priests

  • Women have been ordained in the Church of England and they exercise very successful ministries
  • Women's particular gifts can make them especially suited to pastoral work
  • Women often have a very profound spirituality. We are depriving the Church of great enrichment if we do not value that
  • Some people relate to women better than to men and vice versa so we are depriving people of more accessible pastoral support if we veto women's priesthood
  • There is a shortage of priests which ordaining women would help to alleviate
  • The Church may be losing members because they see the veto on women priests as reactionary and sexist
  • Some women claim that they have been called by God. Church leaders should not ignore genuine vocation
  • Some scholars think there were ordained women deacons in the Early Church
  • Jesus broke taboos about women in his generation. The Church should strive to break the taboos about women today
  • Jesus did not exclude women from the priesthood
  • Jesus and Paul taught that there should not be distinctions between people
  • Paul said, "There should be no distinctions between male and female…"
  • It may be considered a deprivation of women's rights to exclude them from the priesthood
• Is it wrong to be rich?

  • Yes - If greedy
  • If money is not used morally
  • If the money stands in the way of a relationship with God/if money is a distraction from God
  • If others are exploited
  • If it blinds us to the plight/needs of others
  • No - If money is used morally
  • If it is used to help the poor and needy
  • If it is used for good purposes
  • Money in itself is not bad; it is all to do with the right attitude
  • If we have money, it should be used wisely for good & good stewardship
• Biblical teaching on wealth


  • The Parable of the Sheep & the Goats – 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…'
  • 'he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.'
  • 'It is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.'
  • Rich Man & Lazarus
  • 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'
  • 'In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.'
• Why is there poverty?


  • Debt
  • Poor or no education
  • Bad investment
  • Corruption
  • Disease
  • Disability
  • Addiction
  • High taxes
  • Overpopulation
  • Disease
  • War
  • Unfair trade
  • Unemployment
• What are the effects of poverty?


  • Poor health
  • Poor education
  • Early mortality
  • Malnutrition
  • Poor economy
  • Exploitation
  • Poor mental health
• How can poverty be stopped?


  1. Immunisation

  2. Ensure fair public services, eg, health & education services

  3. Benefits & proper spending on poor

  4. Teach farming methods

  5. World Bank

  6. Teach about hygiene

  7. Ensure taxes and trade are fair

  8. Settle disputes – end to refugees

  9. Employment opportunities

  10. Fair pay

  11. Stop excessive interest on loans

  12. Stop people trafficking
• How can an individual help eradicate poverty?


  • Support Oxfam/CAFOD
  • Buy FairTrade products
  • Support government policies
  • Individual philanthropists, eg, Bill & Melinda Gates foundation
  • VSO
  • Charity shops
  • Medicines Sans Frontieres/Jimmy's
• Amos: 'But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream'