Theme C

• God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.: 'Genesis 1:27 (NRSV)'
• there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all: 'Colossians 3:17 (NRSV)'
• You shall love your neighbour as yourself.: 'Mark 12:31 (NRSV)'
• what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?": 'Micah 6-8
• Being created in God's image doesn't mean that humans look like God, but that they share in the qualities of God and are superior to other creatures
• These qualities give humans a sense of dignity
• Paul in his letter reminds his readers that Jesus died for all people; therefore there should be no division of any type between people and all are given dignity by the love God has for them all
• Christians should put the needs of others on the same level as their own needs
• Christians should not be selfish but should strive for justice and equality
• Freedom of religion or belief
• One way of accepting other human beings is to recognise every person's right to have a different set of beliefs. This has not always been the case, as shown in the religious persecution in England in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the treatment of the Jews during the Second World War.
• The Second Vatican Council declared that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs' (Dignitatis Humanae 2).
• Pope Francis has called for a world where believers and non-believers can work together to promote a society where injustice can be overcome!
• The rights and differences of individuals should be recognised and respected.
• Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 18).
• Freedom of religion should not give people the right to try to force others to accept a religion.
• The Catholic Church promotes the rights of the individual, regardless of status, race or religion.
• The Catholic Church's teaching on human rights (the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings should be entitled) is clearly shown in Gaudium et Spes 26.
• All countries are legally required to uphold the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
• Each individual man is truly a person. His is a nature, that is, endowed with intelligence and free will. As such he has rights and duties: 'Pacem in Terris 9'
• the common good... involves rights and duties with respect to the whole human race: 'Gaudium et Spes 26'
• The Catholic Church teaches that anyone who does not receive these human rights is being treated as less than human and loses their human dignity.
• The teaching of the parable of the Sheep and Goats shows that whoever helps a person, who doesn't have basic human rights, helps Jesus.
• The UN Declaration of Human Rights (similar to the rights expressed in Gaudium et Spes 26) should legally be followed by all countries.
• Many people are being denied these basic rights and the Church asks Catholics to work towards greater equality.
• Insisting on people having basic human rights also means accepting the responsibility to respect other people's rights, and to help make those rights available.
• People have a duty to use their rights responsibly and not cause harm to others.
• Catholics believe that it is important to work together to bring about change, especially in unjust situations.
• These rights and duties derive their origin.... from the natural law... for example, the right to live involves the duty to preserve one's life... in human society one man's natural right gives rise to a corresponding duty in other men; the duty, that is, of recognising and respecting that right.": 'Pacem in Terris 28-30'
• rights


  If people want rights they must realise that other people should be able to have the same rights
• responsibilities


  There is a need to ensure people have access to human rights. Vulnerable people are often deprived of rights
• This sometimes limits what a person is allowed to do: for example, the right to free speech is not being used responsibly if it is used to encourage violence
• For example, a right to education would be impossible unless people are prepared to provide that education; the student also has the responsibility to want to lear
• Christians should show solidarity with the weak and vulnerable by demanding that they receive their Just rights
• The Church teaches that all Catholics, as members of the Body of Christ on earth, should work together to end injustice and the denial of human rights. Some Catholic agencies work to bring human rights to those who do not have them:
• The Justice and Peace Commission tries to ensure people's human rights are respected, raises awareness and takes practical action such as providing food and shelter
• Caritas International raises awareness of situations like human trafficking and takes action to stop this abuse, puts pressure on the United Nations to improve access to human rights worldwide
• In non-Christian countries Catholics work with other agencies, such as Islamic Aid, to help people get justice! This is done because some governments prevent Christian agencies working in their countries
• Some Christians believe the Bible teaches them to reject money and be poor. Others believe that having wealth is acceptable as long as people use it wisely.
• There is a danger that wealth may distort people's values and perspectives.