The person is not only sacred but also social. "We have all known the long loneliness, and we have learned that the only solution is love, and that love comes with community" (Servant of God, Dorothy Day). How we organize our society -- in economics and politics, in law and policy -- directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.
Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. “The family… is the first and most important school of mercy, in which we learn to see God’s loving face and to mature and develop as human beings” (Pope Francis).
We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. 

 

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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja's method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.
L - Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)

 

O - Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
Read about how the Diocese of Trenton is strengthening families by providing assistance at every stage of family life through Comprehensive Parish Marriage Ministry, a peer-to-peer ministry and lay initiative that enables married couples to use their unique gifts in service to the parish community.
How can you strengthen your own marriage and family?
If you have never done so, take a spiritual gifts inventory to identify your spiritual gifts and where to use them to serve your parish.   
V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

Lord, help us to find and join with other disciples who seek to live the Gospel in strengthening our families, parishes, and communities. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen + 
Show Notes
Topics Discussed:
Catholic social justice principle #2, the call to family, community, and participation 
Genesis 2; God's covenant with marriage and family; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: the God of family
Participation in parish community and politics 
Overview:
Minutes 00:12:00 - Call to family, community, & participation
Minutes 12:01-24:00 - Strengthening and supporting marriage and family
Minutes 24:01-36:00 - Subsidiarity, and the duty to participate in the parish through spiritual gifts and works of mercy
Minutes 36:01-48:00 - Moral obligation to participate in politics, and the well-formed conscience
Additional Resources:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Book, Amazon: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and USCCB
Marriage and family resources
Spiritual gifts inventory
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Read the Transcript
You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available.