Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity or I Am My Brother's Keeper

Why should we walk for life? Give the gift of English language skills? Give microloans to invest in tiny businesses in developing countries?

To live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To act out our faith. To live our discipleship.

Actions of charity and justice have a deep spiritual dimension.

Matthew 25 is very compelling: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, New American Bible)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops summarize the Catholic Social Teaching of Solidarity like this:

"We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict."

-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml