Respect for God’s creation is at the foundation of our Catholic faith. At the heart of our beliefs is a profound understanding of the dignity and worth of every human being—created, treasured and deeply loved by God. We also know that as sons and daughters of God, we have an inherent relationship with one another and a responsibility for each other that can never be forgotten.
As taught by Jesus in the Gospels, we are called to work tirelessly for the common good and to build a more just society—a place where peace and justice flourishes and where all people—especially the most vulnerable are valued, respected and cared for. With radical solidarity, we are called to love our neighbour, knowing we are our brothers and sisters’ keeper.
Our institutions should reflect this respect for the human person and uphold the dignity of all people. We are all responsible and have a part to play in working towards the genuine good of the human person.
We are also called to be good stewards of our world, caring for and respecting the common home given to us by God. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis reminds us that we are invited to follow the example of St Francis of Assisi who saw ‘nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness’. With our world facing many unprecedented challenges, all of humanity is called to unite together to protect and better care for our planet—not just for our own time but for future generations.
Our core beliefs in these areas are expressed in Catholic Social Teaching which covers all spheres of our lives—economic, political, personal and spiritual. The teachings guide us in our work for justice and in living according to the will of God.
For more information on initiatives in the Archdiocese of Melbourne supporting these efforts, please contact proclaim@cam.org.au.