Love, Respect and Justice for All

What does it mean to be an American Catholic in the 21st century? The answer might be found in the 637-page United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. But what if you lack the time to read it? Not to worry. The good Franciscans at AmericanCatholic.Org offer a series of pamphlets that serve as a companion to the catechism. Here is an excerpt from Love, Respect and Justice for All:

Most sins are rooted not in generosity but in selfishness—a concern about my wants over another’s needs, a focus on my will over God’s. Emphasis on getting and having is rampant in our culture. “The one with the most toys wins” is the way we’re often encouraged to gauge our own worth and that of others.

God is the most generous of lovers—the giver of life, blessings and salvation. All of us have dignity and worth simply because we are God’s loved creation. We must acknowledge God’s gifts to us and recognize the value and rights of all others.

We are called to be Christian stewards, to “receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord” (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, p. 450). Under the umbrella of our stewardship are life, possessions, truth and justice.

You can read more here.