St. Patrick - St. Anthony

Committee for Social Justice

Mission Statement

In following our call to live a Gospel life, the Committee for Social Justice works to educate and empower people in the principles and practices of Catholic social teaching. With this knowledge, we encourage active involvement with those in need, and participation in programs that work for a more just and peaceful world by transforming communities through charity, justice, and peace.

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching is a collection of teachings on key themes which have evolved in response to the challenges of the day that are designed to reflect the Church's social mission. Teachings are rooted in biblical orientations and reflections on Christian tradition. It is a living tradition of thought and action. This tradition calls all members of the Church, rich and poor alike, to work to eliminate the occurrence and effect of poverty, to speak out against injustice, and to shape a more caring society and a more peaceful world.

The work for social justice is first and foremost a work of faith, a profoundly religious task. It is Jesus who calls us to this mission, not any political or ideological agenda.
We as Catholics are called to bring the healing hand of Christ to those in need; the courageous voice of the prophet to those in power; and the gospel message of love, justice, and peace to an often suffering world.

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social teaching strives to foster a living faith that leads to loving action in the world today by raising up a social vision that is transformative, thereby making visible the reign of God.
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the church’s presentation and articulation of its reflection upon human beings in society. It sets about naming the realities (at a given point in time), highlighting the dangers to full human flourishing and critiquing them from the point of view of the Catholic faith.
It embodies core themes and responses to challenges facing human beings in a complex and changing world.

This body of teaching is not a fixed body of writings or doctrine but grows, develops and changes over time in order to respond to the complexities of any given age and in order to speak with relevance to the world as it exists

Activities

Fair Trade Coffee

Giving Trees

Rebuilding Together

Sister Parish

Walk Against Hunger

Partners in Peace & Justice

Franciscan Action Network

What is the Franciscan Action Network?

Peace and All Good!

FAN is a grassroots, faith-based legislative advocacy organization with a growing national base of organizations and persons who are inspired by the witness and example of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. FAN's work is presently supported by over forty Franciscan organizations throughout the United States as it works to build a base of persons who can propel this movement forward. FAN's mission to bring a coordinated and effective voice to matters of justice, peace and care for creation to Washington, D.C., throughout the U.S., and beyond is achievable, but we need committed people to make this vision a reality.

People like you.

Sign up to receive a FREE membership through our website. You will be joining a growing movement with freedom of access to our advocacy efforts through technology that serves and empowers. A confirmation e-mail will welcome you to the Franciscan Action Network. Your membership will also allow you access to member-only areas of our website and ensure you receive regular email updates on FAN activities!

In the meantime, please keep all of us at FAN in your thoughts and prayers.

Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty (CNADP)

"A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal ... for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary." -- Pope John Paul II, 1/27/99, St. Louis, Missouri

In the US, 79% of Catholics polled believe that opposition to the death penalty is “consistent with the defense of human life” (US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pub. #5-723), yet Connecticut remains one of two New England States to retain the death penalty. With these facts in mind, in the Spring of 2007, our parish after a process of discernment, has joined the Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty (CNADP) as an institutional member.

To find out more information about CNADP click here.