The Catholic Herald staff does a remarkable job, and articles on human life and dignity are in every issue of the newspaper.
Thank you to the staff for suggesting the end of April as a time when we include an extra focus in the paper on human life and dignity.
Catholic social teaching
Bishop Donald J. Hying wrote in the Catholic Herald on May 18, 2022, “The social teachings of the Catholic Church are a rich treasury of wisdom, guiding humanity to build a culture of life, love, justice, and compassion, and to seek the common good. Developed over the last century through the writings of popes, the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and the statements of various bishops’ conferences, Catholic social thought illustrates that, while the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not inherently political, it does have political, economic, social, and cultural implications.”
The Office of Human Life and Dignity focuses on catechizing, promoting, and integrating our seven Catholic Social Teaching Principles throughout our 11 counties in the diocese and doing so for all people. Imago Dei, seeing everyone created in the image and likeness of God, guides the office.
The major areas of ministry and main priorities to focus on include:
- pro-life
- rural life
- anti-human trafficking
- food and shelter support
- care for God’s creation
- partnering with the Dioceses of Jacmel in Haiti and Navrongo-Bolgatanga in Ghana
- community outreach
- jail and prison outreach
- ecumenical dialogue and collaboration
- interfaith dialogue and collaboration
- special projects
In this special issue focused on human life and dignity, please make sure to read Bishop’s column on page three. Additionally, please read:
- The article by Vicky Franchino about our May 6 Walking With Moms In Need next phase gathering. The day will include updates from the Walking with Moms diocesan team, success stories from parishes in our diocese, a Q & A and collaboration time with other parishes, and Mass with Bishop Hying.
- The interview of Tom Nelson, Diocesan rural life coordinator.
The Diocese of Madison is blessed in many ways, including having the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) located in Madison. An excellent document the WCC published is their 2023-25 State Budget Issue Brief. This resource is remarkable and fits in perfectly with this issue of the Catholic Herald focused on human life and dignity.
This document is not just for lawmakers but for all of us, regardless of our vocation from God.
How it affects people
In the first paragraph under “Budgets From a Catholic Perspective”, it states, “For Catholics, every public policy should be measured by how it affects the life and dignity of the human person, especially the needs of those living in poverty, those who are on the margins, and those who suffer the injustice of racism. Catholic teaching holds that every member of the human family must be respected from conception until natural death and have the opportunity to participate as fully as possible in the life of the community. Whether the priorities listed below are taken up in the budget or in separate legislation, we urge Wisconsin lawmakers to advance them to protect life and promote the common good.”
The resource also mentions the priorities of women, children and families, education, housing, health care, criminal justice, transportation, and care for creation.
The WCC document reminds us beautifully from the Gospel of Matthew 6:21 (New American Bible), “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
May our hearts (and minds) always be focused on assisting our Lord in building His Kingdom of God together, centered on His will, and focused on human life and dignity for all!
Dr. Chris McAtee is the Director of Human Life and Dignity and publishes his “Building the Kingdom of God Together” each month in the Catholic Herald. To contact Chris you can email him at [email protected]