Social Justice Topics

Immigration Update (July 2007)

The most recent immigration reform bill, which included many negative enforcement-focused amendments in its final version, was defeated in the Senate in late June and the national immigration reform...
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Health and CST Unit

According to Catholic Social Teaching, health care is a basic human right, flowing from humankind's creation in the image and likeness of God. Yet, nearly 44 million people in the U.S. still lack...
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Agua de Vida (Water of Life)

This Water of Life two-page resource, translated from the English version, makes a great fact sheet, insert for bulletins or newsletters. The resource includes: Sacramental connections to water...
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A CST Perspective on Climate Change

This article, with discussion questions and a prayer, uses the CST principles and bishops' statements to reflect on how allowing global warning to continue is a violation of global solidarity,...
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Women in Darfur

This timely four-page resource focuses attention on what is happening to women in Darfur. Read about the realities of women in the refugee camps and the challenges they face on a daily basis. This...
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Refugiados

This is the Spanish version of the English unit on Refugees. It includes prayers, fact sheets, a quiz, a CST reflection, discussion questions, and further resources.
Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan Activity: Immigration Role Play

This lesson plan is a group activity which engages participants in an active way, offering them an opportunity to explore immigration and the lives of immigrants from different perspectives. It is...
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Backgrounder w/ Activities: Biblical Foundations of Justice

The call to be people of justice is part of God's ongoing revelation in scripture. This background resource with activities is designed to lay the groundwork for understanding the biblical...
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Unit: Perspectives on the Death Penalty

This is a guide for high school and religious education teachers to take a deeper look at capital punishment and the Church's teachings. It includes: five lessons, interactive activities,...
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Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: Blood Diamond

The movie Blood Diamond has helped to spark awareness about conflict diamonds: diamonds that are often harvested illegally and used to fund ongoing conflicts in places like Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra...
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Mental Illness and Church Statements

The U.S. has a higher prevalence of mental illness than some other parts of the world. One reason may be because there is no federal law in the U.S. guaranteeing that mental illness will be treated...
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Fact Sheet: Poverty in the U.S. (2007)

37 million, or 12.6 percent of people in the U.S.. live below the poverty line. This resource includes updated facts about poverty in America, and is perfect for a bulletin insert on the issue.