Dignity:

We believe that every person is made in the image of God. We are all infinitely loved by our Creator. God is present in every human person, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation or economic standing. We are all unique and beautiful and we are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect. 

"Before I formed you in womb, I knew you."

Jeremiah 1:5

Solidarity:

We belong to each other. We reflect on this during Mass, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth, the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest."

We must stand side by side with everyone, especially those who live in poverty and in the poorest communities. 

"In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these
brothers [or sisters] of mine, you did it to me."

Matthew 25: 40

The common good:

The common good means that the fruits of the earth belong to everyone. No one should be excluded from the gifts of creation. "Life should be at the centre of everything. We are part of life, we are not the owners and masters of it."

"You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor
person. You are handing over to them what is theirs."

Saint Ambrose (340-297 AD)

Option for the poor:

This reminds us of God's love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. God's love is universal; he does not side with oppressors, but loves the humble. Pope Francis writes, "the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor." Laudato Si' #2

"The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the
good news to the afflicted. He has sent me... to let the 
oppressed go free."

Luke 4:18

Peace:

Peace is the cornerstone of our faith. Christ sacrificed himself with love on the cross. 

In 1963, Pope John XXIII published Pacem in Terris (Peace on earth) in which he urged the world to seek peace. Today, our troubled world is still in need of peace. 

"Peace... is an order that is founded in truth, nurtured and animated
by charity, and brought into effect under the auspices of freedom."

Pacem in Terris, 1963, #167

Creation and environment:

At the beginning of the Bible, we learn how God created the sun and the stars, the water and earth, and every creature. We believe Christ is the redeemer of all creation. In 2015, Pope Francis published the influential letter, Laudato Si', which invites everyone to consider how our actions are affecting the earth the poorest people. It is our Christian vocation to care for creation. 

"Who turned the wonderworld of the seas into underwater
cemeteries bereft of colour and life?"

Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1988

The dignity of word and participation:

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII advocated for workers to join forces and fight against inhuman conditions. Since then, Church teaching has upheld the dignity of work and participation. The human person should always come before the pursuit of profit. Work is an essential part of our human dignity and everyone has the right to participate. 

"A small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming
masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of 
slavery itself."

Rerum Novarum, 1891, #3