Weekly Meditation

Happy Labor Day and blessings on the work of all our people in this greatly blessed country -- the United States of America. The Catholic Bishops' Conference each year issues a Labor Day Statement. This year it is from Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Center, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. I share a few excerpts with the hope that many will see the entire statement at http://www.usccb.org/.

"We are a nation blessed with extraordinary natural and human resources. We have great economic capacity and creativity. We have extraordinary economic power and responsibility. And, we are free!  We all know we face challenges."

"The tradition of Catholic Social Teaching has much to offer in these tough economic times...We Catholics have been blessed by a centennial of Catholic Social Teaching...The Church offers this, not just to Catholics, but to all men and women of good will. We are convinced that the truths about the human person in society that come to us from both reason and revelation must be brought into all the economic, social, civil, political, and cultural relationship that make up a good society. The human and moral dimensions of economic life are key principles in Catholic thought. Catholic social and moral teaching on these matters offers hope and direction in difficult times."

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church is a wonderful summary and synthesis of the Church's teaching in these important areas of life. Bishop Murphy recommends it for our reading and study.

http://www.catholicextension.org/

Bishop William R. Houck
President Emeritus, Catholic Extension