Strand: Christian Ethics – Personal and Social (CEL5-6E1)
Levels 5 and 6
With Jesus as model, Christians are called to respect the uniqueness and diversity of creation, particularly the poor and marginalised.
Analyse how with Jesus as model, people today are called to respect creation (human and other than human) with love and compassion.
Elaborations
Christians believe that humans are created in the image of God and forever grow in God’s likeness. This is the basis of Christian anthropology or understanding of the human person.
Christians have a responsibility to be co-creators of the environment. Examples in the Old Testament include but are not limited to: Genesis 1:1 - 2:4; Psalms.
Christians have responsibilities to all of humanity; particularly those on the margins of society; refugees, homeless, etc. These responsibilities are not exclusive to Christians; many people of other faith traditions and philosophies are similarly committed to this way of being in the world.
In Jesus’ time those on the margins of society included the poor, the sick, the disabled, non-Jews and those working for them, and widows.
Examples in the New Testament include but are not limited to: Mt 9: 27-31 (Healing of Blind Men); Mk 13:41-44 (Widow’s offering); Lk 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus). Lk 15: 1-32 (Parables of Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son).
The Catholic Organisations: Caritas, St Vincent de Paul and Catholic Mission support the poor and marginalised locally, nationally and internationally.
Catholic Social Justice Teaching
Catholic Mission
See Learning Lites: Catholic Anthropology, Miracles of Jesus, Parables, Ministry