CST 101 | Life and Dignity of the Human Person 

MALAYSIA ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE  |  BM GUIDE

The Catholic Church  proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is  the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of  all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under  direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being  threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death  penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Scripture

• Genesis 1:26-31
  God created man and woman in his image.      

• Deuteronomy 10:17-19
  God loves the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.        

• Psalms 139:13-16  
  God formed each of us and knows us intimately.        

• Proverbs 22:2
  The Lord is the maker of both rich and poor.

• Luke 10:25-37
  The  good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.
  
  

• John 4:1-42
  Jesus  broke with societal and religious customs to honor the dignity of the Samaritan  woman.

• Romans 12: 9-18
  Love one another, contribute to the needs of others, live peaceably with all.
  
  

• 1 Corinthians 3:16
  You are holy, for you are God’s temple and God dwells in you.

• Galatians 3:27-28
  All Christians are one in Christ Jesus.
  
  

• James 2:1-8
  Honor the poor.

• 1 John 3: 1-2
  See  what love the Father has for us, that we should be called Children of God.
  
  

• 1 John 4:7-12
  Let us  love one another because love is from God.

CST 101 | Care for God's Creation

MALAYSIAN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE   |    BM GUIDE

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. 

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-31  
God made the heavens and the earth and it was good.

• Genesis 2:15  
  Humans are commanded to care for God’s creation.

• Leviticus 25:1-7  
  The land itself must be given a rest and not abused.

• Deuteronomy 10:14  
  All of heaven and earth belong to the Lord.

• Psalm 24:1-2
  All the earth is the Lord’s.

• Daniel 3:56-82  
  Creation proclaims the glory of God.

• Matthew 6:25-34  
  God loves and cares for all of creation.

• Romans 1:20  
  Creation reveals the nature of God.

• 1 Corinthians 10:26  
    Creation and all created things are inherently good because they are of the Lord.

CST 101 | Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

MALAYSIA ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE   |   BM GUIDE

A  basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46)  and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. 

 Scripture

• Exodus 22:20-26
  You shall not oppress the poor or vulnerable.   God will hear their cry.

• Leviticus 19:9-10
  A portion of the harvest is set aside for the poor and the  stranger.

• Job 34:20-28
  The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

• Proverbs 31:8-9  
  Speak out in defense of the poor.

• Sirach 4:1-10  
  Don’t delay giving to those in need.

• Isaiah 25:4-5  
  God is a refuge for the poor.

• Isaiah 58:5-7
  True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and oppressed.

• Matthew 25:34-40  
  What you do for the least among you, you do  for Jesus.

• Luke 4:16-21  
  Jesus proclaims his mission: to bring good  news to the poor and oppressed.

• Luke 6:20-23
  Blessed are the poor, theirs is the kingdom of  God.

• 1 John 3:17-18
  How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s good and sees one in need  and refuses to help?

CST 101 | Call to Family, Community, and Participation

MALAYSIAN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE   |    BM GUIDE

The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society—in economics  and politics, in law and policy—directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.  Marriage and the family are the central  social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We  believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking  together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and  vulnerable.   

Scripture

• Genesis 2:18
  It is not good for man to be  alone

• Genesis 4:8-15  
  I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper.

• Leviticus  25:23-43  
  What you own belongs to the  Lord and is given for the good of all.

• Jeremiah 7:5-7
  If you act justly with one another, God will  dwell in the land.
  Micah 6:6-8
  Act justly, love kindness, walk humbly with God.

• John 15:12-17
  This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.       

• Acts 2:43-47
  Life among the believers.

• Romans 12:4-8
  We are one body, individually members one of  another.

• Hebrews 10:24-25  
  Rouse one another to love and good works.

• James 2:14-17  
  Our faith is dead if we ignore others in need.

• 1 Peter 4:8-11  
  Serve one another with the gifts you have  received.

• 1 John 3:16-18
  We  ought to lay down our lives for one another.

• 1 John 4:19-21
  Those who love God must love their brothers and sisteers.

CST 101 | Rights and Responsibilities

MALAYSIA ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE  |   BM GUIDE

The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

Scripture

• Leviticus 25:35  
  When someone is reduced to poverty,  we have an obligation to help.

• Ruth 2:2-23  
  Boaz cares for Ruth, a widow and a foreigner,  giving her far more than the law requires.

• Tobit 4:5-11  
  Give from what you have received and do not  turn away from the poor.

• Proverbs 31:8-9  
  Open your mouth to speak on behalf of those in  need.

• Isaiah 1:16-17  
  Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the  orphan, plead for the widow.

• Jeremiah 22:  13-16  
  A legitimate government  upholds the rights of the poor and vulnerable.

• Jeremiah 29:4-7  
  Seek the welfare of the city, for in its  welfare you will find your welfare.

• Matthew 25: 31-46
  Just as you did it to the least of these, you  did it to me.

• Luke 16:19-31  
  The rich man has a responsibility to care for  Lazarus.

• Acts 4:32-35  
          There was not a needy person among them.

• 2  Corinthians 9:6-15  
  God’s gifts are  given to be shared.

• James 2:14-18
  Faith  without works is dead.

CST 101 | Solidarity

MALAYSIA ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE   |   BM GUIDE

We are one  human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological  differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be.  Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of  the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI  taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be  peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote  peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Scripture

• Genesis 12:1-3
  God blessed Israel so that all nations would be blessed through it.

• Psalms 72
  Living in right relationship with others brings peace.

• Psalms 122  
  Peace be with you!  For the sake of the Lord, I will seek your good.
  
  

• Zechariah 8:16  
  These are the things you should do: Speak truth, judge well, make peace.

• Matthew 5:9  
  Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called children of God.

• Matthew 5:21-24
  Be reconciled to one another before coming to the altar.

• Romans 13:8-10  
  Living rightly means to love one another.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
  If one member of Christ’s body suffers, all suffer.  If one member is honored, all rejoice.

• Colossians 3:9-17  
  Above all, clothe yourself with love and let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts.

• 1 John 3:16-18
  The love of God in us is witnessed to by our willingness to lay down our lives for others as Christ did for us.

CST 101 | The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

MALAYSIA ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE  |  BM GUIDE

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to  make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If  the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must  be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the  organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic  initiative.

Scripture

• Genesis 2:1-3  
  God rests on the seventh day.

• Genesis 2:15  
  God settles man in the garden of Eden to  cultivate and care for it.

• Deuteronomy  5:13-15
  The Sabbath is for everyone—all are allowed to  rest from their work.

• Deuteronomy  14:28-29
  The Lord blesses our work  so that we may share its fruits with others.

• Deuteronomy 24:14-15  
  Do not withhold wages from  your workers, for their livelihood depends on them.

• Sirach 34:26-27
  To deprive an employee of wages is to commit murder.

• Isaiah 58:3-7  
  To observe religious practices, but oppress  your workers is false worship. 

• Jeremiah 22:13
  Woe to him who treats his workers unjustly.

• Matthew 20:1-16  
  All workers should be paid a just and living  wage.

• Mark 2:27  
  The Sabbath was made for people, not people  for the Sabbath.

• Luke 3:10-14
  Practice integrity in your work.

• Luke 12:13-21  
  One’s worth is not determined by an abundance  of possessions.

• James 5:1-6  
  Those who become rich by abusing their workers  have sinned against God.