Hindu Catholic Dialogue Commemorative Brochure 20150523

Author(s): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Publisher: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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B. ETHICS AND MORALITY
B1. What are some of the main ethical injunctions on how to conduct one's daily life? Believing in Him as Savior and Lord, Christians take Jesus Christ as their model and guide in ethical matters, the heart of his ethical message is the love of God and neighbor, known as the two-fold law of charity. Since the moral law is based on the Bible, it is understood that Christ supplies specific spiritual assistance (graces) to enable people to live up to the demands of a truly Christian life. The teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapters 5-7 are central to Catholic moral teaching, uniting the norms of ancient Judaism to a strong emphasis on personal responsibility. Social and family ethics are also taught in most of the letters of St. Paul, usually in a special section towards the end of the letter. Over the centuries, the moral teachings of the Bible (such as the Ten Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes) have been brought together in various Church documents and teaching materials (catechisms) in order to teach them to believers in various circumstances. In the past 125 years, the Catholic Church has been giving considerable emphasis to teachings on social justice and peace making.
B2. What are one's obligations toward our fellow beings, society and the environment? We are called to a sense of solidarity and community with other human beings, especially the poor. We have the obligation to contribute to the creation of a more just and moral society. We are stewards of creation, meaning that we must care for the planet and our environment.
B3. What are a person's spiritual obligations? Catholic Christians are obliged to become active participants in a parish or other Eucharistic-centered community, such as a monastery or Catholic association or movement. This means that, at the very least, they attend the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation, and support the work of the parish with volunteer time, financial offerings, and prayer. During Lent, they are obliged to perform works of penance, almsgiving and prayer.
B4. What are the religious prescriptions concerning diet, dress, etc.? Catholics are encouraged to practice simplicity of lifestyle in accordance with the requirements of their personal calling in life. There are no dietary rules for the entire year, but during the penitential season of Lent (forty days before Easter), Catholics between the ages
COMMEMORATIVE BROCHURE
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