St. Joseph Church
Bristol, Connecticut

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Pastoral Minister

Dignity of the Human Person

Ex. 3:7ff. Moses hears God's voice in the suffering of his people.

Ex. 23:9 Don't oppress the stranger.

Dt. 30:15-20 Choose life.

Hos. 2:21-22 God's covenant love includes justice.

Ps. 103:6-10 The Lord works for justice and the rights of the oppressed.

Acts 1:4-5 We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the Gospel.

Rom. 8:14-17 We have been given the Spirit of freedom that resists slavery.

I Cor. 11:17ff Sharing our bread with the poor in charity and justice discerns the Body of Christ.

Jas. 3:13-18 Peacemakers follow true wisdom.

Jas. 2:13ff. Love and faith must be made concrete in action.

Jn. 1:1ff The Incarnation of the Word in our humanity is God's Temple.

Mt. 1-2 God challenges the powers in utter vulnerability and poverty.

Lk. 1-2 The Lord comes to the poor with the good news of their dignity.

Rights and Responsibilities

Dt. 27:19 Do not violate the rights of others.

Am. 5:21-24 True worship involves engagement in the world for justice, especially for the poor and powerless.

Jer. 22:16 To know the Lord is to do justice.

Am. 8:4-7 The wealthy have an obligation to the poor.

Acts 6:1-6 Deacons are signs of the call to service by all the baptized.

Acts 4:18-22 Christians are called to obey God before earthly powers.

Acts 16:16-24 Christians may have to be "disturbers of a false peace."

Jas. 1:22-27 Be doers of the word.

Mt. 7:21, Prayer embodied in action, action is our prayer is mystical and political.

Lk:6:46-49

Jn. 13:1ff. We are called to serve unto death.

Lk. 11:40-42 We need justice and love.

Lk. 22:24-27 Christian leadership is service on behalf of others.

Community and the Common Good

Ex. 22:25-27 Show mercy and kindness to all.

Lv. 25:23-28 The land belongs to the Lord.

Is. 1:10-28 Ritual without faith, justice.

Is. 29:13 Change of heart requires more than lip service.

Mi. 6:8 Act justly and walk humbly with God.

Acts 2:43-45 To be Christian is to share.

Rom. 14:17-19 The kingdom is justice, peace and joy.

I Jn.4:19-21 We cannot love God without loving the other, locally and globally.

Lk. 6:27-35 Make peace through nonviolence and love of enemies.

Lk. 21:1-4 A poor widow's contribution is given from the heart.

Preferential Option for the Poor

Ex. 6:2-13 God is the Liberator

Ex. 22:20-24 Show justice an mercy to all.

Ps. 34:6-18 The Lord hears and protects the just.

Ps. 72 All Christian leaders and the baptized are called to defend the rights

of the poor and to assert a preferential option for the poor.

Jer. 22:3 Rescue the victims of oppression.

2 Cor. 8:1-15 Share with the needy.

I Jn. 3:17 Selfishness denies Christ.

Mt. 8:20 We are freed to share because Christ was free.

Lk. 1:52-53 Time of reversals; the poor will be rich.

Lk. 4:16-30 Our mission of liberation despite the response of the powers.

Lk. 16:19-31 The story of Lazarus: do we see the poor ?

Dignity of Work

Gn. 2:15 Stewards of self, others and the world.

Sir. 4:1-10 Show charity toward the poor.

Is. 3:13-15 Do not grind the face of the poor into the dust.

Heb. 2:6-9 Human work must uphold the dignity of creation.

I Thes. 5:12-18 Respect the demands of community life.

I Tim. 6:7-10 Love of money leads to exploitation of workers.

Jas. 5:1-6 Riches obtained unjustly bring misery.

Mt. 23:23-24 Do not neglect justice and mercy.

Lk. 3:10-18 Justice in the workplace is an example of the Christian way.

Lk. 12:13-21 One's worth is not based on how much one owns.

Solidarity

Gn. 4:9-10 I am my brother and sister's keeper !

Dt. 10:16-20 Racism is evil.

Ps. 82:1-4 Rescue the lowly and the poor.

Is. 2:1-4 Overcome division in the Lord. No need for war.

Is. 58:1-12 Religious asceticism to promote humanity.

Acts 10:34-35 God shows no favoritism.

I Cor. 12:24-26 The gifts of the Holy Spirit build up community.

Mt. 5:23-25 Forgiveness and reconciliation build community.

Compiled by Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created 5/25/1998