Why do I want to be an advocate of the poor?

Advocating on behalf of the poor and vulnerable is central to my values. Together, I share a mission to provide every child with a safe, loving and nurturing environment in which to grow; a promise to offer our elders a secure place to live in dignity; and a pledge to provide every family with the support they need to thrive together. I believe that all people, especially the poor and most vulnerable, should be greeted with compassion and embraced with love and deep respect.

1. Dignity of the Human Person: I recognize the sanctity of human life. People do not lose dignity because of disability, poverty, age, lack of success, or race. This emphasizes people over things, being, over having.
2. Community and the Common Good: The human person is both sacred and social. I realize my dignity and rights in relationship with others.
3. We are called to respect all of God’s gifts of creation to be good stewards of the each and each other.
4. Rights and Responsibilities: People have a fundamental right to life, food, shelter, health care, education and employment. All people have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to respect the rights of others in the wider society and to work for the common good.
5. Option for the Poor: The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.
6. Dignity of Work:  People have a right to decent and productive work, fair wages, private property and economic initiative. The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around.
7. Solidarity: We are one human family. Our responsibilities to each other cross national, racial, economic and ideological differences. We are called to work globally for justice.
8. Care for God’s Creation: The goods of the earth are gifts from God. We have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users.