Catholic Charities, Inc. Office of Parish Social Ministry provides educational resources to the parishes across the Jackson Diocese regarding Catholic Social Teaching and social justice advocacy.  Our focus is to spread awareness of issues affecting the poor and vulnerable across Mississippi.  Through partnering with various Catholic entities such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA, we provide materials for parishes to further enrich the social justice life of the congregation.  For more information regarding educational materials, please click here.

Far too many Catholics are not familiar with the basic content of Catholic social teaching. More fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately understand that the social teaching of the Church is an essential part of Catholic faith. This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics, since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to do more to share the social mission and message of our Church (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions).     

7 Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person---among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270). 

Word of Life Liturgy Guide
CCI Pro-Life Brochure
CCI Adoption & Maternity Program
MS Abortion Statistics (2007)
MS Choose Life
USCCB Pro-Life Activities
2009-2010 Respect Life Program

We are still a long way from the time when our conscience can be certain of having done everything possible to prevent crime and to control it effectively so that it no longer does harm and, at the same time, to offer to those who commit crimes a way of redeeming themselves and making a positive return to society. If all those in some way involved in the problem tried to . . . develop this line of thought, perhaps humanity as a whole could take a great step forward in creating a more serene and peaceful society (Pope John Paul II).

USCCB Resorative Justice
Mississippians Educating for Smart Justice