The Preferential Option for the Poor
Society is only as strong as its weakest members. The only way to foster the common good is to work together to radically improve the situation of society's poor and most vulnerable members. We are called to base both our individual choices and public policy decisions on how they affect the poor.
"As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a fundamental 'option for the poor' – to speak for the voiceless, to defend the defenseless, to assess life styles, policies, and social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor. This 'option for the poor' does not mean pitting one group against another, but rather, strengthening the whole community by assisting those who are the most vulnerable. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response."