THE 26 "DO I's"
Turning "Do I's into i-Do's

As the political name calling and accusations

continues to grow at an unsettling pace -

maybe it's time to consider what it is

that we as individual citizens can do

and have the power to do!

 Questions of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching ¹

v  LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

• Do I respect the life and dignity of every human person from conception through natural death?

• Do I recognize the face of Christ reflected in all others around me whatever their race, class, age, or abilities?

• Do I work to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened?

• Do I feel committed to protecting all human life, ensuring that every human being is able to live in dignity?

v  CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION

• Do I try to make positive contributions in my family and in my community?

• Do I have the beliefs, attitudes, and make choices that support and strengthen the institution of the family?

• Do I make the effort to be aware of problems facing my local community and work to be involved in the effort to find solutions? Do I stay informed and make my voice heard when needed?

• Do I support the efforts of poor persons to work for change in their neighborhoods and communities? Do my attitudes and interactions empower others?

v  RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Do I recognize and respect the economic, social, political, and cultural rights of others?

• Do I live in material comfort and excess while remaining insensitive to the needs of others whose rights are unfulfilled?

• Do I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that the rights of persons in need are realized?

• Do I urge those in power to implement programs and policies that give priority to the human dignity and rights of all, especially the vulnerable?

v  OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

• Do I give special attention to the needs of the poor and vulnerable in my community and in the world?

• Do I live a life disproportionately concerned for my own good at the expense of others?

• Do I engage in service and advocacy work that protects the dignity of poor and vulnerable persons?

v  THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS

• Do I as a worker, give my employer a fair day’s work for my wages? As a business owner, do I treat workers fairly?

• Do I treat all workers with whom I interact with respect, no matter their position or class?

• Do I support the rights of all workers to adequate wages, health insurance, vacation and sick leave?  Do I affirm their right to form or join unions or worker associations?

• Do I make purchasing choices take into account the hands involved in the production of what I buy? When possible, do I buy products produced by workers whose rights and dignity were respected?

v  SOLIDARITY ²

• Do I spend my time in such a way that reflects a genuine concern for others?

• Do I lift up vulnerable people throughout the world in my prayer, or is it reserved for only my personal concerns?

• Do I see all members of the human family as my brothers and sisters?

v  CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION

• Do I live out my responsibility to care for God’s creation?

• Do I see my care for creation as connected to my concern for poor persons, who are most at risk from environmental problems?

• Do I litter? Live wastefully? Use energy too freely? Are there ways I could reduce consumption in my life?

• Do I try to find ways I could change my daily practices and those of my family, school, workplace, or community that would better conserve the earth’s resources for future generations?

1. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren" (no. 1397).

2. Solidarity is undoubtedly a Christian virtue. It seeks to go beyond itself to total gratuity, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It leads to a new vision of the unity of humankind, a reflection of God's triune intimate life.... (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis is an encyclical promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 30 December 1987,)  It is a unity that binds members of a group together. All the peoples of the world belong to one human family. We must be our brother's keeper, though we may be separated by distance, language or culture. Jesus teaches that we must each love our neighbors as ourselves and in the parable of the Good Samaritan we see that our compassion should extend to all people.  Solidarity includes the Scriptural call to welcome the stranger among us—including immigrants seeking work, a safe home, education for their children, and a decent life for their families.