Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Parish Social Concern Groups - Church's Social Teachings
~ Soup Dignity: Human Dignity ~
Lesson 6

Question & Answer || Church Teaching || Thinking About Justice
 

Introduction

THE SOUP

This is a true story. In 1978, a young man in New York City was coming home from work. It was a cold night and he passed a beggar. The beggar asked him for a dollar to buy food. The young man ignored the beggar because he thought that the man would just use the money to buy whiskey. But when he got home his conscience bothered him. So he cooked a bowl of soup. He returned to the beggar. Without a word, he set down the bowl of soup and walked away. From then on every night the young man did the same. Soon several more beggars came. So he cooked more soup. One night he brought a whole gallon jug of hot, split-pea soup, set it down and turned to go home. A tough beggar got up and broke the jar of soup over the kind man's head. The young man was so surprised that he asked the rough beggar: "Why did you do that?" The man answered: ""You are doing nothing more than bringing food to the dogs." He said:

"Why don't you talk to us; visit with us; we don't bite." 1

Lesson:   When our brother and sister is in need, we must treat him/her as a persons and not as a thing or animal.
 

Social Teachings of the Church

"The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God...The divine image is present in every man." 2
 
Question & Answer
Question:   Why do Christians love and respect every person?
Answer:   Because every person is made in the image and likeness of God.
 

Thinking About Justice

  1. Describe a recent encounter you had with a person in need? Were you polite? Were you business-like? Did you smile? Was there any small talk? Did you listen? Did you get to know him/her? Do you think that the person you helped felt that you really loved and respected him/her?
  2. Describe a time when someone did not treat you with respect? How did you feel? How did you react?
 
1   Michael Kirwan, "Hospitality and Mutual Trust", The Catholic Worker, p. 1. Kirwan devoted his life to the homeless of New York. He died Nov.12, 1999.
2   Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Mission Hills: Benziger Publishing Company, 1994, #1700, #1702, #1930 pp. 424-425, 469.
 

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