Economic Justice for All

* The book says, “There is still too much poverty and not enough opportunity for all our people.” Do you feel that we live in a country where every person has a strong opportunity to succeed?

* A central argument of the book is that the economy exists to serve the person, not the person for the economy. Do you agree with this statement?

* The Catholic bishops feel that economic life has moral obligations to the people, such as how it protects and undermines the life and dignity of the human person, supports the family, and serves the common good. Do you feel the economy has moral obligations, or that it should simply be set up in a way that the successful get rich and the unsuccessful do not?

* Do you feel the success of the economy should be judged by the financial situation of the average citizen, or by how the poorest and weakest are faring?

* From an economic standpoint, do you feel all members of society have a special obligation to the poor and weak?

* Is the Catholic Church’s view on capitalism one of approval or disapproval?

* Does starting with human dignity put the emphasis on the individual instead of the community?

* Catholic teaching states that people have a duty to help one another. Do you feel the economy should be set up in such a way that people are required to help those in need?

* What are some differences between social justice and legal justice?

* The book often mentions the economic system should be set up to help the poor. What is the Church’s view on acquiring large material gains * The book often mentions the growing gap between the rich and the poor. What are some of the reasons for this? With the current economic system we have, do you feel there is a way to remedy the gap between the rich and the poor?

* The Catholic bishops write that as people of faith we are one family, not competing classes. How does this conflict with the idea of capitalism, which