"So Christ came and proclaimed the good news: peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near by: for through Him we both alike have access to the Father in the one Spirit. Thus you are no longer aliens in a foreign land, but fellow-citizens with God's people, members of God's household. You are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the foundation-stone. In Him the whole building is bonded together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you too are being built with all the rest into a spiritual dwelling for God." Ephesians 2:17-22

The social teachings of the Church have continually focused on the obligation of the Church community to respond to the needs of those who are in want.

The Diocese is confronted with poverty in a variety of settings, urban and rural; by unemployment and a depressed economy.

In light of the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral letter on the economy and the approaching centennial of Leo XIII's Encyclical Rerum Novarum it is more timely than ever for the Catholic community to respond to the challenges of working toward an even more just society.

To fulfill this Goal, we have set the following objectives and suggested actions.

Objective 1: Establish a comprehensive approach to education for social justice.

Suggested Action:

• Conduct workshops for parish staffs to assist them in the development of these skills. [Soc. Services; Christian Formation] 

Objective 2: Increase the consciousness that inequality among races and social status remain obstacles to an inclusive view of Church.

Suggested Actions:

• Increase the awareness of the presence and evil consequences of racism. [Bishop; Vicars; Soc. Services; Christian Formation; Global Horizons)] 
• Increase the number of African-American Catholics in areas of leadership and service in the Diocese and parishes. [Bishop; Pastors] 
• Improve prison ministry. [Social Services] 
• Develop a Parish Assistance Program. [Administration] 
• Establish more shelters for the homeless. [Social Services] 

Objective 3: Implement the Black Pastoral Plan.

Objective 4: Develop an organized program to respond to social concerns.

Suggested Actions:

• Develop services offered by the Social Services Department. [Social Services] 
• Increase the budget for Catholic Charities. [Administration] 
• Institute local St. Vincent de Paul Societies or similar social outreach groups in every parish. [Pastors; Diaconate; Social Services] 
• Support the Global Horizon Program to improve awareness of the issues of racism, hunger, and the environment. [Pastors; Principals] 
• Develop and support the Right-to-Life Program. [Soc.Service] 
• Develop and support a Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program. [Social Service] 
• Develop and support a Program for helping AIDS patients. [Social Service]