Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
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Part II<br />
Directions:<br />
A just society must encourage virtue, and not make it harder to be virtuous.<br />
Below is a list of policies that can be honestly debated by Christians. Read<br />
each one and say whether the policy makes it easier or harder to be virtuous.<br />
(Remember that we cannot claim “credit” for the virtuous actions of other<br />
people.)<br />
______________________ 1. “Good Samaritan Laws” that make it impossible to sue someone<br />
who accidentally hurts you while trying to help (for example, you<br />
could not sue a person who was giving you CPR and accidentally<br />
broke your rib).<br />
______________________<br />
______________________<br />
______________________<br />
______________________<br />
______________________<br />
2. Laws that give tax deductions for charitable giving.<br />
3. Laws that impose higher taxes to pay for welfare programs.<br />
4. Laws requiring that restaurants throw away leftover food rather<br />
than giving it to the poor.<br />
5. Laws forbidding high-fat or high-salt foods from being given to<br />
food banks.<br />
6. Laws prohibiting pan-handling<br />
______________________ 7. Laws that give taxpayer money to big banks that suffer financial<br />
losses from bad investments<br />
______________________<br />
8. Laws requiring insurance companies to charge everyone the same<br />
premiums, regardless of whether they smoke, use illegal drugs, or<br />
engage in other health risks.<br />
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© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
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