Second, most religions have social service organizations like Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services that help those in need. Pope Benedict in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est said that the ministry of charity is as important to the church as the ministries of the word and sacraments. Jesus told us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and heal the sick. If we don’t do these things then we are not Christian.

Third, religious believers work together as citizens with those of other faiths and of no faiths at all to help solve social problems through government and nongovernmental agencies. There is no way that religious organizations can or should take care of all the world’s social problems. This is an essential responsibility of government, which has responsibility for supporting the common good.

While working together for the common good, believers must always be cautious to respect the views and values of others. When disagreements arise, we must listen to one another and seek common ground. Agreement and compromise may not always be possible, but respect must endure. Demonizing the opposition is never appropriate.

Believers must also acknowledge that their faith does not give them the answers to all questions, especially factual questions. For example, while Christian values insist that an economic system must not marginalize the poor and disadvantaged, Christians have no special knowledge about how to build the perfect economic system. Believers must respect good science and not ignore facts. Believers also have an obligation to use data honestly and openly and not twist the facts to fit their views.