Rights and Responsibilities

As the winter chill deepens this February, we turn our hearts to the principle of Rights and Responsibilities. In the Catholic tradition, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency—including food, shelter, and healthcare. However, these rights are inextricably linked to our responsibilities to one another, our families, and the larger society.

We see this balance clearly during the historic cold and heavy snowfall that has gripped Pittsburgh this month. When the temperatures drop and the streets become difficult to navigate, our “responsibility” is not a mere suggestion; it is a moral urgent call to ensure that our neighbors’ “rights” to safety and warmth are upheld.

This month, we highlight the vital work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Red Door Ministry. By moving meal services into the warm, dignified environment of the Boulevard of the Allies hub, these two organizations are working together to meet more than just immediate hunger.

This partnership upholds the right to basic needs while fulfilling our responsibility to offer a holistic continuum of care. With crisis case managers now working alongside meal service teams, we are helping our neighbors transition from the freezing streets toward a future of health, housing, and stability.

Our faith teaches us that the claim to a right is empty without the commitment to the duty that follows it. By looking out for the most vulnerable during this harsh winter, we fulfill our role in the human family, recognizing that the “common good” is only achieved when the dignity of every person is protected by the actions of the community.