CST #'s 3 - 7

CST # 3- Rights and Responsibilities

The Catholic Church believes it is very important that everyone in society has the right to the common good, personal responsibility, as well as social rights. The Church further believes that the government should protect and defend the basic rights of each person. During adolescence, teenagers are often disrespected and sometimes given less rights than adults are. Adults often feel that teenagers are lesser than them due to their age and their peer pressured behavior. Teenagers often act in ways that adults do not like. Their peers shape their actions. Thus, peer pressure should be mitigated so that teenagers are more respected by adults and are given more rights and responsibilities.

CST # 4- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Jesus Christ proclaimed that the poor should be treated with respect, dignity, and assistance. In accordance with Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church also proclaims that the less fortunate should be treated adequately. Teenagers and children form life long habits when they are young. Peer pressure sometimes influences these habits to be negative. For example, teenage peer pressure may force one to drink, which may lead to alcoholism, which then may lead to poverty. Thus, the poor should be treated well because many of them have been screwed over by peer pressure. This is another reason as to why the poor should be treated adequately.

CST #5- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

The fifth principle gives labor priority over capital. The church proclaims that employees must be given rights. Peer pressure sometimes may force teenagers to accept unworkable conditions. For example, teens may be abused by their boss or adults just for being a teenager. Thus, peer pressure from adults must be limited so teenagers have workable conditions.

CST #6-Solidarity

The four gospels call for people within a society to live in harmony and peace based on just principles that include a respect for each person and their own unique cultural roots and ethnicity. Peer pressure influences adolescents and children to ditch their own identity and cultural roots in order to conform to the status quo or to another social group. This is bad because teenagers disrespect themselves by not respecting their ethnicity and their cultural roots. Thus, peer pressure must be ameliorated so that teenagers can retain their cultural roots and their individuality.

CST #7- Care for God's Creation

Humans are called by God to take care of nature and the rest of God’s creations. Peer pressure often influences children and adolescents to not care for God’s creations. For example, a teen may be pressured by a social group to litter or to put salt on a banana slug. Thus, peer pressure must be stopped in order to take care of the earth and the rest of God’s creations.