Ethical principles for land use

The following statement comes from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland's Land Use Task Force/Diocesan Social Action Office. For more information, call Tom Allio or Len Calabrese at 216-696-6525.

We uphold social justice as a foundational principle guiding regional planning and the creation and implementation of public policy. It requires first that all persons in society, insofar as they are able, be active and productive participants in the life of the community. It further requires that all institutions (church, state, and the private sector) enable persons to achieve this goal through education, character formation, training, direct assistance, and employment. And finally, social justice impels persons and institutions to work toward the common good.

We understand the common good to mean the sum of those social conditions, goods, and services that persons and communities jointly pursueclean air and water, high-quality education, public transportation, accessible jobs, just wages, and good housingthe realization of which enables persons and communities to flourish.

We recognize our region of Northeastern Ohio to be an interdependent entity in which urban, suburban, and rural communities depend upon each other for meeting their basic human needs. Our region is strengthened by development that recognizes this reality and by public policy that promotes balanced development according to the specific needs of urban, suburban, and rural communities.

We view ourselves as persons-in-communities and active participants rather as individuals-in-markets and passive recipients. Therefore, we urge participation and cooperation as essential ingredients in developing a healthy community.

Called by God to be responsible stewards of God's creation, all persons in the region should work together to care for its rich natural resources, which include diverse topography, natural habitats, waterways and fertile soil.

Everyone of us in the region, regardless of where we live and work, is responsible for urban redevelopment, preservation of farm land and green spaces. We support public policy consistent with these responsibilities. Vital communities and open spaces nurture the best of the human spirita spirit of wonder, celebration, work, and leisureand thus they contribute to the common good of the region.

In the spirit of solidarity with all people in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of Northeastern Ohio, we especially commit ourselves to the needs of the poor and to others unjustly affected by public policy.

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EcoCity Cleveland
3500 Lorain Avenue, Suite 301, Cleveland OH 44113
Cuyahoga Bioregion
(216) 961-5020
www.ecocitycleveland.org
Copyright 2002-2003

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Everyone of us in the region, regardless of where we live and work, is responsible for urban redevelopment, preservation of farm land and green spaces. We support public policy consistent with these responsibilities.