An Introduction to
Catholic Social Teaching
“To be human is to have a heart that is
moved by stories of desperate need and
crying injustices. Humanitarian responses
to people in crisis are practically
instinctual.”
Thomas Massaro, S.J.
Author, “Living Justice”
Goals of this overview
To acquire an understanding of the primary ideas and
forces that have shaped contemporary Catholic social
thinking;
To become familiar with the methods that Catholic Moral
theologians have employed to address social moral
issues
To heighten awareness of the realities of human poverty
and social injustice, and to promote critical thinking
about these realities in light of the claims of Catholic
theology
To become aware of how our organization does or does
not endorse the principles of CST in our daily lives
Key Principles of
Catholic Social Teaching
Human Dignity
Common Good
Solidarity
Subsidiarity
Social Order
Purpose of Government
Participation
Purpose of Goods
Option for the Poor
Care for God’s Creation
Human Dignity
Human beings are created in the image of
God and, therefore, are endowed with
dignity. This inherent dignity carries with it
certain basic rights and responsibilities
which are exercised within a social
framework.
Life and Dignity of the Human
Person
Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is the
foundation of a moral vision for our society
Natural law – governs, political and economic systems because
above all we must preserve the dignity of the human being – from
beginning to the end
Examine existing systems – How do they serve people or how do
they fail to serve. Man (Woman) precedes state and is created in
image of God. The measure of every institution is whether it
threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Ensure we have purpose
Move beyond material
Human Dignity within our
Organization
How do we show commitment to respect and
observe human dignity?
How do we advocate in the public arena to help
people in time of need?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support human
dignity?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Common Good
While the dignity of the human person is
affirmed, individuals are called to live in
community. In a society that exalts individualism,
Catholic tradition teaches that human beings
grow and achieve fulfillment in community. The
rights & responsibilities of individuals must be
integrated into the achievement of the common
good for all. The rights and needs of others must
always be respected.
The Common Good Within
our Organization
How do we show commitment to the common
good?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
common good?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
common good?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
Call to Family, Community and
Participation
Own family – as who you cherish and love
Human family
– Community
– Work
– Church
– Recreation
– Friend
Participation
– Create
– Enrich
– Assist others in their creating
“Law has as its foremost purpose of ordering the common good.” Aquinas
Call to Family, Community and
Participation Within our
Organization
How do we show commitment to the call to
family, community and participation?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
call to family, community and participation?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the call to
family, community and participation?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Principal of Solidarity
Our culture is tempted to turn inward, becoming
indifferent and sometimes isolationist in the face of
international responsibilities. Catholic social teaching
proclaims that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers,
wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever
our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological
differences. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity
means learning that "loving our neighbor" has global
dimensions in an interdependent world. This virtue is
described by John Paul II as "a firm and persevering
determination to commit oneself to the common good;
that is to say to the good of all and of each individual,
because we are all really responsible for all" (Sollicitudo
Rei Socialis, no. 38).
Solidarity
One human family – we are our brothers and sisters keepers
Fates of people on earth are linked. “Loving our neighbors” has global dimensions in an
interdependent world.
Richer nations must help empower poorer ones
Respect for diversity and different cultures
The human family is like a spider web – if you touch one part of it, the whole thing trembles
Calls nations to live in relationship with one another in a way that creates peace
Economic justice is an essential element in developing peace
States should support policies that engender just social and economic structures
Human rights/Common good – foundation of authentic peace
Meld – Commitmenet to non-violence and the just-war teaching
Solidarity within our
Organization
How do we show commitment to solidarity?
How do we advocate in the public arena for
solidarity?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support solidarity?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Principal of Subsidiarity
This principle recognizes that society is based on
collectives or communities of people ranging from
small groups or families to larger national and
international institutions. As a rule of social
organization, this principle affirms that a higher level
organization should not interfere in the life of a
community at a lower level of social organization.
Larger institutions have essential responsibilities
when smaller local institutions cannot adequately
protect human dignity, meet human needs, and
advance the common good.
Subsidiarity within our
Organization
How do we show commitment to subsidiarity?
How do we advocate in the public arena for
subsidiarity?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support
subsidiarity?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Purpose of the
Social Order
The social order must uphold the dignity of
the human person and promote the
common good.
Purpose of the
Social Order
within or Organization
How do we show commitment to the purpose of
the social order?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
purpose of the social order?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
purpose of the social order?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Purpose of Government
The purpose of government is the
promotion of the common good.
Governments are required to maintain the
public order, uphold the fundamental rights
of persons and ensure social justice to
achieve the common good.
Purpose of Government within
our Organization
How do we show commitment to the purpose of
government?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
purpose of government?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
purpose of government?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Principal of Participation
Individuals and groups have a right and a
duty to participate in society, seeking
together the common good and well-being
of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Participation – Rights of
Workers
The root problem is in fact dependency and uselessness itself.
Unemployment means having nothing to do – which means nothing to do
with the rest of us. To be without work, to be without use to one’s fellow
citizens, is in truth to be invisible.
Formation of human person is the central product dimension of work
– Personality
– Character
– Potential
Work to contribute to common good – as a vocation – a way of continuing
participation in God’s creation
Dignified employment at decent pay; the kind of employment that lets a
man/woman say to his/her community, to his/her family, to his/her country
and most importantly to themselves, “I helped build this country. I am a
participant in this great public ventures, I am a true citizen.
Principal of Participation
Within our Organization
How do we show commitment to the principal of
participation?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
principal of participation?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
principal of participation?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization?
The Universal Purpose of
Goods
The world’s goods are meant for all. God
destined the earth and all it contains for all
humanity, so that all created things would
be shared fairly by all humankind under
the guidance of justice tempered by
charity.* Although the Church upholds the
right to private property this is subordinate
to the right to common use and the overall
common good.
*Gaudium Et Spes
Universal Purpose of Goods
within our Institution
How do we show commitment to the universal
purpose of goods?
How do we advocate in the public arena for the
universal purpose of goods?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
universal purpose of goods?
How can we improve our efforts to increase
awareness and commitment to this principle
within our organization? Add questions
The Option for the Poor
This refers to seeing the world through the eyes of the
poor and standing with the poor in solidarity.
“As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a
preferential option for the poor, namely, to create
conditions for marginalized voices to be heard, to defend
the defenseless, and to assess lifestyles, policies and
social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor.
The option for the poor does not mean pitting one group
against another, but rather, it calls us to strengthen the
whole community by assisting those who are most
vulnerable.” ( “An Introduction to the Principles of Catholic Social Thought”. University of
Notre Dame. http://centerforsocialconcerns.nd.edu/mission/cst/cst4.shtml)
Option for the Poor
How do the least of our brothers fare in our world
The most at risk to have their dignity marginalized are those
who are poor
The poor have first claim to personal and social resources
Alms to the poor are not a matter of charity but a matter of
justice (Ambrose)
“Not from your own do you bestow upon the poor man, but
you make return for what is his.”
Matthew 25: “This is what we will ultimately be judged on.”
Option for the Poor Within our
Organization
How do we show commitment to the poor?
How do we advocate in the public arena
for the poor?
What associations are we encouraging our
members to participate in that support the
principal, option for the poor?
How can we improve our efforts to
increase awareness and commitment to
this principle within our organization?
Care for God’s Creation
We must be good steward of all of God’s
creation – the earth and all God’s creatures that
inhabit it.
Because we are part of creation itself, whatever
we do to the earth we do to ourselves.
We must live in harmony with God’s creation
and preserve it for future generations.
Genesis 2:15 - The LORD God then took the
man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to
cultivate and care for it.
Care for Creation within our
Organization
How do we act as good stewards of creation to
show respect for our Creator?
How do we live in harmony with all of the earths
creatures (including other humans), by
preserving all of creation for us and future
generations?
How do we make responsible choices in our
consumption and the equitable sharing of the
earths resources?
How do we advocate in the public arena to
support “Care for Creation”?
Summary of Prominent
Encyclicals and
Documents
Rerum Novarum: On the Condition
of Labour (Leo XIII, 1891)
Lays out the rights and responsibilities of capital and
labor;
Describes the role of Government in a just society;
Condemns atheistic communism; Upholds the right to
private property.
Quadragesimo Anno:
On Reconstructing the Social Order
(Pius XI, 1931)
Condemns the effects of greed and concentrated
political and economic power and proposes that social
organization be based on the principle of subsidiarity.
Mater et Magistra:
Mother and Teacher
(John XXIII, 1961)
Identifies the widening gap between the rich and poor
nations as a global concern of justice;
Raises concerns about the arms race;
Calls upon Christians to work for a more just world.
Gaudium et Spes:
The Church in the Modern World
(Vatican Council document, 1965)
Clear recognition that the Church is immersed in the
modern world;
Condemns poverty;
Warns about the threat of nuclear war;
Christians must work to build structures that uphold
justice and peace.
Populorum Progressio:
On the Development of Peoples
(Paul VI, 1967)
Focus on human development – ‘development is the
new name for peace’;
Condemns the situation that gives rise to global poverty
and inequality;
Calls for new international organizations and agreements
that promote justice and peace.
Octogesima Adveniens:
An Apostolic Letter:
A Call to Action (Paul VI, 1971)
Calls for political action for economic justice;
Develops the role of individual local churches in
responding to unjust situations and acting for justice.
Laborum Exercems:
On Human Work
(John Paul II, 1981)
Affirms the dignity of work and the dignity of the worker;
Affirms the rights of labour;
Calls for workplace justice.
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis:
The Social Concerns of the Church
(John Paul II, 1987)
Includes the “option for the poor” as a central
tenet of Church teaching;
Also develops the notions of ‘solidarity’, the
‘structures of sin’ and ‘the social mortgage on
property’;
Suggests that the resources used for the arms
race be dedicated to the alleviation of human
misery;
Nature must be considered in development.