Sarah Mitchell
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a set of principles that guide Catholics on how to live out their faith in the world. It addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice, with a focus on inter-group relationships. CST is rooted in Scripture and has evolved over time through papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents that respond to modern challenges. It emphasizes the dignity of the human person, the right to life, the common good, and the role of the family as the fundamental unit of society. It also promotes peace and opposes war, torture, racism, and discrimination. The economy, according to CST, should serve people and respect workers' rights. While there is no official list of CST principles, four key principles are considered perennial: human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Human dignity | Respect for all humans based on an inherent dignity |
| Common good | Seeking the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable |
| Subsidiarity | The right to productive work, decent and fair wages, the organization and joining of unions, and private property |
| Solidarity | To stand side by side with sisters and brothers, especially those living in poverty |
| Stewardship of creation | Care for the earth and protection of people and the planet |
| Peace | Preventing war and resolving conflicts by peaceful means |
| Social organization | Families are the basic units of society |
| Social justice | Opposing torture, racism, genocide, and attacks against noncombatants |
| Wealth distribution | The economy must serve people, not the other way around |
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What You'll Learn
Human dignity
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the part of Catholic doctrine that addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice in the world. It is mainly concerned with inter-group or social relationships rather than interpersonal relationships. It is grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, and is communicated through formal teaching documents like encyclicals by Popes and pastoral letters by Bishops.
According to the Book of Genesis, God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness." (Genesis 1:26). Catholics believe that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and is endowed with freedom and responsibility. Hence, every human person is willed into existence by God and is of inestimable worth. Each person reveals something of God's self; there are no spare or disposable people.
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Mental health and well-being are also important aspects of human dignity. It is easy to lose sight of the innate human dignity that we all have when facing challenges with mental health.
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The common good
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a set of principles that guide Catholics on how to live out their faith in the world. It addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice. The common good is one of the four most important principles of CST, alongside human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a "preferential love" on the part of the church. This is reflected in the many works of charity that the church engages in to provide relief, defence, and liberation to those in need. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the importance of loving and serving the poor and needy, stating that this is as essential to the church as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel.
Catholic Social Teaching also emphasizes the importance of work as a means of participating in God's creation. This means that the basic rights of workers must be respected, including the right to productive work, decent and fair wages, the right to organize and join unions, and the right to private property.
Overall, the principle of the common good in Catholic Social Teaching calls on individuals, families, communities, and governments to work together to create a society that upholds the dignity and worth of every person, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalized.
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Solidarity
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the part of Catholic doctrine that addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice in the world. It is mainly concerned with inter-group or social relationships rather than interpersonal relationships. It is grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.
At its core, solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. It is a recognition of the fact that we are all one human family, regardless of our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. It is a call to promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers and to promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
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Social justice
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the part of Catholic doctrine that addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice. It is mainly concerned with inter-group and social relationships and operates at both the international and local levels. It is grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, and is articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents.
CST has three elements: principles for reflection, criteria for judgment, and guidelines for action. It includes four core principles that are valid always and everywhere: human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. Respect for the dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic social ethics, and the belief that human life is sacred is the basis of all CST principles. This belief is under attack from abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty.
Human dignity can be protected and a healthy community achieved if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to the things required for human decency. Duties and responsibilities correspond to these rights—to one another, to our families, and to society. A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring, and the story of the Last Judgment instructs Catholics to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Work is a form of continuing participation in God's creation, and the basic rights of workers must be respected.
Catholic Social Thought (CST) is broader than Catholic Social Teaching and includes the thinking and writing of scholars, practitioners, and movements within the Church. All members of the Church can influence the development of formal teachings by living and working out of the Church's social justice tradition and offering reflections and advice based on this experience.
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Peace
Catholic social teaching is deeply rooted in the belief that human life is sacred and that human dignity is derived from God. This belief forms the basis of all other principles of Catholic social teaching. The Church proclaims that human dignity is inherent and universal, bestowed upon every person by God, and not dependent on any human quality or accomplishment. This means that every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has a right to life and dignity.
The Church's commitment to the poor and vulnerable is a central element of Catholic social teaching. This commitment is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who identified himself with "the least of these" and came to bring "glad tidings to the poor". Catholic social teaching calls on followers to promote peace and work for justice, especially for those who are marginalized or oppressed.
Catholic social teaching calls on nations to protect the right to life by preventing conflicts and resolving them through peaceful means. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong, and the Church emphasizes the importance of finding effective ways to prevent and resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Social Teaching is the part of Catholic teaching that addresses matters of social, economic, and ecological justice in the world. It is mainly concerned with inter-group or social relationships rather than interpersonal relationships. It is grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.
The four most important principles of Catholic Social Teaching are: human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. Other key principles include social organization, social justice, and wealth distribution.
Catholic Social Teaching proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. It opposes torture, unjust war, racism, and the use of the death penalty.
The family is considered the central social institution and the first fundamental unit of society. It is based on marriage between a man and a woman and is a sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children. Catholic Social Teaching supports and strengthens marriage and the family.
Catholic Social Teaching calls for participation in political life based on fundamental moral principles. It encourages citizens to analyze political candidates' positions on issues affecting human life and dignity, justice, and peace, rather than focusing on party politics. It also emphasizes that public policy should prioritize moral principles, the needs of the weak, and the pursuit of the common good.
