Joshua Bennett
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a branch of moral theology that addresses contemporary issues within the social structures of society, including political, economic, and cultural issues. It is rooted in Scripture, the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. CST is built on three foundational principles: Human Dignity, Solidarity and Subsidary. Human dignity is the greatest of these principles, with the belief that every human is made in the image and likeness of God and is infinitely loved by the Creator. This belief is the foundation of all other principles of CST, with the inherent dignity of every person taking precedence. CST also emphasizes the importance of solidarity, which is a commitment to the common good, and subsidiarity, which is a fundamental principle of social philosophy. These principles provide a framework for Catholics to address current social questions and make informed decisions in various spheres of influence.
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Human dignity
The inherent dignity of every person comes from being made in God's image. Each person is infinitely loved by God, who is present in everyone, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation, or economic standing. Each person is unique and beautiful, and we are called to treat everyone with loving respect.
Catholic social teaching calls on us to work to avoid war and protect the right to life. Nations must find ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them peacefully. Torture, unjust war, the use of the death penalty, genocide, and attacks on non-combatants are all considered direct attacks on innocent persons, which are never morally acceptable.
Work is an essential part of human dignity, and everyone has the right to participate. Workers have the right to join trade unions, to a just wage, to spend time with their families, and to rest.
The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred and under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The value of human life is threatened by these practices, and it is the duty of Catholics to defend it.
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Solidarity
Catholic social teaching is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is a moral compass that guides people on how to live out their faith in the world. At the foundation of Catholic social teaching is the belief that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the basis for a moral vision for society. This belief is reflected in the principle of solidarity, which calls for a commitment to the common good and the recognition of the inherent dignity of all people.
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) is often cited as an example of solidarity in action. It is not just about charity, but about justice and recognizing our responsibilities to one another. This includes a preferential love for the poor and vulnerable, as emphasized by Pope Benedict XVI: "Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to [the church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel".
Ordinary people can live out the virtue of solidarity by joining ministries or organizations dedicated to serving the marginalized and working towards a more just and peaceful world. This is a core aspect of Catholic social teaching, which seeks to build a just society and uphold the dignity of all people.
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Subsidiarity
Catholic social teaching is rooted in Scripture, influenced by grassroots movements, and guided by the Church's wisdom. At its core is the belief in the inherent dignity and sacredness of human life, with social teachings aiming to uphold this dignity in the face of modern challenges.
One of the key principles of Catholic social teaching is subsidiarity, which is the idea that matters should be handled at the lowest or least centralized level of competent authority. In other words, it emphasizes the importance of personal initiative and local communities in addressing issues, with the state's role being to support and protect individual freedoms rather than stifle them.
Pope St. John Paul II articulated the principle of subsidiarity, stating that "the individual, the family, and society are prior to the state, and the state exists to protect their rights." This principle is deeply connected to the Catholic value of human dignity, recognizing that each person has unique value and the capacity to contribute to the common good.
Pope Francis has also been a strong advocate for subsidiarity, emphasizing that excessive state intervention can threaten personal freedom and initiative. He calls on civil society to help each person and social organization take up their specific role in contributing to the common good. This principle of subsidiarity is essential for organizing society towards its proper ends and ensuring that power is not concentrated in a way that becomes tyrannical.
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Right to life
The Catholic Church 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. The Church believes that human life is under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. Catholic teaching calls on followers to work to avoid war and to protect the right to life by finding peaceful means of conflict resolution.
The Catholic Church teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency, such as food, shelter, education, employment, healthcare, freedom of religion, and family life. The right to life means that every person has a responsibility to help sustain and develop the lives of others.
The consistent ethic of life provides a moral framework for principled Catholic engagement in political life. It anchors the Catholic commitment to defend human life, from conception until natural death, in the fundamental moral obligation to respect the dignity of every person as a child of God. This culture of life begins with the obligation to protect innocent life from direct attack and extends to defending life whenever it is threatened or diminished.
Catholic social teaching is critical of modern social and political ideologies that do not align with its values, such as liberalism, atheistic forms of socialism and communism, anarchism, atheism, fascism, capitalism, and Nazism. The Church's social teaching is a wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It addresses oppression, the role of the state, social organization, social justice, and wealth distribution.
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Stewardship of creation
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture and has been influenced by the wisdom of Church leaders and grassroots movements. It is a moral compass that guides Catholics on how to live out their faith in the world. One of the key principles of CST is the belief that human life is sacred and that the dignity of each human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is reflected in the principle of stewardship of creation, which calls on Catholics to respect the Creator by protecting people and the planet.
The concept of stewardship of creation recognises that the Earth and all its resources are a gift from God and that humans are responsible for caring for and managing these resources wisely. This includes respecting the environment and promoting environmental justice. Pope Francis, in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, emphasised the importance of considering how our actions impact the planet and the poorest among us. He invited everyone to reflect on our role as stewards of God's creation and to work towards a more sustainable and just world.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference Statement on Environmental Justice in 2006 also emphasised the importance of stewardship of creation: "We received this world as an inheritance from past generations, but also as a loan from future generations, to whom we will have to return it." This statement recognises that our use of the Earth's resources is not unlimited and that we have a responsibility to future generations to leave the planet in a healthy and sustainable state.
At a practical level, stewardship of creation can involve a variety of actions, such as community gardening, tree-planting campaigns, and supporting initiatives that promote environmental justice and care for the Earth. These actions reflect the belief that we are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect, as taught in Catholic Social Teaching. By caring for the planet and each other, we live out our faith and build a more just and sustainable world.
In conclusion, the principle of stewardship of creation in Catholic Social Teaching calls on Catholics to respect and protect the Earth as a gift from God. It recognises the interconnectedness of all creation and the responsibility of humans to care for the planet and its inhabitants. Through our actions and choices, we can live out our faith and work towards a more just and sustainable future for all.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is built on three foundational principles: Human Dignity, Solidarity, and Subsidary. Human Dignity is the greatest of these principles, with the other two flowing from it.
The origin of Catholic Social Teaching in its modern form can be traced back to Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the problems of the Industrial Revolution in 1891. This was done through the landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which confronted a society torn by dispute.
Catholic Social Teaching is a branch of moral theology that addresses contemporary issues within the political, economic, and cultural structures of society. It provides a framework for Catholics to make informed decisions and take action in the social, political, and economic spheres.
Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their religion, culture, or economic standing. It calls for preferential love and care for the poor, oppressed, and vulnerable, reminding us that our response to the "least among us" is a basic moral test for society.
