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Social Teaching

Home > Social Ministry > Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching

Popes and bishops have written encyclicals and pastoral letters in defense of human beings, their dignity and rights as members of the human race. As a result of their writings, a body of Catholic social teaching principles has evolved which forms a Catholic Christian foundation for all we do in service to one another.

The 10 principles are arranged in three categories.

The first three Catholic social teaching principles relate to the human person as an individual and that individual’s ability to develop a fellowship of love with God in response to the love God has bestowed on each individual through the Act of Creation and through redemption by Jesus Christ.

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Human Dignity

Every human being, by virtue of being human, has dignity and is to be treated with dignity. This principle resides in the Act of Creation. Each person is created in the image and likeness of God.

Equality

Each human being is equal to every other human being. This flows from the principles of human dignity and resides in the fact that all persons share a common origin and destiny and all have been redeemed by Jesus Christ.

Respect

Every human being, by virtue of being human, is precious and worthy of respect and protection at every stage of development. Respect is to be accorded to each person regardless of status, present condition or past history.

The second set of Catholic social teaching principles relates to the social nature of human beings. The human person is not only sacred, but social. We realize our dignity, our rights and responsibilities in relationship with others.

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Family

The family is the foundation upon which all societies are formed. Marriage is the social unit of the first order. As told in the book of Genesis, God created man and woman, gave them dominion over all of creation, and instructed them to be fruitful and multiply. It is within this family unit that an individual learns how to relate to others. Human dignity, equality and respect are nurtured in the family. It is within the family that the child learns basic values of justice and peace and the skills of cooperation and participation with others.

Community

The community is the place where a person’s human dignity is protected and development is affirmed. This begins within the neighborhood community, extends to the school community. Participation in the economic, social and political life of the community is essential to both the individual and the community. The state and institutions of political and economic life are to function in a manner that protects and promotes the life, dignity and rights of the person, the well-being of families and pursue the common good.

Citizenship

Each citizen in a community, state or nation has the right to participate in the governmental structure to promote the common good of all its citizens. This right to participation includes holding a public office, voting for candidates for public office, promoting just laws that will promote peace and justice for all people regardless of age, race, religion or culture.

The third set of Catholic social teaching principles relate to the way a Christian acts to promote a peaceful and just society.

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Prefered option for the poor

As Catholic Christians, this principle calls us to step outside our own world and notice those who are marginalized and/or excluded in our community, our world. Our bishops wrote their pastoral, "Economic Justice for All," “As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a fundamental ‘option for the poor’-- to speak for the voiceless, to defend the defenseless, to assess lifestyles, policies and institutions in terms of their impact on the poor” (Economic Justice, 16).

Advocacy

Advocacy means to plead the cause of another; to become the voice of one who is unable to speak for him/herself. This Catholic social teaching principle reminds us that we are responsible for our brothers and sisters which impels us to both direct service action and to work toward a just and peaceful society in which all are included.

Solidarity

This principle recognizes the unity of the human family. Catholic social teaching calls solidarity a Christian virtue, one that helps us to accept each person as our neighbor and to stand with that neighbor in time of need. God has created us as one human family, and Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection has strengthened the ties that bind us to one another.

Stewardship

The entire created world belongs to God. Human beings have been placed at the pinnacle of creation to develop, protect and promote God’s creation. This principle reminds us that we are stewards of God’s creation and therefore, responsible for the development of systems that will protect our environment which is essential for the common good of all.