Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Seven themes have been at the heart of Catholic social tradition as found in papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. These themes teach about the building of a just society and living lives of holiness in the midst of modern society.
The Church has always taught that human life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. Each and every person has intrinsic dignity.
Actions, events, and circumstances which violate that dignity are immoral and must be stopped or changed.
Among these are abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, unjust wars, the oppression of minority populations, and political or economic systems which treat human beings as no more than a means to an end.
1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, every person’s life and dignity must be respected and supported from conception through natural death. We believe that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
We are social creatures, and live in interdependence with one another.
We have a responsibility to care for families and to work to protect the sacredness of the marriage.
The sacred bond of marriage, between one man and one woman, is the central unifying force of the family, as the family is the central unifying force of society.
We have an effect on our neighborhoods, our cities, our state, our country, and our world and have the responsibility to care for our larger communities with the same love, trust, and selfless care that unites our family.
3. Rights and Responsibilities
Every person has the intrinsic right to life and the duty and responsibility to protect it.
Every person has the right to the necessary elements of human decency and the duty and responsibility to provide it for others.
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.
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Are we a just society?
A basic test is to see how we treat the most vulnerable in our society, especially women and children.
Is there a wide gap between the rich and the poor?
Are there enough resources available for the elderly, the sick, the homeless, or those in poverty?
Christ calls us to put the poor and vulnerable at the center of our concern.
The primary commitment to the poor is to enable them to become active participants in the life of society. It is not hand outs, but elevating the situation through a collaborative effort.
5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.
If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
6. Care for God’s Creation
Caring for the world is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith.
We show our reverence for the Creator and our gratitude for His gifts by our stewardship of creation.
We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
7. Solidarity
We are one human family—whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be.
Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world.