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Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching


There are seven outstanding principles which sum up Catholic Social Justice: Human Dignity, Solidarity, Family/Community, Rights and Responsibilities, Workers/Producers Dignity, Preferential Option for the Poor and Care for Creation. The volumes of teachings based upon the Scriptures which constitute Catholic Social Teaching can be summed up under these headings. - Teresita Scully, MTS



“The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of color, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development.” (Pope Francis, On Fraternity and Social Friendship [Fratelli Tutti], no. 118)


God created the world, and humans are entrusted with the care of his creation. The Gospel of Genesis articulates this idea clearly: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31)

 

For copies of the handouts lick here.



 

 
 
 

Comments

“Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God's special love for the poor and called God's people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind"(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with "the least of these," the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the eucharist.”

https://www.usccb.org/resources/sharing-catholic-social-teaching-challenges-and-directions

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