The Seven Principles

Below is the 21^st in the August Catholic Social Teaching series: The Seven Principles

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

There are countless verses in the Old and New Testament where we are called to care for each other as well as the earth*.

Scripture:

John 4:1-42

    Jesus broke with societal and religious customs to honor the dignity of the Samaritan  woman.

Luke 10:25-37

           The good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.

Romans 12: 9-18

           Love one another, contribute to the needs of others, live peaceably with all.

1 Corinthians 3:16

           You are holy, for you are God’s temple and God dwells in you.

Tradition

“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) 

"There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions  of men and women. These are in open contradiction of the Gospel: 'Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international  peace'." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1938 citing Gaudium et Spes, 29)

Read more here: Life and Dignity of the Human Person | USCCB

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

I encourage you to watch the video here