Catholic Social Teaching&Key Principles

Catholic Social Teaching
& Its Key Principles

SANDIE CORNISH
WWW.SOCIAL-SPIRITUALITY.NET
Outline
What is Catholic Social
Teaching?
How does it help us to
promote justice?
4 Sources
Scripture
Reason
Tradition
Experience
www.social-spirituality.net
3 Elements
Principles for Reflection

Criteria for Judgment
Guidelines for Action
4 Key Principles
Human Dignity
The Common Good
Subsidiarity
Solidarity
www.facebook.com/socialspirituality
What is Catholic Social

Teaching?
QUICK SHOW OF HANDS:
1.HAVE YOU HEARD OF IT?
2.DO YOU THINK YOU COULD EXPLAIN IT TO A FRIEND?
3.HAVE YOU READ ANY SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS? HOW
ABOUT SUMMARIES?
What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching:
Sums up the teaching of the Church on social

justice issues.
It is about relationships between groups in society.
Shines the light of Gospel on life in society.
Is part of Catholic moral theology.
It includes the teachings of Popes, local Bishops

and Bishops Conferences.
What is Catholic Social Teaching?

It is a body of
teachings that
develops through
time, not just a series
of teaching
documents.
The teachings from
the 19th century

onward are the most
relevant for us today.
CST Helps us by Addressing 4 Questions
4 Sources of CST
SCRIPTURE
REASON
TRADITION
EXPERIENCE
Scripture
The roots of Catholic Social
Teachings vision of a just society

can be found in the Bible.
We dont read the Scriptures
literally, looking for detailed, but

in a more literary way.
What passages of Scripture speak
to you about social justice?

Reason
God gave human beings
intelligence and reason and we use

it to work out what is right or
wrong.
Because we have intelligence and
free will we are also responsible for

our choices and actions.
Can you think of a time when you
used reason to work out what was

the right thing to do about a social
justice issue?
Tradition
We draw on the Churchs previous reflection &
teaching on social issues, but tradition is not

just doing what was done in the past without
question.
Our tradition is passed on in teaching
documents by Popes and Bishops, the lives and

writings of the saints, and wisdom from the
experience of ordinary Christian communities
and their effort to live the Gospel in their own
times and places.
Can you give an example of how
tradition has helped you to work for

social justice?
Experience
We draw on experience because we
believe that God continues to

communicate with us through the
people, places and events of history.
We examine social issues by collecting
information using the social sciences

and any other relevant sources of
human wisdom.
How do you draw on experience in
your social justice action?

3 Elements of CST
PRINCIPLES FOR REFLECTION
CRITERIA FOR JUDGMENT
GUIDELINES FOR ACTION
Principles for Reflection

Principles point to
important values that we use

to reflect on justice in
society.
The four key principles of
CST dont change depending

on the time or place they
apply always and
everywhere.
Other principles and criteria
flow from these key

principles.
Criteria for Judgment

The criteria for judgment are
more specific and concrete than

the principles.
They help us to judge whether the
principles are being respected or

not, and what respect for the
principles might look like in
particular situations.
The criteria develop through time
because they connect the

principles with changing times,
places and issues.
Guidelines for Action

These vary for different times
and places.
They depend on what we know
about social, economic and

political matters. As we learn
more, they may change.
Local teachings may give more
specific guidelines for action

while the international
teachings tend to be more
general.
4 Key Principles of CST

HUMAN DIGNITY
THE COMMON GOOD
SUBSIDIARITY
SOLIDARITY
Human Dignity Everyone is Important
Each person is made in the image and
likeness of God. This is the source of our

human dignity we cant give it away and
it cant be taken from us. Everyone
everywhere has human rights because of
our God-given dignity.
People are always more important than

things. People are never a means or an
instrument to be used for the benefit of
another.
We are all equal

in dignity and
rights and so are
different
communities,
every race and
culture. We are
one human
family because
we are all
children of the
one God
Human Dignity
Key Question:
What is happening to
people?
People are less important

than the things that give
profit to those who have
political, social, economic
power? What point have we
come to? To the point that
we are not aware of this
dignity of the person
Pope Francis, Homily 1 May 2013,
Feast of Joseph the Worker
Human Dignity
Related Themes
Unity of the human family
Defense of life
Human rights
Non discrimination
Priority of labour over
capital
Integral human
development
Quote
Respect for the human

person entails respect for
the rights that flow from his
[sic] dignity as a creature.
These rights are prior to
society and must be
recognized by it. They are
the basis of the moral
legitimacy of every
authority; by flouting them,
or refusing to recognize
them in its positive
legislation, a society
undermines its own moral
legitimacy ...
Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 1930

FOR REFLECTION
Can you think of an example

where:
The principle of human
dignity was respected or
put into action?
The principle of human

dignity was not
respected or put into
action?
In each case, how did you feel?

What did you do?
The Common Good Everyone is Included
We are responsible for each other.

We have to take care of one another by working
for social conditions in which every person and
every group can meet their needs and realize
their full potential.
Every group in society must think also of other
groups, and of the well being of the whole human

family.
Gods gift of
creation is for
everybody so
everyone has
a right to
make use of it
for their
needs and a
duty to care
for it.
The Common Good
Key Questions:
Is every group able to
share in the benefits
of life in society?
Are some groups
excluded?
the Church always works

for the integral development of
every person ... the common
good should not be simply an
extra tacked onto political
programs. The Church
encourages those in power to
be truly at the service of the
common good of their
peoples ... to take account of
ethics and solidarity.
Pope Francis, address for the New
Non-Resident Ambassadors to the Holy
See,16 May 2013.
The Common Good

Related Themes
The universal
destination of goods
Option for the poor
Integrity of creation
Role of the state
Promotion of peace
Quote
The dignity of the human

person requires the
pursuit of the common
good. Everyone should be
concerned to create and
support institutions that
improve the conditions of
human life.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 1926
FOR REFLECTION

where:
The principle of the
common good was
action?
The principle of the

common good was not
action?

What did you do?
Subsidiarity Everyone Takes Part
Every person and every group has something
to contribute. They should all have a chance to

participate.
The people or groups who are most affected by

a decision or policy should have a key role in
making decisions about it.
Responsibility should be kept as close as

possible to the grassroots.
Bigger groups
should support
smaller, more
local groups when
they need it so
that everyones
activities can be
coordinated with
others for the
common good
but they shouldnt
take over the role
of smaller, more
local groups.
Subsidiarity
Key Questions:
Who is making the
decisions?
Can everyone
participate?
We are speaking about a group

of consultants a gesture of
great relevance that means to
signal the modality in which the
Holy Father intends to carry out
his ministry. We must not forget
that the first task assigned to the
group of eight cardinals is to
assist the Pontiff in the
governance of the Universal
Church.
Archbishop Angelo Becciu, Substitute of
the Secretariat of State, 1 May 2013.
Subsidiarity
Related Themes
Quote
Participation
... the principle of subsidiarity

must be respected: a
community of a higher order
should not interfere in the
internal life of a community
of a lower order, depriving
the later of its functions, but
rather should support it in
case of need and help to
coordinate its activity with
the activities of the rest of
society, always with a view
to the common good.
The role of the State

International community
John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, n 48

FOR REFLECTION

where:
The principle of
subsidiarity was
action?
The principle of
subsidiarity was not
action?

What did you do?
Solidarity we are in it together!
We are social beings we are made for

relationships.
We cannot survive without others and can only

grow and achieve our potential in relationship
with others.
Our salvation is bound up with that of each other.
Solidarity is
about
committing
ourselves to
the common
good to the
good of all of
us.
Solidarity
Key Questions:
Who do we really care
about?
Would we like this to
happen to us?
The Pope loves everyone,

rich and poor alike, but the
Pope has the duty, in Christs
name, to remind the rich to
help the poor, to respect
them, to promote them. The
Pope appeals for
disinterested solidarity and for
a return to person-centred
ethics in the world of finance
and economics.
Pope Francis, address for the New
Non-Resident Ambassadors to the
Holy See,16 May 2013.
Solidarity
Related Themes
Quote
Role of the economy
Today we can say that economic

life must be understood as a
multi-layered phenomenon: in
every one of these layers, to
varying degrees and in ways
specifically suited to each, the
aspect of fraternal reciprocity
must be present
Solidarity is first and foremost a
sense of responsibility on the
part of everyone with regard to
everyone and it cannot therefore
be merely delegated to the State.
Integral human
development
Option for the poor
Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, n 38
FOR REFLECTION

where:
The principle of
solidarity was respected
or put into action?
The principle of
solidarity was not
action?

What did you do?

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Catholic Social Teaching

& Its Key Principles

How does it help us to

Principles for Reflection

What is Catholic Social

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Sums up the teaching of the Church on social

It is about relationships between groups in society.

Shines the light of Gospel on life in society.

Is part of Catholic moral theology.

It includes the teachings of Popes, local Bishops

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

The teachings from

the 19th century

CST Helps us by Addressing 4 Questions

The roots of Catholic Social

Teachings vision of a just society

literally, looking for detailed, but

to you about social justice?

intelligence and reason and we use

Because we have intelligence and

free will we are also responsible for

Can you think of a time when you

used reason to work out what was

teaching on social issues, but tradition is not

documents by Popes and Bishops, the lives and

Can you give an example of how

tradition has helped you to work for

believe that God continues to

information using the social sciences

your social justice action?

Principles for Reflection

important values that we use

The four key principles of

CST dont change depending

Other principles and criteria

flow from these key

Criteria for Judgment

more specific and concrete than

They help us to judge whether the

principles are being respected or

The criteria develop through time

because they connect the

Guidelines for Action

They depend on what we know

about social, economic and

Local teachings may give more

specific guidelines for action

4 Key Principles of CST

Human Dignity Everyone is Important

Each person is made in the image and

likeness of God. This is the source of our

People are always more important than

We are all equal

People are less important

Respect for the human

Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 1930

Can you think of an example

The principle of human

In each case, how did you feel?

The Common Good Everyone is Included

We are responsible for each other.

Every group in society must think also of other