Catholic Social Teaching: Major Themes

Catholic Social Teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. It is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity, as well as a commitment to the poor and vulnerable. It calls us all to reach out and build relationships of compassion and justice, and to defend the dignity of life and promote the common good.

Protection of Human Life
The sanctity of human life is the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching. Human life must be protected from conception to natural death. Civilizations attentive to human dignity must support and defend human life.

Dignity of the Human Person
Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, and thus, inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for our society. In respecting human dignity and equality, we must not stand for any law that contradicts the commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” We assert that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

The Common Good
The Common Good “is to be understood as the sum of social conditions which allow people, as groups and individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and easily.” The Common Good rejects self-centered individualism and adopts an understanding of a larger social obligation and concern for others. Catholics have a moral obligation to ensure that inalienable rights of the human person are protected, the necessities to lead a fully human life are available and that security and peace of a just social order are established and maintained.

Call to Family, Community, Participation
Our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society - in economics, politics and law - directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. The family is the central social institution and should be supported and strengthened. We believe that people have a right and duty to participate in society to build the common good and seek the well being of all.

Rights and Responsibilities
Human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. We believe that every person has a fundamental right to life and to access to the necessities of life. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities - to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

The Dignity and Rights of Workers
We believe that the economy must serve people and that work is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. To uphold the dignity of work, the rights of workers must be upheld. The rights to productive work, to fair and livable wages, to organize and join unions and to economic initiative all contribute to full human development.

Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test of society is how its most vulnerable members are faring. We are called to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. We believe political institutions should craft just and fair policies, providing access to basic necessities.

Stewardship of Creation
The Catholic tradition insists that we show respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. We are called to protect people and our planet, living our faith in harmony with all of God's creation. Our commitment to the common good and our concern for neighbors and for generations yet born require responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

Solidarity
We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic or ideological differences. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live. The principle of solidarity calls us to seek a just social order where goods are distributed fairly, opportunity is promoted equally and the dignity of all is respected.

Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity requires governments, states, towns, and communities to protect the decision making authority of the lowest levels. When higher levels intervene, it should be a matter of cooperation and co-ordination rather than asserting power. The principle of subsidiarity sets limits for state intervention. Smaller social units—whether nations themselves, communities, ethnic or religious groups, families or individuals—must not be namelessly absorbed into a greater groups, thus losing their identity and goals.