Catholic Social Teaching
The purpose of The Monsignor Henry V. Petter Fund for Peace and Social Justice of the Catholic Foundation (Petter Fund) is to support peace and social justice. Therefore, it is essential that we maintain a sincere commitment to understand the Catholic Church’s teachings.
It is equally important that we are able, in good faith, to support those teachings and the practical actions they call forth. At the heart of all Catholic social teaching is the biblical conviction that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore, possesses and inherent right to live a dignified life worthy of that calling.
Living out this teaching can at times challenge our personal beliefs, and it often stands in contrast to cultural trends.
Yet the Church is clear about the responsibilities entrusted to us. As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “What is at stake is the dignity of the human person, whose defense and promotion have been entrusted to us by the Creator, and to whom the men and women at every moment of history are strictly and responsibly in debt.”(CCC #1929)
7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents.
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Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
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Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society –in economics and politics, in law and policy—directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
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. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities—to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
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.
Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Care for God’s Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is a requirement of our faith. 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.
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Source and original text US Conference of Catholic Bishops
