It shines the light of the Gospel on the social justice issues that arise in the complex network of relationships in which we live. For a general introduction to Catholic Social Teaching visit this page. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers (Spanish), Handout for Adults in English and Spanish The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. It provides a vision for a just society in which the dignity of all people is recognised, and those who are vulnerable are cared for. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable (Spanish) More on Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. 1397). A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In this video, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Msgr. In our relationship with God, we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. The emphasis is on people over things, being over having. 1 Paul VI, For the Celebration of the Day Of Peace (Rome: January 1, 1972). It should include Catholic nonofficial social thinking (“CNOST”). Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in Gods creation. The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2007), No. Nations must protect the right to life by … Since then, a "Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family" (Reflections,p. Mt 25:45). All our programs are people-centred with empowerment at their heart. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. by Fr. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - One of the foundational concepts of the Church's social doctrine is personhood. In the words of Pope John Paul II, “Peace is not just the absence of war. DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON All people are sacred, made in the image and likeness of God. No human being should have their dignity or freedom compromised. Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore has inherent dignity. For a copy of the complete text of Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions (No. Principles of Catholic social teaching. The dignity of every person, independent of ethnicity, creed, gender, sexuality, age or ability, is the foundation of CST. Catholic social teaching upholds that the person is sacred, but that the person is also social. Mark Brumley • 7/15/2020. 5-281) and other social teaching documents, call 800-235-8722. Handout for Children in English and Spanish Catholic Social Teaching draws on experience because we believe that God continues to communicate with us through the people, places and events of human history. The Catholic Church has a wide-ranging and many-layered collection of teachings about social justice issues. The U.S. Catholic … Catholic Social Teaching Is Social Catholic social teaching is deeply concerned about fostering and preserving natural human relationships. There are many other thinkers, usually neglected, such as von Ketteler, Sturzo, and John A. Ryan. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated by a variety of Church authorities. With human dignity at its centre, a holistic approach to development founded on the principles of CST, is what Pope Paul VI called ‘authentic development’. Solidarity (Spanish) Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity…. The activities of the Wolfington Center are informed by the following principles of Catholic Social Teaching as articulated by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. More on Call to Family, Community, and Participation. 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. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. CST 101 is a 7-part video series by the USCCB and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching. USCCB Communications 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. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching… Care for God's Creation (Spanish) Catholic social teaching is complex, linked with changing social conditions and deepening understandings of both the work of God in history and ethical principles. How it guides our work:Poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice make it impossible to live a life commensurate with this dignity. As the term ‘social’ implies, these teachings do not only exist to serve your immediate family and friends, or just Catholics. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. These teachings are derived from: the Gospels and the words of Christ; papal statements and encyclicals; and Catholic bishops’ statements and pastoral letters. 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. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. People do not lose dignity because of disability, poverty, age, lack of success, or race. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of Gods creation. 5-315 This is the bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching. . liberty to captives . Religion. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice. People are never tre… The person is not only sacred but also social. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. All of Trócaire's work, in Ireland as well as overseas, is informed by Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Social Teaching covers all spheres of life – the economic, political, personal and spiritual. Catholic social teaching applies Gospel values such as love, peace, justice, compassion, reconciliation, service and community to modern social problems. See, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tools for Social Justice-Hispanic Ministry Collaboration, CST 101: The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers, Call to Family, Community and Participation, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Quotes from Pope Francis on Issues of Life, Dignity, Justice and Peace, Vocation of the Business Leader: A Reflection, Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching, Superhero of Justice Activity for Elementary students, Reflections on the Joy of the Gospel for Those Serving in Ministry, Explore more inspirational selections here. Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. The Catholic Church has a history of social teaching that goes back centuries and provides a compelling challenge for living responsibly and building a just society. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and Racism. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor . United States Catholic Bishops, Brothers and Sisters to Us, 1979, No. Every person--regardless of race, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, employment or economic status, health, intelligence, achievement or any other differentiating characteristic--is worthy of respect. Audio only: Questions Covered: 18:12 - What is the proper response for a Catholic … 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. Poster for Children in English and Spanish, Foundational Catholic Social Teaching Documents, Quotes from Pope Francis on Issues of Life, Dignity, Justice and Peace |  En Español, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, In the Footsteps of Jesus | En Español, Church Teaching on Environmental Stewardship, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish, Resources and Tools from the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, Caritas in Veritate Study Materials and Session Guides, Vocation of the Business Leader: A Reflection, from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (En Espanol), Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restorationatholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice, Superhero of Justice Activity for Elementary students (from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in the Archdiocese of Baltimore), Reflections on the Joy of the Gospel for Those Serving in Ministry (from Catholic Charities USA), On Fraternity and Social Friendship (Fratelli Tutti). Catholic Social Teaching is the body of Church doctrine that describes how Catholics are called to transform the world by proclaiming and living the Gospel. 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. Rights and Responsibilities (Spanish) . The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. What the author doesn't mention is that there is a new Catholic theology and it hasn't anything to do with salvation. Consideration of racism is grounded in fundamental scriptural beliefs: equal dignity of all people, created in God’s image; and Christ’s redemption of all. Ray East, and Joan Rosenhauer discuss the dignity of work and the rights of workers. Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept. . Catholic Social Teaching’s vision of a just society is grounded in biblical revelation, the teachings of the leaders of the early church, and in th… Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Social Teaching (CST) offers a way of thinking, being and seeing the world. They are to improve the lives of entire communities. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. 1935, quoting Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, No. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict. Modern Catholic social teaching is said to have originated in 1891 with the encyclical letter, Rerum Novarum. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the eucharist. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Catholic Social Teaching is the Church’s best-kept secret not because the Church hides it, but because the way we have been taught to see keeps us from seeing what is, in fact, in plain view. Life and Dignity of the Human Person (Spanish) Poster for Adults in English and Spanish Download Share. Human dignity comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment. God the Father sends his only Son Jesus Christ and shares the Holy Spirit as his gift of love. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Fred Kammer, S.J. 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. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society. Life and Dignity of the Human Person The first social teaching proclaims the respect for human life, one of the most fundamental needs in a world distorted by greed and selfishness. The foundation and guiding principles for all our work is Catholic social teaching, a body of thought on social issues that has been developed by the Church over the past hundred years. More on Life and Dignity of the Human Person. "Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith.". Catholic social teaching emerges from the truth of what God has revealed to us about himself. This summary should only be a starting point for those interested in Catholic social teaching. Catholic social teaching is central to our faith, and is based on — and inseparable from — our understanding of human life and dignity. The social sciences and other sources of human wisdom can help us to understand and make use of experience to guide action. Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Call to Family, Community and Participation (Spanish) A full understanding can only be achieved by reading the papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents that make up this rich tradition. Modern Catholic Social Teaching, rooted in Scripture and articulated through a tradition of written documents, has evolved over time in response to the challenges of the day. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. 29. Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. That is, the good of the community. ---from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions. God reveals himself to us as one who is not alone, but rather as one who is relational, one who is Trinity. We believe in the triune God whose very nature is communal and social. These teachings make use of reason, tradition and experience as well as Scripture to respond to social justice issues. 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. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. More on Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers. Washington, D.C. First, Catholic social thought should not be restricted only to what is called Catholic social teaching (“CST”), which comes only from the popes and conferences of bishops. Catholic Social Teaching sums up the teachings of the Church on issues of justice between groups in society, and with creation. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nevertheless, this complexity can be summarized imperfectly in terms of seven key principles of Catholic social teaching. It is not what you do or what you have that gives you … Text is drawn from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1998) and Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2003). On Fraternity and Social Friendship (Fratelli Tutti). Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. Our economics, politics, laws, policies, and social institutions must therefore defend marriage and the family. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. ©2020 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Experience the richness of your faith... visit our store, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tools for Social Justice-Hispanic Ministry Collaboration, papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Explore more inspirational selections here. 433. Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the official teaching of the Church on the social order, impacting on all dimensions of society, including the economic and the political. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Therefore, we who are made in God's image share this communal, social nature. ©2020 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Experience the richness of your faith... visit our store, No video provider was found to handle the given URL. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. 39. Published July 25, 2008. Publication No. ISBN 1-57455-315-1. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren" (no. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. . It is an essential part of the Catholic faith. Without the family being at the core, these social institutions will erode and eventually break apart. The notion of "social justice"--the term, by the way, coined by the Jesuit mentor of Pope Leo XIII, Luigi Taparelli (1793-1862), and based upon the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas--is "the justice that regulates social relationships according to the criterion of observance of the law." We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. Copyright 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 1). 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. At the core of CST is the common good. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice.1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Catholic Social Teaching is the tradition of papal reflection about how we live this vocation for the common good in our world. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Catechism of the Catholic Church (United States Catholic Conference, Inc., 1994), No. CST 101 is a collaborative 7-part video series about Catholic Social Teaching Principles, with accompanying discussion guides, posters and handouts, presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic social teaching. Catholic Social Teaching addresses issues concerning matters like oppression, subsidiarity, social organisation, social justice, and wealth distribution. Is Catholic Social Teaching Marxist? This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.” There is a close relationship in Catholic teaching between peace and justice. This is why Catholic Social Teaching is not Catholicism. All of Trócaire 's work, in Ireland as well as Scripture to respond to social justice issues arise! Conference, Inc., 1994 ), No emerges from the moment of to. 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