Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Common Good and Community

Principle Preferential of Option Subsidiarity For the Poor

Dignity of Economic Rights the Human and Justice Person Responsibility

All Justice is rooted in the dignity of the human person. Our Stewardship dignity comes from Global God and not from of God’s Solidarity human and Creation accomplishments or Development attributes!

1. Dignity of the Human Person 2. Common Good and Community 3. Option for the Poor 4. Rights and Responsibilities At the core of all Catholic moral The common good comprises of "the How do we treat those members of There is a reciprocal relationship and social teaching is the sum total of social conditions which our society that are most vulnerable between rights and responsibilities; development and understanding allow people, either as groups or as – people who are poor, weak, each right has corresponding of a healthy anthropology rooted individuals, to reach their fulfillment marginalized, the sick? Jesus invites responsibilities. Human rights must in scripture and Catholic faith more easily" (CCC 1906). The goods of us to follow his example – to stand be guaranteed if human dignity is teaching. The inherent dignity of the world are for all and these gifts are on the side of the poor. This option going to be promoted and protected. the human person which comes to be shared rather than possessed. for the poor is so essential that we The right to life and a right to those from God and the right to have While there are benefits to private often refer to it as the ‘fundamental’ things required for human decency that dignity respected from ownership, Private property does not and ‘preferential’ option for the poor. (i.e. basic needs just employment) conception to natural death is core constitute for anyone an absolute and When expressed in a healthy manner are fundamental to the welfare of to the Gospel. Human life is unconditional right. No one is justified this option affects all our words and each person and thus to the health of sacred, for each person is made in in keeping for their exclusive use what actions so that they favour the poor. the community. the image of God. This principle is they do not need, when others lack the starting point for a moral necessities (cf. Populorum Progessio, When we practice this option for the This principle teaches us that we are vision for society. no. 23). Each of us has a responsibility poor we acknowledge that the to both serve and be served by the to contribute the common good. (Cf. dignity of all, especially those affect y institutions of the world and that we CCC 1924-25) poverty, must be promoted. At the are responsible for each other. same time, we are saying that we are all brothers and sisters and we are ‘our brothers and sisters keepers’!

Poverty not only hurts its victims but also the whole community.

• Catechism 1701-1706; 1929- • Catechism 1878-1882; 1905-1912 • Catechism 2443-2349 • Catechism 1913-1917 1933

We Believe: We Believe: We Believe: We Believe: • that the Divine Image is • that we are called to live in community • that God has called us to serve the • that we have been present in each and every • we are called to love God, love neighbour and needs of those who are poor blessed by God with person work for peace • that when we serve those who are innate dignity • that I am truly myself, • that by nature we need to live in community affected by poverty, those who • being made in God`s reflecting the Divine Image, • we develop our human potential when we are marginalized, those who are image we are blessed when I am living and serve others and through dialogue lost, we serve Jesus with inalienable rights; contributing to the community • that we are most fully alive in community – we • that when we serve those who are these rights are integral • that all life, from the moment are spiritual beings and we are also social lost, marginalized, lost we become to our human nature of conception to the moment beings truly who we are called to be • that the right to life is a of natural death, has value • our actions, choices and words affect others • that as members of the church we right of all people from and should be protected • we are interdependent truly live the Gospel when we care the moment of concept • that God has willed each of us • promotion and protection of one’s dignity can for God’s dear ones to natural death for our God’s own sake only be done while promoting and protecting • poverty has many forms (material, • that we have a right to • that we should avoid the all people’s innate human dignity religious/spiritual, social, cultural) those things required for temptation of categorizing • that we are called to take care of each other • that our possessions belong to all human decency and individuals according to the and to provide for each other’s needs people human living (basic concerns in their lives • the common good calls us to respect each and • that the demands of justice must needs, jobs, education, • that reason and free will is an every person be enjoyed by all etc.) expression of the Divine Image • the inalienable rights of each person is to be • that we are called ensure that • that with every right and that each of us is called to respected by all people and public authorities justice is not replaced by charity comes responsibilities use the gift of free will • we are called to work for peace, stability and • that social action has two feet – • we have responsibilities responsibly security charity and social action to each person, to family • each of us is a body-soul unity • each group is called to develop its social well- • we are called to feed the hungry, and all of society • that the voice of God can be being and the development of the group itself sheltering the homeless, clothing • that we are called to discerned using reason and • as a human family, it is our responsibility to the naked, visiting the sick and both serve and be served faith provide for the different needs of all people imprisoned, and bury the dead by the institutions of the • that the voice of God urges (food, hygiene, education, alleviating the • that we are called to have a love world each of us to do what is good miseries of people who have become refugees that prefers those who are • we are responsible for and avoid evil dispersed throughout the world, and assisting oppressed by poverty each other – we are our • that we are obligated to those who are migrants and their families) • the goods of the earth are to brother` and sisters` follow this voice of God – • the common good is always oriented towards serve the needs of all people keeper which is heard in our the progress of persons • we are responsible for conscience ensuring the rights of others are fulfilled

Reflection Questions: Reflection Questions: Reflection Questions: Reflection Questions:

• Do I understand that life • Do I see myself as an important, • How do I ensure that I am ready • Am I ready to stand up for the begins at conception? contributing member of different to serve those who are poor? rights of all people? • Do I understand that human communities (family, church, • How do I, and the communities I • Can I distinguish between rights dignity comes from God and school, work, neighbourhood, belong to, participate in the and desires? not from human etc.)? corporal works of mercy (feeding • Who am I responsible for? accomplishments or • Who is my neighbour? the hungry, sheltering the • Am I taking care of myself and attributes? • Do I respect others? homeless, clothing the naked, others? • Do I understand that each • How might I move beyond visiting the sick and imprisoned, • When I think of my rights, am I person has certain rights that indifference to concern for others? and burying the dead)? ready to name my flow from his/her dignity? • Do I think of my words, actions, and • “You shall not steal” – This responsibilities? • Do I understand that human attitudes affect others? commandment asks me to be a • Is my ability to respond rights are accompanied by • Do I invite others to share their person of justice and charity. (responsibility) informed and responsibilities? gifts? How do my habits prohibit or formed by love, faith, and hope? • Do I feel called to love God • Do I put people first? encourage me to be a person of • Do I understand that each and neighbour? • How do I address the needs of justice? person has the right to life and to • Through my words and others? • Do I see that the fruits of the decent human living (, to food, actions, do I bear witness to • How do I respect the dignity of earth and the fruits of our labour clothing, health care, education the dignity of each person? others while respecting the dignity are to be enjoyed by all? and employment, etc.)? • Do I see all people as my of my own God given dignity? • Do my shopping habits consider • With which institutions am I neighbour? • Do I see the value and the limits of practices of fair trade, the rights involved? • Do I see each person as ‘my private ownership? Do I of the workers, fair wages, etc.? • What are practical and other self’? understand that private property is • Do I respond in great love to theoretical mission statements • Do I guard myself from not an absolute and unconditional those who are poor, of the institutions to which I prejudices, selfishness, greed right? marginalized and/or lost? belong? and pride? • How do I contribute to the common • Do I prefer to respond the needs • What responsibilities do I have to • Do I understand, that God has good? of those who are poor? my neighbour, my family, to self, given me the ability to • Do I promote peace and social • Are my/our habits, attitudes, to work, to God? respond (responsibility) in development? policies, and procedures • Do I exercise my rights and love? addressing the needs of those responsibilities to the society • How do I form and inform my who are poor? (e.g. promoting healthy conscience? • Can I identify those who are communities, voting)? • Do I promote a culture of life? poor, lost, marginalized?

5. The Principle of Subsidiarity 6. Economic Justice 7. Stewardship of God's Creation 8. Global Solidarity and Development According to the principle of subsidiarity, People before profits! The We are called to be stewards of all We are all neighbours, "a community of a higher order should economy must serve people – the of God’s creation. We are called to interdependent and interconnected. not interfere in the internal life of a Catholic Church promotes a take care of all that God has The principle of solidarity encourages community of a lower order, depriving ‘people first’ economic statement. created and to ensure that these us to remove the obstacles that the latter of its functions, but rather In keeping with economic justice is goods are at the disposal of all separate us and promote our should support it in case of need and help a healthy theology of work. The people. Stewardship is our thank- common humanity. St. Paul tells us to co-ordinate its activity with the Church teaches that all workers filled response to God’s generosity. that when we are united to Christ, we activities of the rest of society, always have a right to productive work, to remove any and every thing that with a view to the common good" (CCC decent and fair wages, and to safe At the same time we are called to divides us: “For all of you who were 1883). Upholding the principle of working conditions. Workers also become co-creators who use our baptized into Christ have clothed subsidiarity is necessary for promoting have a fundamental right to God given gifts for to ensure that yourselves with Christ. There is human dignity, protecting human rights, organize and join unions. each person’s needs are addressed neither Jew nor Greek, there is and building up the common good. This while we build the ‘Kingdom of neither slave nor free person, there is principle respects the fact that all people Since we live in community private God’ here on earth. not male and female; for you are all have the right and the responsibility to property and amassing of excessive one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3. 27-28). participate in all in the decision making wealth has limits: “No one is We are one human family and called and work of higher (political) institutions. allowed to amass excessive wealth to be our brothers’ and sisters’ when others lack the basic keepers (Gen. 4. 9). True In short, all societies of a superior order necessities of life”. development occurs when we must adopt attitudes of help (subsidium) journey together, taking care of each — therefore of support, promotion, other, responding to each others’ development — with respect to lower- needs – when the division between order societies. At the same time, this ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ no longer principle sets limits on state intervention exist. (cf. Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, #186). • Catechism 1883-1885 • Catechism 2426-36 • Catechism 337-349 • Catechism 1939-1942

We Believe: We Believe: We Believe: We Believe: • we are social beings who need to live & • economic decisions, activity & growth are • God created all things – • we have a social nature and all work together as brothers & sisters meant to provide for the needs of all God creates with love, are brothers & sisters • through service & dialogue we respond • Moral and Social Justice principles should beauty, purpose and • solidarity calls us to live in love to our vocation & develop our potential help shape economic decisions & activity order & friendship as companions • the human person is the subject and end • human dignity of all should be upheld in • the goods of the earth • solidarity demands the just of all social institutions all economic decisions & activity are created for all us distribution of all earth goods • we are meant to work together to • created in God’s image, we reflect this and we are called to • in fair remuneration for work improve the self, each other & society image in human work; when work is ensure the fair • we should seek peace; conflicts • each person performs for one self what done by a person, it has value distribution of these & tensions should be resolved he/she is capable of doing; It is wrong to • work should respect the dignity of the goods in fair negotiations take from a person and give to the human person; work is for the human • all things, in a unique • we are all equal; we should community, what they can accomplish person, not the human person for work way, possesses its own work to eliminate all that by their own initiative and industry • work is an opportunity to be co-creators: particular goodness and divides us • to protect basic justice, government we are called to use our God-given gifts perfection • as members of the body, we all should undertake only those initiatives to continue God’s plan for all creation • all creation reflects have an important role to play which exceed the capacities of private • work can have a redemptive and God’s infinite goodness • we need to develop a ‘people groups or individuals acting sanctifying quality when we unite the & wisdom first’ understanding; all independently; governments should not hardships of work with Jesus • all creation is development should have a replace or destroy smaller communities • through work, we can exercise our gifts interconnected and people first attitude and individual initiative and fulfill our potential interdependent • equality of all concerns their • by its nature every social activity should • we have the right to meaningful • respecting the dignity as human persons; our serve the members of the body; it should employment, a fair living wage (enabling goodness of God and rights flow from that dignity never destroy and/or absorb them all to live in a dignified lifestyle providing God’s plan, we must • differences between people • good government intervention (urging, for the self and family, & to serve others) carefully interact with are part of God’s plan and restraining, regulating economic activity • government has a responsibility to create all creation so as not to these differences allow us to as necessary) truly helps other social climate for job security and worker safety bring harm to others or need one another; differences groups contribute to the common good • God calls us to work and to rest to the environment: no call forth a response of love • when basic needs cannot adequately be • workers have the right to form unions or creature is self- • solidarity means we eliminate met at the lower level, then it is associations & to strike when it cannot sufficient all sinful inequalities necessary & imperative that higher levels be avoided • humans are the summit • solidarity calls us to share of government intervene • organizations and all leaders are of the Creator’s work spiritual and material goods • people have a right & responsibility to responsible to society for the economic • using reason we can • when we socialize and work participate in political institutions so that and ecological effects of their operations discern God’s plan for together we develop our skills governments can work for the common creation (e.g. initiative, responsibility) good

Reflection Questions Reflection Questions Reflection Questions Reflection Questions

• Do I keep my relationships in • Do I approach my work as simply • Do I recycle? • Do I love others? good order? a means to making a living? • Am I aware of what I consume of • Who is my neighbour? • Do I search for truth or do I need • Do I see work is more than a way what I waste? • Do I treat others as my equal? to win all debates? to make a living? • How do I take care of the • Do I take on an attitude of • Do I pray for those in positions of • Do I see my work as a resources entrusted to this servant leadership? responsibility? participation in God’s act of generation? • How do I provide for the needs • Do I make the effort participate creation? • Do I keep my relationship with of others? in the in political institutions? • How do I treat other people who others and the earth in good • Do I use violent words or • Do I vote? work? order? actions? • Do I encourage others through • How do my shopping habits • Do I understand what it means • Do I understand that I am a my word and actions to do their support fair wages and safe to be a steward entrusted with member of the human family? best? conditions for those who work? caring for the earth? • Do I have prejudices and biases • Do I assist those in need or am I • Do I support ‘sweatshops’ or am • Am I grateful for all of God’s based on national, racial, ethnic, tempted to take over? I socially-aware shopper? creation? economic and ideological • Do I love my neighbour? • Do I show gratitude towards • Do I share? differences? • Do I love God? others (saying ‘thank you’)? • Do I work and pray to know • Do I work for peace and the • Do I work for the betterment of • Do I use my money wisely? God’s plan for creation? development of others? others, self and society? • Do I steal? • Do I see how all my relationships • Do I act as my brother’s and • Do I use my gifts wisely? • How am I affected by – with God, others, the earth, sister’s keeper? • Do I develop my potential? materialism and consumerism? and self – are interconnected? • Do I over-consume? • Do I try to know God’s will? • Do I use my gifts in a way that is • Do I use people first language? • How am I affected by pleasing to God? • Do I recognize the gifts of individualism and competition? • How do I discern my vocation? others? • Do I rest in a way that reflects • Do I see differences as gifts from my dignity and the dignity of God? others? • Do I understand that I am responsible for the use of my gifts? • Do I share?