Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Life and Dignity of the human rights are protected and Human Person responsibilities are met. The proclaims Therefore, every person has a that human life is sacred and that fundamental right to life and a the dignity of the human person is right to those things required for the foundation of a moral vision human decency. Corresponding to for society. Direct attacks on these rights are duties and innocent persons are never responsibilities--to one another, to morally acceptable, at any stage our families, and to the larger or in any condition.This belief is society. “All of humanity must think of the foundation of all the the parable of the rich man principles of our social teaching. and and the beggar. Humanity must We believe that every person is Vulnerable translate it into contemporary precious, that people are more A basic moral test is how our most terms, in terms of economy important than things, and that vulnerable members are faring. In and politics... the measure of every institution a society marred by deepening is whether it threatens or divisions between rich and poor, “We cannot stand idly by, enhances the life and dignity of our tradition recalls the story of enjoying our own riches and the human person. the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) freedom, if, in any place, the and instructs us to put the needs Lazarus of the twentieth Call to Family, Community, of the poor and vulnerable first. century stands at our doors. and Participation The Dignity of Work and the In the light of the parable of The person is not only sacred but Rights of Workers Christ, riches and freedom also social. How we organize our The economy must serve people, mean a special responsibility. society—in economics and politics, not the other way around. Work is Riches and freedom create a in law and policy—directly affects more than a way to make a living; special obligation. And so, in human dignity and the capacity of it is a form of continuing the name of that individuals to grow in community. participation in God’s creation. If binds us all together in a Marriage and the family are the the dignity of work is to be common humanity, I again central social institutions that protected, then the basic rights proclaim the dignity of every must be supported and of workers must be respected-- human person: the rich man strengthened, not undermined. the right to productive work, to and Lazarus are both human We believe people have a right decent and fair wages, to the beings, both of them equally and a duty to participate in organization and joining of unions, created in the image and society, seeking together the to private property, and to likeness of God, both of them common good and well-being of all, economic initiative. equally redeemed by Christ, at especially the poor and vulnerable. a great price...” Rights and Responsibilities Solidarity The Catholic tradition teaches We are one human family whatever Pope John Paul II, Homily at that human dignity can be our national, racial, ethnic, Yankee Stadium, October 2, protected and a healthy economic, and ideological 1979. community can be achieved only if differences. We are our brothers’ Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Today…the word “justice” is so and sisters’ keepers, wherever (Pastoral commonplace…that it has come they may be. Loving our neighbor Constitution on the Church in to mean everything and nothing. has global dimensions in a shrinking the Modern World). Second For some, it conjures up images world. At the core of the virtue of Vatican Council. December of picket lines and angry solidarity is the pursuit of justice 7, 1965. protestors. For other, the word and peace. Pope Paul VI taught “justice” evokes the image of a that “if you want peace, work for blind-folded woman holding Populorum Progressio (On justice.” The Gospel calls us to be scales in one hand and a sword of Promoting the Development retribution in the other. For peacemakers. Our love for all our of Peoples). Pope Paul VI. still other, it evokes wronged sisters and brothers demands that March 26, 1967. victims having their day in court. we promote peace in a world Common to all these images of surrounded by violence and (On justice is some notion of conflict. the Occasion of the vengeance or revenge. Whatever Eightieth Anniversary of the the debatable merits of these Care for God’s Creation ). connotations, justice from a We show our respect for the May 14, 1971. Christian perspective has an Creator by our stewardship of entirely different meaning… creation. Care for the earth is not God’s justice…is not principally Justice in the World. just an Earth Day slogan, it is a about vengeance or retribution Synod of Bishops. Rome, requirement of our faith. We are but about restoring people to 1971. right relationship with God, called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in themselves, others, and the Redemptor Hominis environment (pp.26, 27, relationship with all of God’s (Redeemer of Man). Pope Globalization, Spirituality, and creation. This environmental John Paul II. March 4, 1979. Justice by Father Daniel challenge has fundamental moral Groody, CSC). and ethical dimensions that cannot (On be ignored. Human Work). Pope John The Bible speaks of a just Paul II. September 14, 1981. individual who is in “right PAPAL & VATICAN DOCUMENTS relation” to God and others, with a special concern for those (The “others” who are powerless or Rerum Novarum (On the Social Concern of the marginal (Job 4:3f., 29:12-16, Condition of Workers). Pope Church). Pope John Paul II. 31:16-19; Prov. 31:9). Justice Leo XIII. May 15, 1891 December 31, 1987. conveys the sense of “rightness” or “integrity,” things being as (On the they should be… God is just when (On Hundredth Anniversary of he acts as God should, defending Reconstructing the Social or vindicating his people… People Order). Pope Pius XI. May Rerum Novarum). John Paul are just when they are in right 15, 1931. II. May 1, 1991. relationship to God and to other humans…(pp. 23,24; What Does (On (Charity the Lord Require? A Establishing Universal Peace in Truth). Pope Benedict. Bibliographical Essay on the in Truth, Justice, Charity June 29, 2009. Bible and Social Justice by Fr. and Liberty). Pope John John Donahue, SJ. XXIII. April 11, 1963.