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Faith is more that going to church and being nice. We are called to build God’s kingdom and transform our world.
Faith is more that going to church and being nice. We are called to build God’s kingdom and transform our world.
How do we connect our faith with everyday life? How does our faith help us to build a better world?
We face a complexity of issues today: challenges at work, rising materialism, families breaking up, an increasing divide between rich and poor, climate change, and the list goes on. Each day raises more questions than we care to reflect on. For instance, we might have thought about one or more of these questions before:
How do I decide what and how much to buy?
Should I give money to that handicapped person begging down the street?
How should I behave towards the foreign workers around me?
Why should I care what my company produces?
How should I react to so much disaster in the news?
Beneath all these questions lies a most fundamental one:
What does it mean to live out our faith today?
In other words, what are the concrete ways in which we can put into practice the Gospel command to “ love our neighbour ”?
The social teaching of the Church is a call to each of us to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters. It is about God’s call to us to “Love one another as I have loved you.” Over the decades, the social teaching of the Church has been expounded in numerous Church documents by many, including popes and bishops. Through this teaching, the Church attempts to apply the timeless truths of the Scripture as well as the accumulated wisdom of the Church’s sacred Tradition to the new and complex social situations of the modern world.
The ten principles of our Catholic Social Teaching are as follows:
1. Principle of the Dignity of the Human Person
Every human person is of infinite dignity. All of society must be directed towards the well-being of the human person.
2. Principle of Association
Human persons are meant to be in community and have a right to freely associate with one another to achieve the common good.
3. Principle of Subsidiarity
No higher-level body should take over what a lower-level body can do for itself—so that people can develop and flourish.
4. Principle of Participation
All human persons have right and duty to take action in what determines their well-being and future.
5. Principle of the Common Good
We must seek the good of the broader community—that is, each person, every person, and the whole person—and not just our own interests.
6. Principle of the Universal Destination of Goods
God intended for all the world’s resources to be enjoyed by everyone, not just a few people. We should have a preferential option for the poor and see to it that the most vulnerable have what they need.
7. Principle of Solidarity
Every human person is deeply connected to every other person. We are called to stand together as one human family.
8. Principle of the Dignity of Human Work
The human person’s intrinsic dignity also means that human work is holy. And everyone should have working conditions worthy of the children of God.
9. Principle of the Dignity of Creation
Creation is holy because this is the place where we relate to God. We are the Earth’s stewards, helping to bring the world towards salvation.
10. Principle of the Promotion of Peace
We have a duty to seek true and lasting peace, which implies right relationships all-round—with God, self, others, and all creation.
Roots of Catholic Social Teaching Found in the Old Testament Prophets
Roots of Catholic Social Teaching Found in the Old Testament Prophets
By Stephen M. Colecchi, D.Min.
Catholic Social Teaching is like an ancient oak tree, whose roots are the Scriptures. Its trunk has grown in girth throughout the centuries, especially in response to dramatic developments in society.
Catholic Social Teaching is rooted in the soil of human communities. Just as the growth of a tree responds to soil and climate conditions, Catholic Social Teaching responds to cultural and societal conditions and draws nutrients from the Word of God.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The Church’s social teaching comprises a body of doctrine, which is articulated as the Church interprets events in the course of history, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit…” (#2422). The rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching is “always living and active” (#2421).
The ancient Israelites were inspired by God’s Spirit to build a society that ever more clearly protected human life and dignity. And like us, they were not always successful.
In their day the prophets raised their voices to defend the poor and call for greater social justice. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed:
Ah! Those who enact unjust statutes,
who write oppressive decrees,
Depriving the needy of judgment,
robbing my people’s poor of justice,
Making widows their plunder,
and orphans their prey! (10:1-2).
Time and again the prophets of the Old Testament defended the poor and powerless. Ezekiel scolded the leaders of Israel: “You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. … but ruled them harshly and brutally” (34:4). In the name of God, Zechariah admonished: “Judge with true justice, and show kindness and compassion toward each other. Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor” (7: 9-10).
The prophets also railed against the injustices inflicted on laborers. Jeremiah declared:
Woe to him who builds his house on wrongdoing,
his roof-chambers on injustice;
Who works his neighbors without pay,
and gives them no wages (22:13).
Isaiah warned that God would not recognize ritual fasting because “on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,/ and drive all your laborers.” He argued that the fasting God wished consisted in:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke…
sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house (58: 3, 6-7).
The prophets also championed God’s desire for peace. The prophet Micah echoed the vision of Isaiah:
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,…
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again. (4:3; cf. Isaiah 2:4).
Jesus himself stood firmly within the tradition of the prophets. In the Gospel of Luke he describes his mission in the world-transforming words of the Prophet Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free” (4:18; cf. Isaiah 61:1).
Through their powerful witness the prophets nourish and inspire Catholic Social Teaching on the preferential option for the poor, workers’ rights, and justice and peace.
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Stephen M. Colecchi is the director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and author of a Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching and In the Footsteps of Jesus Parish Resource Manual, both published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Discussion Roundtable Sessions - Catholic Social Teaching Videos
Discussion Roundtable Sessions - Catholic Social Teaching Videos
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. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
This guide will help group discussions and exploration on each principle.
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it 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.
Scripture
Scripture
Genesis 1:1-31
God made the heavens and the earth and it was good.
Genesis 2:15
Humans are commanded to care for God’s creation.Leviticus 25:1-7
The land itself must be given a rest and not abused.Deuteronomy 10:14
All of heaven and earth belong to the Lord.Psalm 24:1-2
All the earth is the Lord’s.Daniel 3:56-82
Creation proclaims the glory of God.Matthew 6:25-34
God loves and cares for all of creation.Romans 1:20
Creation reveals the nature of God.1 Corinthians 10:26
Creation and all created things are inherently good because they are of the Lord.
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 (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
Scripture
Scripture
Exodus 22:20-26
You shall not oppress the poor or vulnerable. God will hear their cry.Leviticus 19:9-10
A portion of the harvest is set aside for the poor and the stranger.Job 34:20-28
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak out in defense of the poor.Sirach 4:1-10
Don’t delay giving to those in need.Isaiah 25:4-5
God is a refuge for the poor.Isaiah 58:5-7
True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and oppressed.Matthew 25:34-40
What you do for the least among you, you do for Jesus.Luke 4:16-21
Jesus proclaims his mission: to bring good news to the poor and oppressed.Luke 6:20-23
Blessed are the poor, theirs is the kingdom of God.1 John 3:17-18
How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s good and sees one in need and refuses to help?
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. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. 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.
Scripture
Scripture
Genesis 2:18
It is not good for man to be aloneGenesis 4:8-15
I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper.Leviticus 25:23-43
What you own belongs to the Lord and is given for the good of all.Jeremiah 7:5-7
If you act justly with one another, God will dwell in the land.
Micah 6:6-8
Act justly, love kindness, walk humbly with God.John 15:12-17
This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.Acts 2:43-47
Life among the believers.Romans 12:4-8
We are one body, individually members one of another.Hebrews 10:24-25
Rouse one another to love and good works.James 2:14-17
Our faith is dead if we ignore others in need.1 Peter 4:8-11
Serve one another with the gifts you have received.1 John 3:16-18
We ought to lay down our lives for one another.1 John 4:19-21
Those who love God must love their brothers and sisteers.
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. 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.
Scripture
Scripture
Leviticus 25:35
When someone is reduced to poverty, we have an obligation to help.Ruth 2:2-23
Boaz cares for Ruth, a widow and a foreigner, giving her far more than the law requires.Tobit 4:5-11
Give from what you have received and do not turn away from the poor.Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth to speak on behalf of those in need.Isaiah 1:16-17
Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.Jeremiah 22: 13-16
A legitimate government upholds the rights of the poor and vulnerable.Jeremiah 29:4-7
Seek the welfare of the city, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.Matthew 25: 31-46
Just as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me.Luke 16:19-31
The rich man has a responsibility to care for Lazarus.Acts 4:32-35
There was not a needy person among them.2 Corinthians 9:6-15
God’s gifts are given to be shared.James 2:14-18
Faith without works is dead.
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. 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.”1 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.
Scripture
Scripture
Genesis 12:1-3
God blessed Israel so that all nations would be blessed through it.Psalms 72
Living in right relationship with others brings peace.Psalms 122
Peace be with you! For the sake of the Lord, I will seek your good.Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you should do: Speak truth, judge well, make peace.Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called children of God.Matthew 5:21-24
Be reconciled to one another before coming to the altar.Romans 13:8-10
Living rightly means to love one another.1 Corinthians 12:12-26
If one member of Christ’s body suffers, all suffer. If one member is honored, all rejoice.Colossians 3:9-17
Above all, clothe yourself with love and let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts.1 John 3:16-18
The love of God in us is witnessed to by our willingness to lay down our lives for others as Christ did for us.
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.
Scripture
Scripture
Genesis 2:1-3
God rests on the seventh day.Genesis 2:15
God settles man in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.Deuteronomy 5:13-15
The Sabbath is for everyone—all are allowed to rest from their work.Deuteronomy 14:28-29
The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits with others.Deuteronomy 24:14-15
Do not withhold wages from your workers, for their livelihood depends on them.Sirach 34:26-27
To deprive an employee of wages is to commit murder.Isaiah 58:3-7
To observe religious practices, but oppress your workers is false worship.Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him who treats his workers unjustly.Matthew 20:1-16
All workers should be paid a just and living wage.Mark 2:27
The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.Luke 3:10-14
Practice integrity in your work.Luke 12:13-21
One’s worth is not determined by an abundance of possessions.James 5:1-6
Those who become rich b
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. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. 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.
Scripture
Scripture
Genesis 1:26-31
God created man and woman in his image.Deuteronomy 10:17-19
God loves the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.Psalms 139:13-16
God formed each of us and knows us intimately.Proverbs 22:2
The Lord is the maker of both rich and poor.Luke 10:25-37
The good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.John 4:1-42
Jesus broke with societal and religious customs to honor the dignity of the Samaritan woman.Romans 12: 9-18
Love one another, contribute to the needs of others, live peaceably with all.1 Corinthians 3:16
You are holy, for you are God’s temple and God dwells in you.Galatians 3:27-28
All Christians are one in Christ Jesus.James 2:1-8
Honor the poor.1 John 3: 1-2
See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called Children of God.1 John 4:7-12
Let us love one another because love is from God.
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