Catholic social teaching, commonly abbreviated as CST, is an area of Catholic doctrine concerning matters of human dignity and the common good in society. The ideas address oppression, the role of the state, subsidiarity, social organization, concern for social justice, and issues of wealth distribution.
The threefold cornerstone of CST contains the principles of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity. It is the foundation on which to form our conscience in order to evaluate the framework of society and is the Catholic criteria for prudential judgment and direction in developing current policy-making.
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 Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation for all the social teachings.
Catholic Social Teaching
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person. …
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation. …
- Rights and Responsibilities. …
- Preferential Option for the Poor. …
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. …
- Solidarity. …
- Care for God’s Creation.
The social teachings are made up of three distinct elements:
- Principles of reflection;
- Criteria for judgement; and.
- Guidelines for action.
Challenges catholic social teaching 21st century 0
- Solidarity with creation.
- Globalization.
- “greater and lesser solidarities”
- Role of women.
- Relationship of wealth and power.
- Disparity of rich and poor.
They are to improve the lives of entire communities. At its core, Catholic Social Teaching is there to promote the dignity of the person. When this function is served, respect, peace, and justice will follow within each and every community.
NETWORK’s Catholic Social Justice Principles:
- Uphold the dignity of each person as an equally valuable member of the human family. …
- Embrace our right and responsibility to participate with others in our shared public life. …
- Be in solidarity with those who are living in poverty in the struggle against structures of injustice.
Catholic Social Teaching Research Guide: The 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation.
- Rights and Responsibilities.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers.
- Solidarity.
- Care for God’s Creation.
Promoting the life and dignity of human beings is the most fundamental theme of Catholic social teaching. It is the core social justice theme and the one on which the other themes are based. All human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. All human beings have God-given dignity.