Principles of Catholic Social
Teaching
Learn them,
sdrawkcab and forwards!
CST Principles #1
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Life is sacred and the
dignity of the human
person is to be
respected. Food for thought:
Christians are called to What are some examples
be for human life and of people whose life
to help others live to and dignity are being
the fullest. disrespected and/or
abused?
CST Principle #2
Call to Family, Community
and Participation
All people are equal and
have the right and
Examples:
•
duty to participate education
•
fully in all aspects of politics
•
human society. culture
• religion
Those who are not able
• economy
to fully participate
are said to be:
MARGINALIZED, or
outside the main
group.
Food for thought:
Who might we consider to be marginalized
(not able to fully participate) in our
society today?
CST Principles #3
Rights and Responsibilities
• All people have human
rights.
• Rights are conditions Examples:
or things that any • basic right to life
person needs to be • survival rights
fully human. • thrival rights
• All people must be
challenged to live up
to human
responsibilities.
Survival Rights
Rights that are necessary for people
to be able to live.
• food and water
• shelter
• basic health care
Thrival Rights
Rights to those things necessary to become
everything God intended us to be.
Also, the right to:
• education • live by one’s conscience
• employment • live by one’s religion
• safe environment • live without
• certain material discrimination
goods
With rights come responsibilities.
Rights are not unlimited.
We have the
responsibility for:
• the good of others
• the good of the whole
society
We are responsible for
the well-being of our
neighbor.
Subsidiarity
Decisions affecting the Example:
community should be 1. city
made at the lowest 2. county
level possible.
3. state
Governments and large
organizations exist only 4. federal
to serve the good of:
• human beings
• families
• communities
Food for thought:
• What rights do we
have as members of
a community?
• What responsibilities
do we have to the
community?
CST Principles #4
Option for the Poor and
Vulnerable
We are called to Reminder:
emulate God by
showing a special The poor & vulnerable are
preference for those not only without money,
who are poor and but are also deprived of
weak. their basic rights or of
We put the needs of equal participation in
society’s most poor society.
and vulnerable
members first among
social concerns.
Why this concern for the poor
and vulnerable?
• Not because they are more valuable
• But because their need is greater.
Food for thought:
• Who are the poor and
vulnerable in the U.S. today?
• Whose need is great?
CST Principles #5
Dignity of Work and Rights of
Workers
• Work exists for
people, not people for
work.
• The value of work is
measured by whether
it promotes the
human dignity of the
worker. Work provides
families with the
• Work well done
things they need
contributes to the
to live and
common good.
flourish.
Food for thought:
• What is it about work that helps us to
feel our human dignity?
• What does work contribute to your
sense of well-being and worth?
Workers’ Rights
Those things that contribute to the dignity
of work:
Food for thought:
Right to: What recent news stories
• employment disclose situations where
these rights may have
• decent and fair pay
been violated?
• a safe workplace
• honest employers
• organize and join
unions
CST Principles #6
Solidarity
We are all responsible to:
• Stand by the poor and vulnerable
• Take action to support the violation of
rights.
• Learn more about the situations of
those whose rights have been violated.
• Put ourselves in their position
(metaphorically or literally).
Food for thought:
Think of examples of people you know who
practice the principle of solidarity.
CST Principles #7
Care for God’s Creation
We are called to live our faith
in relationship with all of God’s creation
and to be stewards of that creation.
• Protect the health of people
• Protect the health of the planet
Food for thought:
Make a list of examples where our society
has misused its stewardship --
destroying the balance between human
need and protection of creation.
Recap of Principles
(remember, sdrawkcab and forwards!)
1. Life and respect for human dignity
2. Call to family, community, and participation
3. Rights and responsibilities
4. Option for the poor and vulnerable
5. The dignity of work and rights of workers
6. Solidarity
7. Care for God’s creation
Racism
Apathy
World Realities that challenge
these principles:
Religious discrimination