What is Catholic Social Teaching? By Marisa Naryka
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the depository of Catholic doctrine that guides us in creating a more just world, focusing on human dignity and serving the common good.
There are 7 pillars or themes of CST:
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person
- Each human life is sacred, having been created in the image and likeness of God. Humanity is the foundation for society. This is the founding principle of CST.
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
- Human beings are social. How we organize our society, economically and politically, affects human dignity and the ability for individuals to grow in community. Marriage and family are central to this. We have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking the common good.
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Human dignity and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Each person has a fundamental right to life and to those things that are required for human decency.
- Option for the Poor and the Vulnerable
- A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. This is based on Matthew 25:31-46.
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of the Workers
- The economy must serve people. Work is not just to make a living, but to participate in building up the Kingdom of God. The basic rights of workers are to be respected – the rights to productive work, decent and fair wages, organize and join unions, private property, and economic initiative.
- Solidarity
- 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 demands us to promote peace in our world.
- Care for God’s Creation
- We show respect to God, the Creator, through our stewardship of creation. We are called to protect people and the planet, living faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.
(Adapted from the USCCB – 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching)
These themes provide us the framework for Saint Mary’s inclusion and human dignity work. It is where we draw our understanding, direction, and call to action to serve our brothers and sisters.
Over the next several years, examine each of these themes in more detail and challenge ourselves to fully live them out.
Reflection Question: How do you live out these social teachings in your own life or how could you?
Additional Resources:
