Key principals of catholic social teaching
Human dignity
Belief in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all catholic social teaching. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of human person is the starting point for a moral vision for society
The principle of human dignity is grounded in the idea that the person is made in the image of God. The person is the clearest reflection of God among us. We are required to honour the human person, to give priority to thru person.
community and the common good
In a culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. Human dignity can only be realized and protected within the wider society.
Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the good of the whole society, to the common good.
Rights and responsibilities
Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency starting with food, water, shelter and clothing, employment, health care and education.
option for the poor and the vulnerable
A basic moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation.
The obligation to evaluate social and economies activity from the viewpoint of the poor and the powerless arises from the radical command to love ones neighbour as one’s self.
The option for the poor is an essential part of society’s effort to achieve the common good. A healthy community can be achieved only if its members give special attention to those with special needs, to those who are poor and on the margins of society.
participation
All people have a right to participate in the economic, political, and cultural life of society. It is a fundamental demand of justice and a requirement for human dignity that all people be assured a minimum level of participation in the community.
It is wrong for a group of people to be excluded unfairly or to be unable to participate in society. Working conditions
dignity of work
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive and active work, to decent and fairwages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organize and join unions.
People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limits. No one is allowed a mass of excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessity of life.
stewardship of creation
Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the creator by our stewardship of creation. The goods of the earth are gifts from god, intended for the benefit of all.
We humans are not the ultimate owners of these goods, but rather, the temporary stewards. We are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for these gifts and preserving them for future generations.
Global solidarity
Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideal logical differences. Solidarity means that “loving our neighbour” has global dimensions in an interdependent world.
John paul 2 has called solidarity a virtue . it is the virtue, he says, by which we demonstrate “a firm and preserving determination to commit oneself to the common good...... because we are all really responsible for all.”
constructive role for government
Because we are social beings, the state is natural to the person. Therefore the state has a positive moral function. It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build the common good.
One of the key functions of government is to assist citizens in full filling their responsibilities to others in society. Since, in a large and complex society these responsibilities cannot adequately be carried out on a one- to-one basis, citizens need the help of government in fulfilling these responsibilities and promoting the common good.
Promotion and peace
catholic teaching prmotes peace as a positive, actionorientated concept. in the words of Pope john Paul 2, “peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements”
questions
1. List the 5 issues social justice aims to cover
Poverty, child labour refugees, homelessness and hunger
2. In your own words explain what is meant by human dignity
The dignity of the human person. Something someone is proud of. Everyone is valuable and made in the image of god. Every human life is sacred and special and should be valued.
3. What is meant by a moral vision for society?
Our beliefs of how society should be. Equal and happy. Our values and beliefs for the community.
4. Which of the 5 social justice issues relates to human dignity?
Poverty, child labour, refugees, homelessness, hunger all relate to human dignity
5. give an example of a community that you are part of.
I am part of the Stella Maris community. This is a sacred community because we are Catholics, and we are a religiously significant community.
6. how is this community both sacred and social?
We are sacred because we are religious and also social as we unite together at church.
7. what is the major test of moral society
The greatest test of a community is how a community teaches their most vulnerable and weakest neediest members of the community.
8. what are every humans fundamentalrights?
Every person has a fundamental right to those things required for human decency starting with food, shelter, clothing, employment, health care, and education
9. what is the of the government in maintaining human rights?
It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and building the common good.
10. who is responsible for assisting the governmento achieve its goals
We are all responsible for assisting the government through voting and working together to achieve the common good.
