Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
OPENING PRAYER
Prayer for Community
Embracing Father,
You grace each of us with equal measure in your love.
Let us learn to love our neighbors more deeply,
so that we can create peaceful and just communities.
Inspire us to use our creative energies to build
the structures we need to overcome the obstacles of
intolerance and indifference.
May Jesus provide us the example needed and send
the Spirit to warm our hearts for the journey.
Amen.
Source: "From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice" (USCCB, April 1998)
SEVEN THEMES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
"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." (USCCB).
What are the most important social issues you believe we face today? How do you learn about the Church's moral vision and guidance regarding these issues?
The various foundational Church documents on modern CST, beginning in 1891 with Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum dealing with the rights and duties of capital and labor, were written in a particular historical context and time period, and in response to particular social issues deemed important at that time. Although these documents may have been issued by a particular pope, the Vatican, or conference of bishops, various scholars and theologians were consulted and contributed to the formulation and revision of a particular document before it was publicly issued.
We can approach learning about modern CST by reading and discussing each foundational document in its historical context and time period that each document was written. Another way is by discussing the key or major themes discerned from reading these foundational documents. In that regard, the U.S. Catholic Bishops have presented the following list of seven key themes that they propose are at the heart of CST:
1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
6. Solidarity
7. Care for God's Creation
We cannot emphasize enough the guiding principle inherent in all Church documents on CST that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity.
Human dignity comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment. Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us.(USCCB).