Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social justice teachings are a collection of documents, encyclicals and synod statements, that date back to 1891 with the issuance of Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII and come along to our current day. The teachings of the documents address the challenges to justice presented to people of faith especially in the areas of economic justice, labor relations, global relations and peace and disarmament. Among recent contributions by US Bishops to this tradition of justice teachings are the pastoral letter on nuclear arms The Challenge of Peace written in 1983 and the economic pastoral entitled Justice for All published in 1986.

The justice tradition of the Church didn't begin with these documents but is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures and in particular the Gospel message. In some sense it is true that the social justice documents apply the scriptural imperative to care for one another, especially the poor, to the social and economic relationships we set up for ourselves and neighbors within and beyond our borders nationally and globally.

The issues addressed by each of the justice documents is related to a particular current need of the time in which the document was written. For example, in 1891, the working conditions for laborers were deplorable, long hours, unsafe work areas, inadequate wages, so Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical On The Condition of Labor which laid out the rights and responsibilities of both owners and laborers, promoted workers' right to organize into associations to seek just wages and working conditions, and called for more equitable distribution of property and goods.

Themes from Catholic Social Teaching that undergird NETWORK's vision of a just society are:

1. DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

The dignity of the human person flows from her/his creation in God's image. Every human being possesses an inalienable dignity that stamps human existence as good regardless of gender, race, class, ethnicity, nationality.

2. SOCIAL NATURE OF THE PERSON

Human dignity is realized in community with others and with all of creation. Every aspect of life in community is measured by how the dignity of each person is upheld; therefore the earth and human community must be whole and healthy.

3. THE COMMON GOOD

The freedom and good of the individual must be balanced with the good of society - domestic and global society. Promoting the common good is not compatible with tolerating hunger, homelessness, unemployment or injustice. The economic, political and social institutions of society must be shaped to contribute to the individual and common good.

4. SOLIDARITY OF THE HUMAN FAMILY

Solidarity helps us to see the "other"-- whether a person, people or nation ... as a neighbor, a "sharer", a "helper", irrespective of age, race, gender, ethnicity, political persuasion, etc. There is an interconnection among all peoples demanding that we value and respect the experience of all.

5. PARTICIPATION AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

People should be able to participate in the decisions which affect their lives (unions, social organizations, councils, etc.).

6. SUBSIDIARITY AS THE RULE OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

Decisions should be made as close as possible to the level of individual initiative in communities and institutions. Families, local community groups, local governments and small businesses should be fostered and their input considered. Larger government structures have a role when greater social coordination and regulation are necessary for the common good.

7. DIGNITY OF WORK

Work is an extension of the person, his/her gifts, talents, and education. It provides a person with an opportunity to contribute to the common good. Work should enhance the human person, not demean him/her for less noble motives. People should be able to earn a living wage with adequate benefits and be employed in good working conditions. Through work people participate in the social and economic order.

8. UNIVERSAL PURPOSE OF MATERIAL GOODS

The goods of the earth are meant to enhance human life and dignity. How we use the resources of the earth, what we produce and sell should enhance the human spirit. Planet Earth belongs to all humanity. Both the Earth and humanity must be in partnership with each other for their mutual survival. Therefore, we must learn about and respect its multiple resources and systems if we would be responsible partners. The Earth's productive resources do not belong to the few who seek to use it for personal or corporate profit, but to the whole human community. These resources are limited and have their own right to be a part of God's creation. We need to use them with care, respect and in a way which allows for regeneration, i.e. sustainability.

9. OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

Jesus teaches us to look at all reality through the eyes of the poor as he did. He chose to be born poor, to look at reality through the underside of history. His life teaches that a just society is achieved only when the needs of the poor in society are given first priority. In the Pastoral Economic Justice for All the U.S. Catholic Bishops state, "The obligation to provide justice for all means that the poor have the single most urgent economic claim on the conscience of the nation."

10. ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY

Earth's resources are limited and are part of God's creation. We need to use them with care and in a way that allows for regeneration and sustainability.