Catholic Social Teaching
What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching is based around the Church's belief that we can all make a difference in making our world a better place for all. These teachings are rooting in Scripture and especially in the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. Christ shows us how to walk in his footsteps, bringing love and care to those both near and far. it is our vocation to live as Jesus and the saints throughout the ages, bettering our world for everyone.
The Catholic Church has seven principles of social teaching that we will explore in school, just like our virtues. Throughout your child's spiritual journey at St. Joseph's, we explore these principles through our curriculum, activities and everyday actions.
- Dignity of the human person
- Family and Community
- Solidarity and The Common Good
- Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- Stewardship of God's Creation
Dignity of the Human Person
God made each one of us. This makes us incredibly special. It doesn’t matter who we are, who our friends are, what we own, what we look like. What matters is that we are special because we are God’s children. This means that we must treat others with respect and fairness because God made us all.
Saint: St. Maximillian Kolbe
Family and Community
Jesus understood that people need each other. We all need our families, friends and neighbours. He tells us that these important people can help us. Jesus says that we must help them too. Doing this, we create a loving community where everyone can live life to the full.
Saint: The Holy Family
Solidarity and the Common Good
We are connected to people and places all over the world. God made everyone, so we are all brothers and sisters in God’s family wherever we live. God created us as one global family and called to support our brothers and sisters.
Being in solidarity is recognising others as our brothers and sisters and actively working for their good.
Saint: St. Therese of Lisieux
Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Everyone’s work is of value. There are many kinds of work. In each job, workers deserve to be treated with respect; work safely; work reasonable hours, and earn fair wages. They deserve this because they are made by God. Our work gives us the means to live, but it is also a chance to use the talents God gives us. Our work is our way of cooperating with God to help create a better world.
Saint: St. Joseph the Worker
Rights and Responsibilities
All God’s people have the right to food, work, clothes, a home, school and medical care. These ‘rights’ are things that every person on earth needs in order to live a full life. But many people do not have them. Jesus wants people who enjoy these rights to help their sisters and brothers obtain their rights. It is not enough to feel badly for others. Jesus says it is our responsibility to see that everyone receives his or her rights.
Saint: St. Vincent de Paul
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Option for the poor and vulnerable reminds us of God’s preferential love for the poorest and most vulnerable people and the love we must show too. It is our duty as followers of Christ to help those who are less fortunate in any way we can. This can be through monetary contributions but also through time and acts of service.
Saint: St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Stewardship of God's Creation
The earth and all life on it is God’s creation. We are called to take care of it because it is a holy gift from God and the only place we can live. When we make bad or thoughtless use of the world’s resources, many people suffer. When we make good choices about how we treat other living things (people, animals, plants) we help all living things to live as God intends. Making wise choices about the care of God’s creation is called good stewardship.
Saint: St. Francis of Assisi