According to Pope John Paul II, the foundation of social justice “rests on the threefold cornerstones of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity”.
The social teachings are made up of three distinct elements:
- Principles of reflection;
- Criteria for judgement; and.
- Guidelines for action.
Catholic Social Teaching Principles
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
- Solidarity.
- Care for God’s creation.
- Call to Family, Community and Participation.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
- Rights and Responsibilities.
- Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers.
Name three elements of Catholic social teaching.
- Principles for reflection.
- criteria for judgement.
- guidelines for action.
What is the purpose of CST?
Catholic social teaching (CST), a branch of moral theology, addresses contemporary issues within the political, economic, and cultural structures of society. The threefold cornerstone of CST contains the principles of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity.
The foundational principle of all Catholic social teachings is the sanctity of human life. Catholics believe in an inherent dignity of the human person starting from conception through to natural death.
The first social teaching proclaims the respect for human life, one of the most fundamental needs in a world distorted by greed and selfishness. The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation for all the social teachings.
What are the three characteristics of the natural law?
To summarize: the paradigmatic natural law view holds that (1) the natural law is given by God; (2) it is naturally authoritative over all human beings; and (3) it is naturally knowable by all human beings.
The nine Catholic Social Thought principles
- The Common Good.
- Dignity of the Human Person.
- Preferential Option for the Poor.
- Subsidiarity.
- The Universal Purpose of Goods.
- Stewardship of Creation.
- Promotion of Peace.
- Participation.
What are the four kinds of justice distinguished by Catholic moral teaching?
The 4 types of justice: commutative, distributive, legal, and social.
Seven Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching.
The foundations of modern Catholic social teaching are widely considered to have been laid by Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical letter Rerum Novarum. A distinctive feature of Catholic social teaching is its concern for the poorest members of society.
Catholic Social Teaching Research Guide: The 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation.
- Rights and Responsibilities.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers.
- Solidarity.
- Care for God’s Creation.