Catholic Social Teachings - Following the Stepping Stones to the Kingdom

The basic principles of Catholic social teaching and their connection to the Word of God, are of vital importance in guiding us to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today.

Care for God's Creation

As Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' reminds us, we are called to tend the earth—our common home—and care for all of God's creation.

Following Catholic Social Teaching • Parent Learning Centers

Helping Our Family Live Our Faith

This session will help parents to learn about Catholic social teaching, including the exercise of virtue in society, the common good, the equal dignity of human persons, and the need to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities. They will learn how to talk with their children about our Catholic social teachings in ways that will help them grow into a lifetime of faith. • By Bill Huebsch

Following Catholic Social Teaching • Whole Community Catechesis

(English & Spanish)

This session will help participants to learn about Catholic social teaching, including the exercise of virtue in society, the common good, the equal dignity of human persons, and the need to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities

Introduction to Justice • Generations of Faith

This learning session is designed to provide you with an overview of justice from a Catholic perspective, including an overview of Catholic Social Teaching.

Introduction to Justice: Prayer Service • Generations of Faith

A prayer service designed to be used for any session on justice or Catholic Social Teaching.

Life & Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.

Rights & Responsibilities

The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

Option for the Poor & Vulnerable

A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

The Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers

Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in Gods creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

Solidarity

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Call to Family, Community & Participation

How we organize our society -- in economics and politics, in law and policy -- directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Catholic Social Teachings

Websites for Further Learning

A collection of websites to further explore Catholic Social Teaching.