Catholic Social Teaching: Core Principles and Justice Concepts
Core Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
- Human Dignity
- Respect for Life
- Association/Participation
- Call to Family
- Preferential Option for the Poor
- Solidarity
- Subsidiarity
- Stewardship
- Common Good
Understanding Justice
Ensuring everyone receives their dues and is treated with basic human rights.
Four Types of Justice According to Aquinas
- Commutative Justice
- Distributive Justice
- Legal Justice
- Social Justice
Human Dignity
Every human being possesses inherent value and worth.
Respect for Human Life
Life, created by God, is to be protected from conception to cremation.
Association and Participation
Every human being has a role to participate in society; we have a fundamental need to belong.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Valuing family, honoring family life, and advocating for policies that protect families.
Preferential Option for the Poor
The Church’s primary resources should be directed towards caring for the poor and oppressed.
Solidarity
Recognizing that God created the planet without borders and boundaries, emphasizing that we are one human family created by God.
Subsidiarity
Aquinas reminds us that government alone cannot address every social issue; communities must take responsibility.
Stewardship
Caring for the environment, recognizing it as God’s creation.
Common Good
Looking out for the needs of everyone, striving for the greater good of all.
Social Justice: Definition and Application
A form of practical theology and the application of the virtue of justice. It involves the defense of human dignity by ensuring that social structures and institutions at all levels—including political, cultural, and economic—provide for essential human needs and protect human rights.
Social Justice: Ultimate Goal
The ultimate goal where human needs and rights are consistently upheld.
The Praxis Method
- SEE: To gather information and become informed about the subject (who, what, when, where, and how).
- JUDGE: Discerning what faith traditions say about the issue, utilizing scripture, Catholic social teaching, papal teachings, and other relevant sources.
- ACT: Taking action to address and change the issue, which may involve implementing laws, organizing protests, or engaging in local or global initiatives.
Pyramid of Practical Theology
- Tradition: What does my faith tradition tell me about this issue? What do scripture or Catholic teachings say?
- Culture: How do our backgrounds, upbringing, and cultural norms shape our understanding of the world?
- Experience: What is my own experience? How does this experience help me understand the issue? Do I lack any information?
Understanding Sin
To “miss the mark.” Both sins of commission and omission are equally significant.
Social Sin
A sin committed by a collective group or society, where everyone cooperates, such as a materialistic culture.
Sin of Commission
Actively setting out to commit sin; purposefully doing something wrong.
Sin of Omission
Failing to do the right thing when one should; ignoring a moral obligation.
Commutative Justice
Reciprocal justice concerning basic contracts and agreements; fundamental yet essential.
Distributive Justice
Every individual and government has certain responsibilities, such as paying taxes.
Legal Justice
Essential for a thriving society, ensuring safety and security, and contributing to societal betterment. Note: Legality does not always equate to morality or ethics.