Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching applies Gospel truths to modern times. The Vicariate of Catholic Social Doctrine can help foster understanding and action in your parish or group by providing speakers, presentations, or panel discussions on a number of timely topics and issues in the context of Catholic Social Teaching. Contact us at 614-241-2540 to make arrangements.
Learn more about the Church’s teaching and action steps on:
- Artificial Intelligence: Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas
- End of Life Issues
- Immigration / Migration
- Poverty
- Click here to explore dozens of additional topics.
BASIC THEMES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
The way we live and interact with one another and work to build a just society is guided by key themes that are fundamental to human flourishing. They help us form Christ-like responses to needs and situations we experience in our families, parishes, schools, workplaces, communities, and the world at-large. They include:
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Every single person is made in the image and likeness of God, and therefore has inherit dignity simply because they exist. We value the sanctity of human life from conception through natural death.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
We realize that dignity in relationship with others. Marriage and family are the building blocks of society.
Rights and Responsibilities
All people have fundamental rights to life, food, shelter, health care, education, employment, and a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. We all have a responsibility to respect these rights of others and work for the common good of all.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. How do we individually and collectively respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable?
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
All people have a right to decent and productive work, fair wages, private property, and economic initiative. The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around.
Solidarity
We are one human family, no matter our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are called to think and work globally for justice.
Care for God’s Creation
We are called to be good stewards of the earth, our common home. Ecological concern is inseparable from our understanding of human dignity, the common good, and solidarity.
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