Catholic sOCIAL tEACHING
1. Human Dignity – Every human person has dignity and worth that comes from being created in the image and likeness of God. It does not come from any human quality or accomplishment. The human is the clearest reflection of God among us. All economic, political, and cultural decisions and institutions must be judged in light of whether they protect or undermine the dignity of the human person. (CC 1700; 1928-1938)
2. Individual Rights and Responsibilities – Because every human being has dignity, they also have rights and responsibilities. Each human has the right to have their basic human needs met: life, food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, education, and employment. We have the responsibility to practice, protect, uphold and care for these rights. (CC 1700; 1928-1938)
3. The Call to Family, Community and Participation – The human person is both sacred and social by nature; in community humans recognize their dignity. Therefore we are called to community with others. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. Families should be free to establish a family and procreate, profess and practice their faith, have private property, work, housing, security, and safety, and freely form associations with others. How we organize our society must allow people to participate and achieve the fullness of their humanity; all people, including the government must uphold and promote the common good (the sum total of all social conditions, which allow people either as groups of individuals, to reach their human dignity). (CC 1878-1917; 2196-2233)
4. Option for the Poor – A moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. A healthy community can be achieved only if its members give special attention to those on the margins of society. We are called to speak for the voiceless, defend the weak, and in general helping out those who are poor and vulnerable. (2443-2449)
5. Dignity of Work, Rights of Workers and Economic Justice – The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is an expression of our human dignity and a way to participation in God's ongoing 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 organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. The economy should protect human life, defend human rights, and advance the well-being of all. People do have the right to economic initiative and private property, but no one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life. Distributive justice demands that income, wealth, and power to be distributed in ways that meet the basic needs of all members of society. (2419-2436)
6. Solidarity – We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences. All are responsible for all, since we are all sisters and brothers. (1939-1942; 2437-2442)
7. Subsidiarity and the Role of Government - The state should promote human dignity, protect human rights, and ensure that society is organized such that all humans can achieve full human dignity (protect and promote the common good). All people have a right and a responsibility to participate in political institutions so that government can achieve its proper goals. The principle of subsidiarity holds that the functions of government should be performed at the lowest level possible, as long as they can be performed adequately. When the needs in question cannot adequately be met at the lower level, then it is not only necessary, but also imperative that higher levels of government intervene. (CC 1878-1917; 2234-2246; 2437-2442)
8. Stewardship of God’s Creation – The good of the earth are gifts form God and are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. There is a “social mortgage” on these goods and we have a responsibility to be stewards and trustees, not consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship and a sign of our respect for the Creator. We are called to protecting the health of people and the whole planet. (2402-2418)
9. Promotion of Peace and Disarmament – Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action –oriented concept. Peace is not just the absence of war but it involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations, including collaboration and binding agreements. Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon right order among human beings.
2. Individual Rights and Responsibilities – Because every human being has dignity, they also have rights and responsibilities. Each human has the right to have their basic human needs met: life, food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, education, and employment. We have the responsibility to practice, protect, uphold and care for these rights. (CC 1700; 1928-1938)
3. The Call to Family, Community and Participation – The human person is both sacred and social by nature; in community humans recognize their dignity. Therefore we are called to community with others. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. Families should be free to establish a family and procreate, profess and practice their faith, have private property, work, housing, security, and safety, and freely form associations with others. How we organize our society must allow people to participate and achieve the fullness of their humanity; all people, including the government must uphold and promote the common good (the sum total of all social conditions, which allow people either as groups of individuals, to reach their human dignity). (CC 1878-1917; 2196-2233)
4. Option for the Poor – A moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. A healthy community can be achieved only if its members give special attention to those on the margins of society. We are called to speak for the voiceless, defend the weak, and in general helping out those who are poor and vulnerable. (2443-2449)
5. Dignity of Work, Rights of Workers and Economic Justice – The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is an expression of our human dignity and a way to participation in God's ongoing 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 organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. The economy should protect human life, defend human rights, and advance the well-being of all. People do have the right to economic initiative and private property, but no one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life. Distributive justice demands that income, wealth, and power to be distributed in ways that meet the basic needs of all members of society. (2419-2436)
6. Solidarity – We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences. All are responsible for all, since we are all sisters and brothers. (1939-1942; 2437-2442)
7. Subsidiarity and the Role of Government - The state should promote human dignity, protect human rights, and ensure that society is organized such that all humans can achieve full human dignity (protect and promote the common good). All people have a right and a responsibility to participate in political institutions so that government can achieve its proper goals. The principle of subsidiarity holds that the functions of government should be performed at the lowest level possible, as long as they can be performed adequately. When the needs in question cannot adequately be met at the lower level, then it is not only necessary, but also imperative that higher levels of government intervene. (CC 1878-1917; 2234-2246; 2437-2442)
8. Stewardship of God’s Creation – The good of the earth are gifts form God and are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. There is a “social mortgage” on these goods and we have a responsibility to be stewards and trustees, not consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship and a sign of our respect for the Creator. We are called to protecting the health of people and the whole planet. (2402-2418)
9. Promotion of Peace and Disarmament – Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action –oriented concept. Peace is not just the absence of war but it involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations, including collaboration and binding agreements. Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon right order among human beings.
POPULORUM PROGRESSIO - POPE PAUL VI
OFFICIAL CHURCH DOCUMENT http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html
GREAT SUMMARY http://justmecatholicfaith.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/populorum-progressio-on-the-development-of-peoples/
GREAT SUMMARY http://justmecatholicfaith.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/populorum-progressio-on-the-development-of-peoples/