Catholic Social Teaching

The Dignity of the Human Person

Gaudium et Spes, Vatican Council 11, 1965 For the beginning, the subject and the goal of all social institutions is and must be the human person. (25)

There is a growing awareness of the exalted dignity proper to human persons…...Therefore there must be made available to them everything necessary for leading a life truly human, such as food, clothing and shelter...… the right to education, to employment, to a good reputation…...(26)

With respect to the fundamental rights of the person, every type of discrimination whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, colour, social condition, language or religion is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent. (29)

Peace on Earth, Pope John XX111, 1963 Any human society, if it is to be well-ordered and productive, must lay down as a foundation this principle, namely, that every human being is a person, that is, his/her nature is endowed with intelligence and free will. By virtue of this, persons have rights and duties of their own, flowing directly and simultaneously from their very nature. These rights are therefore universal, inviolable and inalienable. (9)

The Common Good

Gaudium et Spes. Vatican Council 11, 1965 The common good…is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily. (26)

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 It is the proper function of public authorities to arbitrate, in the name of the common good, between various particular interests; but it should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family etc. (1908)

Mater et Magistra, Pope John XX111, 1961 Considering the common good the following points are relevant:…...to provide employment for as many workers as possible; to take care lest privileged groups arise even amongst the workers themselves; to maintain a balance between wages and prices; to make accessible the goods and services for a better life to as many persons as possible; either to eliminate or to keep within bounds the inequalities that exist between different sectors of the economy; to balance properly any increases in output, with advances in services provided to citizens, especially by public authority. (79)

Justice

Evangelii Praecone, Pope Pius X11, 1951 Charity indeed can remedy to a certain extent many unjust social conditions. But this is not enough...…in the first place there must be justice which should prevail and be put into practice. That not for anyone is private property an absolute unbridled right. No one is justified in keeping for his/her exclusive use what he/she does not need when others lack necessities. (23)

The surplus riches of wealthy countries must help those countries still in need. It is true to say that charity begins at home. But home today is all the world. (49)

Conscience, a new conscience for our times, is calling each of us to self-review. Am I really doing all I can to help the poor and hungry? Am I prepared to pay more taxes in order that the government can do more for development? Am I prepared to pay more in the shops for goods imported from abroad so that people who produce these goods are paid a decent wage? (47)

On Social Concern, Pope John Paul 11, 1988 Part of the teaching and most ancient practice of the Church is the conviction that she is obliged …she herself, her ministers and each of her members, to relieve the misery of the suffering, both far and near, not only out of her abundance but also out of her necessities. Faced by cases of need, one cannot ignore them in favour of superfluous church ornaments and costly furnishings for divine worship; on the contrary it could be obligatory to sell these goods in order to provide food, drink, clothing and shelter for those who lack these things. (31)

Mater et Magistra. Pope John XX111, 1961 In economic affairs first place is to be given to the private initiative of individuals who, either working by themselves or with others...…pursue their common interests. But in the matter it is necessary that public authorities take active interest, the better to increase outputs of goods and to further social progress for the benefit of all citizens. (51, 52)

It is within the power of public authorities to reduce imbalances ... …between various sectors of economic life. These same developments make it possible to keep fluctuations in the economy within bounds and to provide effective measures for avoiding mass unemployment. Consequently, it is requested of public authorities responsible for the common good, that they intervene in a wide variety of economic affairs, and that in a more extensive and organised way then heretofore, they adapt institutions, tasks, means and procedures to this end. (54)

Gaudium et Spes, Vatican Council 11, 1965 Economic development must be kept under the control of humankind. It must not be left to the sole judgement of a few people or groups possessing excessive economic power, or of the political community alone, or of certain especially powerful nations. (65)

Populorum Progressio, Pope Paul V1, 1967 But modern industry is built on sand if profit is the only motive. When private ownership of industry admits no social obligations, and claims unbridled freedom, the way is clear that leads to the tyranny of wealth.

Capitalism has often bred too much misery, too much injustice, too much bitterness and strife.

Industrialisation itself has not brought these abuses. The wretched system that came along with it has brought evil into being. (26)

The money spent on arms is scandalous, while schools, and homes and hospitals remain unbuilt. (53) Justice in the World, Synod of Bishops, 1971 Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constituent dimension of the preaching of the gospel. (6) Christian love of neighbour and justice cannot be separated. (34)

Pacem in Terris, Pope John XX111, 1963 Consideration of justice and equity can at times demand that those in power pay more attention to the weaker members of society, since these are at a disadvantage when it comes to defending their own rights and asserting their legitimate interests. (56)

Mater et Magistra, Pope John XX111, 1961 As regards taxation, assessment according to ability to pay is fundamental to a just and equitable tax system. (132)

Workers Rights

Gaudium et Spes, Vatican Council 11, 1965 Human labour which is expended in the production and exchange of goods or in the performance of economic services is superior to the other elements of economic life.

Payment for labour must be such as to furnish people with the means to cultivate their own material, social, cultural and spiritual life worthily. (67)

Among the basic rights of the human person must be counted the right of freely founding labour unions...….the strike can still be a necessary, though ultimate, means for the defence of the workers' own rights and fulfilment of their just demands. (68)

Mater et Magistra, Pope John XX111, 1961 Nor can we neglect to congratulate and to express our esteem for the International Labor Organization (ILO) which, for many years, has done effective and valuable work in adapting the economic and social order everywhere to the norms of justice and humanity. (103)

On Human Work, Pope John Paul 11, 1981 We must first of all recall a principle that has always been taught by the Church: the principle of the priority of labour over capital. (12)

Wealth and Poverty

Octogesima Adveniens, Pope Paul V1, 1971 ...…the Gospel instructs us in the preferential respect due to the poor and the special situation they have in society; the more fortunate should renounce some of their rights so as to place their goods more generously at the service of others. (23)

Puebla Conference Document, Latin American Bishops, 1970 In the light of faith the growing gap between rich and poor is a scandal and a contradiction with being Christian. (28)