four key principles of catholic social teaching sandie cornish

Four Key Principles ofFour Key Principles ofCatholic Social TeachingCatholic Social Teaching

Sandie CornishSandie Cornish

© Sandie Cornish , Australian Jesuits, October 2009.© Sandie Cornish , Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Four Key PrinciplesFour Key Principles

•The Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace’s The Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace’s Compendium of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the ChurchSocial Doctrine of the Church, identifies four principles of Catholic , identifies four principles of Catholic Social Teaching that are valid always and everywhere:Social Teaching that are valid always and everywhere:

• Human dignity.Human dignity.• The common good.The common good.• Subsidiarity.Subsidiarity.• Solidarity.Solidarity.

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Human DignityHuman Dignity

Every human being is made in the image Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God and has an inalienable and likeness of God and has an inalienable and transcendent human dignity which and transcendent human dignity which gives rise to human rights.gives rise to human rights.

People are always more important than People are always more important than things. People are never a means or an things. People are never a means or an instrument to be used for the benefit of instrument to be used for the benefit of another.another.

Each person is equal in dignity and rights, Each person is equal in dignity and rights, and every human community, every race and every human community, every race and culture is equal in dignity and rights. and culture is equal in dignity and rights. We are one human family because we are We are one human family because we are all children of the one God.all children of the one God.


Related Themes & Ideas in CSTRelated Themes & Ideas in CST

• Unity of the human familyUnity of the human family• Defense of lifeDefense of life• Human rightsHuman rights• Non discriminationNon discrimination• Priority of labour over capitalPriority of labour over capital• Integral human developmentIntegral human development


Human Dignity …Human Dignity …

““Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority; by flouting them, or moral legitimacy of every authority; by flouting them, or refusing to recognize them in its positive legislation, a society refusing to recognize them in its positive legislation, a society undermines its own moral legitimacy ...”undermines its own moral legitimacy ...”

Catechism of the Catholic ChurchCatechism of the Catholic Church, n 1930, n 1930

Human DignityHuman Dignity


Key Question:What is happening to people?


The Common GoodThe Common Good

We are all really responsible for each other We are all really responsible for each other and must work for social conditions which and must work for social conditions which ensure that every person and every group in ensure that every person and every group in society is able to meet their needs and society is able to meet their needs and realize their full potential.realize their full potential.

Every group in society must take into Every group in society must take into account the rights and aspirations of other account the rights and aspirations of other groups, and of the well being of the whole groups, and of the well being of the whole human family.human family.

God intended the goods of creation for the God intended the goods of creation for the use of all, and so everyone has a right to use of all, and so everyone has a right to access the goods of creation to meet their access the goods of creation to meet their needs.needs.



• Universal destination of goodsUniversal destination of goods• Option for the poorOption for the poor• Integrity of creationIntegrity of creation• Role of the stateRole of the state• Promotion of peacePromotion of peace


The Common Good …The Common Good …

““To love someone is to desire that person’s good and to take effective steps To love someone is to desire that person’s good and to take effective steps to secure it. Besides the good of the individual, there is a good that is to secure it. Besides the good of the individual, there is a good that is linked to living in society: the common good. It is the good of ‘all of linked to living in society: the common good. It is the good of ‘all of us’, made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who us’, made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who together constitute society ... To take a stand for the common good is on together constitute society ... To take a stand for the common good is on the one hand to be solicitous for, and on the other hand to avail oneself the one hand to be solicitous for, and on the other hand to avail oneself of, that complex of institutions that give structure to the life of society, of, that complex of institutions that give structure to the life of society, juridically, civilly, politically and culturally, making it the juridically, civilly, politically and culturally, making it the polispolis, or , or ‘city’.”‘city’.”

Benedict XVI, Benedict XVI, Caritas in VeritateCaritas in Veritate, n 7, n 7


The Common Good …The Common Good …

““The dignity of the human person requires the pursuit of the common good. The dignity of the human person requires the pursuit of the common good. Everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that Everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that improve the conditions of human life.”improve the conditions of human life.”

Catechism of the Catholic ChurchCatechism of the Catholic Church, n 1926, n 1926

The Common GoodThe Common Good


Key Questions:Is every group able to share in the benefits of life in society?Are some groups excluded?


SubsidiaritySubsidiarity

Responsibility should be kept as close as Responsibility should be kept as close as possible to the grassroots. The people or possible to the grassroots. The people or groups most directly affected by a decision or groups most directly affected by a decision or policy should have a key decision making policy should have a key decision making role.role.

More encompassing groups should only More encompassing groups should only intervene to support smaller, more local intervene to support smaller, more local groups in case of need, and where this is groups in case of need, and where this is necessary in order to coordinate their activities necessary in order to coordinate their activities with those of other groups in order to promote with those of other groups in order to promote the common good.the common good.



• ParticipationParticipation• The role of the StateThe role of the State• International communityInternational community


Subsidiarity …Subsidiarity …

““Subsidiarity is first and foremost a form of assistance to the human person Subsidiarity is first and foremost a form of assistance to the human person via the autonomy of intermediate bodies. Such assistance is offered when via the autonomy of intermediate bodies. Such assistance is offered when individuals or groups are unable to accomplish something on their own, individuals or groups are unable to accomplish something on their own, and it is always to achieve their emancipation, because it fosters freedom and it is always to achieve their emancipation, because it fosters freedom and participation through assumption of responsibility. Subsidiarity and participation through assumption of responsibility. Subsidiarity respects personal dignity by recognising in the person a subject who is respects personal dignity by recognising in the person a subject who is always capable of giving something to others... It is able to take account always capable of giving something to others... It is able to take account both of the manifold articulation of plans – and therefore the plurality of both of the manifold articulation of plans – and therefore the plurality of subjects – as well as the coordination of those plans.”subjects – as well as the coordination of those plans.”



Subsidiarity …Subsidiarity …

““... the principle of subsidiarity must be respected: a community of a ... the principle of subsidiarity must be respected: a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the later of its functions, but rather should a lower order, depriving the later of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.”good.”

John Paul II, John Paul II, Centesimus AnnusCentesimus Annus, n 48, n 48

SubsidiaritySubsidiarity


Key Questions:Who is making the decisions?Can everyone participate?


SolidaritySolidarity

Human beings are social by Human beings are social by nature. We can not survive nature. We can not survive without others and can only without others and can only grow and achieve our potential grow and achieve our potential in relationship with others.in relationship with others.

Our salvation is bound up with Our salvation is bound up with that of each other.that of each other.

Solidarity is a firm and Solidarity is a firm and persevering determination to persevering determination to commit oneself to the common commit oneself to the common good.good.



• Role of the economyRole of the economy• Integral human developmentIntegral human development• Option for the poorOption for the poor


Solidarity …Solidarity …

““Solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’ - whether a person, people, or Solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’ - whether a person, people, or nation - not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity nation - not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded when no longer useful, but as our neighbour, a helper (cf Gn 2:18-when no longer useful, but as our neighbour, a helper (cf Gn 2:18-20), to be a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to 20), to be a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God.”which all are equally invited by God.”

John Paul II, John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei SocialisSollicitudo Rei Socialis, n 39, n 39


Solidarity …Solidarity …

““Today we can say that economic life must be understood as a multi-Today we can say that economic life must be understood as a multi-layered phenomenon: in every one of these layers, to varying degrees layered phenomenon: in every one of these layers, to varying degrees and in ways specifically suited to each, the aspect of fraternal and in ways specifically suited to each, the aspect of fraternal reciprocity must be present…reciprocity must be present…

Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone and it cannot therefore be merely everyone with regard to everyone and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State.”delegated to the State.”


SolidaritySolidarity


Key Questions:Who do we really care about?Would we like this to happen to us?

For ReflectionFor Reflection

• For each key principle, think of an example where:For each key principle, think of an example where:

• The principle was respected or put into action?The principle was respected or put into action?

• The principle was not respected or put into action?The principle was not respected or put into action?

• How might these principles be better integrated into decision How might these principles be better integrated into decision making in your family, workplace or community life?making in your family, workplace or community life?


four key principles of catholic social teaching sandie cornish

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