Catholic Social Teaching

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching "is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society" (United States Catholic Bishops, "Themes of Catholic Social Teaching").  It "is the Gospel in action, compassion on the pavement, and the deeply hallowed conviction that every person has inherent and transcendent worth, fashioned in the image and likeness of God. ... It provides a lens through which to examine the most vexing and complex problems and challenges in modern society" (Bishop George Leo Thomas, "The Fifth Force," Carroll College Baccalaureate Mass, 11 May 2013).

The U.S. Catholic Bishops have summarized the main principles of Catholic Social Teaching as (1) the life and dignity of the human person; (2) the call to family, community, and participation; (3) the protection of rights and meeting responsibilities; (4) the option for the poor and vulnerable; (5) the dignity of work and the rights of workers; (6) solidarity; and (7) care for God's creation.

See the U.S. Bishops' websites on Catholic Social Teaching and Justice, Peace, and Human Development.

While teaching on ethical and moral matters dates to the origins of the Church, the modern era of Catholic Social Teaching begins with the encyclical Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII in 1891.  Important documents on Catholic Social Teaching are:

Papal Encyclicals

• Rerum Novarum (1891)
• Quadragesimo Anno (1931)
• Mater et Magistra (1961)
• Pacem in Terris (1963)
• Populorum Pregressio (1967)
• Octogesima Adveniens (1971)
• Laborem Exercens (1981)
• Solicitudo Rei Socialis(1987)
• Centesimus Annus (1991)
• Evangelium Vitae (1995)
• Fides et Ratio (1998)
• Deus Caritas Est (2005)
• Caritas in Veritate (2009)
• Laudato Si' (2015)

Second Vatican Council

• Gaudium et Spes (1965)

U.S. Catholic Bishops

• "Brothers and Sisters to Us" (1979)
• "The Challenge of Peace" (1983)
• "Economic Justice for All" (1986)
• "Renewing the Earth" (1991)
• "The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace" (1993)
• "Confronting a Culture of Violence" (1994)
• "Called to Global Solidarity" (1997)
• "A Fair and Just Workplace" (1999)
• "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" (1999)
• "Global Climate Change" (2001)
• "A Place at the Table" (2002)
• "For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food" (2003)
• "Strangers No Longer on a Journey of Hope" - Co-written with the Mexican Conference of Bishops (2003)

Other Important Documents

• Octogesima Adveniens (A Call to Action) - Pope Paul VI (1971)
• Justicia in Mundo (Justice in the World) - Synod of Bishops (1971)
• Sacramentum Caritatis (Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist)  --  Pope Benedict XVI (2007)
• "The Fifth Force" - Homily by Bishop George Leo Thomas at the Carroll College 2013 Baccalrueate Mass

Important Web Pages on Catholic Social Teaching

• United States Catholic Bishops
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
• CRS Education
• CRS Food Fast
• CRS University
• CRS Rice Bowl
• Catholic Charities
• The Society of Saint Vincent DePaul
• Pax Christi USA
• The Center of Concern
• The Ignatian Solidarity Network
• Catholics Confront Global Poverty
• The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change
• Montana Catholic Conference
• Catholic Social Services of Montana

The Catholic Church has summarized its social teaching in "The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church."