Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

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Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

• Learn them,
• sdrawkcab and forwards!

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CST Principles 1 Life and Dignity of the Human
Person

• Food for thought
• What are some examples of people whose life and
  dignity are being disrespected and/or abused?

• Life is sacred and the dignity of the human
  person is to be respected.
• Christians are called to be for human life and to
  help others live to the fullest.

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CST Principle 2Call to Family, Communityand
Participation

• All people are equal and have the right and duty
  to participate fully in all aspects of human
  society.
• Those who are not able to fully participate are
  said to be
• MARGINALIZED, or outside the main group.

• Examples
• education
• politics
• culture
• religion
• economy

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Food for thought

• Who might we consider to be marginalized (not
  able to fully participate) in our society today?

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CST Principles 3Rights and Responsibilities

• All people have human rights.
• Rights are conditions or things that any person
  needs to be fully human.
• All people must be challenged to live up to human
  responsibilities.

• Examples
• basic right to life
• survival rights
• thrival rights

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Survival RightsRights that are necessary for
people to be able to live.

• food and water
• shelter
• basic health care

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Thrival RightsRights to those things necessary
to become everything God intended us to be.

• Also, the right to
• live by ones conscience
• live by ones religion
• live without discrimination

• education
• employment
• safe environment
• certain material goods

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With rights come responsibilities.Rights are not
unlimited.

• We have the responsibility for
• the good of others
• the good of the whole society
• We are responsible for the well-being of our
  neighbor.

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Subsidiarity

• Decisions affecting the community should be made
  at the lowest level possible.
• Governments and large organizations exist only
  to serve the good of
• human beings
• families
• communities

• Example
• 1. city
• 2. county
• 3. state
• 4. federal

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Food for thought

• What rights do we have as members of a community?
• What responsibilities do we have to the community?

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CST Principles 4Option for the Poor and
Vulnerable

• We are called to emulate God by showing a special
  preference for those who are poor and weak.
• We put the needs of societys most poor and
  vulnerable members first among social concerns.

• Reminder
• The poor vulnerable are not only without money,
  but are also deprived of their basic rights or of
  equal participation in society.

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Why this concern for the poor and vulnerable?

• Not because they are more valuable
• But because their need is greater.
• Food for thought
• Who are the poor and
• vulnerable in the U.S. today?
• Whose need is great?

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CST Principles 5Dignity of Work and Rights of
Workers

• Work exists for people, not people for work.
• The value of work is measured by whether it
  promotes the human dignity of the worker.
• Work well done contributes to the common good.

• Work provides families with the things they need
  to live and flourish.

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Food for thought

• What is it about work that helps us to feel our
  human dignity?
• What does work contribute to your sense of
  well-being and worth?

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Workers RightsThose things that contribute to
the dignity of work

• Food for thought
• What recent news stories disclose situations
  where these rights may have been violated?

• Right to
• employment
• decent and fair pay
• a safe workplace
• honest employers
• organize and join unions

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CST Principles 6Solidarity

• We are all responsible to
• Stand by the poor and vulnerable
• Take action to support the violation of rights.
• Learn more about the situations of those whose
  rights have been violated.
• Put ourselves in their position (metaphorically
  or literally).

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Food for thought

• Think of examples of people you know who practice
  the principle of solidarity.

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CST Principles 7Care for Gods Creation

• We are called to live our faith
• in relationship with all of Gods creation
• and to be stewards of that creation.
• Protect the health of people
• Protect the health of the planet

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Food for thought

• Make a list of examples where our society has
  misused its stewardship -- destroying the balance
  between human need and protection of creation.

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Recap of Principles(remember, sdrawkcab and
forwards!)

• Life and respect for human dignity
• Call to family, community, and participation
• Rights and responsibilities
• Option for the poor and vulnerable
• The dignity of work and rights of workers
• Solidarity
• Care for Gods creation

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World Realities that challenge these principles
Racism
Drug trafficking abuse
Denial of basic rights
Materialism
Apathy
Poverty wages
Religious discrimination
Class economic divisions
Physical abuse children, prisoners, etc.
Corruption