Transcript Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Principles of Catholic Social
Teaching
Learn them,
sdrawkcab and forwards!
Life
CST Principles #1
and
Dignity of the Human Person
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.
Food for thought:
What are some examples
of people whose life
and dignity are being
disrespected and/or
abused?
CST Principle #2
Call to Family, Community
and 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:
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•
•
•
•
education
politics
culture
religion
economy
Food for thought:
Who might we consider to be marginalized
(not able to fully participate) in our
society today?
CST Principles #3
Rights 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
Survival Rights
Rights that are necessary for people
to be able to live.
• food and water
• shelter
• basic health care
Thrival Rights
Rights to those things necessary to become
everything God intended us to be.
•
•
•
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education
employment
safe environment
certain material
goods
Also, the right to:
• live by one’s conscience
• live by one’s religion
• live without
discrimination
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.
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
Food for thought:
• What rights do we
have as members of
a community?
• What responsibilities
do we have to the
community?
CST Principles #4
Option 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
society’s 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.
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?
CST Principles #5
Dignity 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.
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?
Workers’ Rights
Those things that contribute to the dignity
of work:
Right to:
• employment
• decent and fair pay
• a safe workplace
• honest employers
• organize and join
unions
Food for thought:
What recent news stories
disclose situations where
these rights may have
been violated?
CST Principles #6
Solidarity
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).
Food for thought:
Think of examples of people you know who
practice the principle of solidarity.
CST Principles #7
Care for God’s Creation
We are called to live our faith
in relationship with all of God’s creation
and to be stewards of that creation.
•
•
Protect the health of people
Protect the health of the planet
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.
Recap of Principles
(remember, sdrawkcab and forwards!)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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 God’s creation
Racism
Apathy
World Realities that challenge
these principles:
Religious discrimination