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Social Teaching

"The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It offers moral principles and coherent values that are badly needed in our time. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and Episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents."

We believe that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision of society.

We believe in the sanctity of human life, and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.

We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

We believe that the person is not only sacred but also social and that people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor.

We believe that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.

We believe that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. Our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor first.

We believe that the economy must serve people, and if the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected, such as the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

We believe that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences.

We believe that we show respect for our Creator by our stewardship of creation and that we are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation.

Source: Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, 1999 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops