An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

Rodger Charles, SJ

Principles: rooted in natural law (binding on everyone) and revealed law (binding on
Catholics)

Applications: prudential judgments regarding the application of the moral principles

“As bishops, we do not claim to make these prudential judgments with the same kind of authority that marks
our declarations of principles.” (EJ#20)

Person: made in the image and likeness of God who by nature is social (not
individualism), the human person is the end and purpose of every social organization (the
State) which exists to serve him. He does not exist to serve the State.
Greater Complexity
of Organization

Family: the foundation and basis of society (society goes by way of the family, therefore,
the obligation to strengthen and protect families)

Civil Society: voluntary cooperation and association with others Directed to the
Informal based on customs and convention Common Good:
the good of the
Political Society: the State based on the rule of law whole people and
each person, under
just law

“We should think of human society as being primarily a spiritual reality. Its foundation is
truth, brought into effect by justice, perfected by love.” (John XXIII, Pacem in Terris 37)

1. The first principle of all social organization is that it must serve the human person,
made in God’s image and likeness. The human person is possessed of rights of which he
must not be deprived and corresponding human duties which he must not neglect. Rights
are rooted in persons created in the image of God, not in the State.

2. The second principle is that human beings are by nature social, and that they need to
live in an organized society with others so that they can develop socially, intellectually,
economically, and spiritually.

3. The third principle is that man is born into freedom and for freedom.

4. The fourth principle is that freedom, in order to be worthy of man’s dignity as a child
of God, must be lived according to God’s law, known to him through his conscience,
which is both objective and subjective.
Ethics and Political Society
The families and groups that make up civil society organize and associate for cultural, social, and
economic purposes. As the complexity increases law is needed as well as the means of enforcing
it, so the State comes about. The State (political society) must respect and support the natural
rights of its citizens. Other rights and obligations arise out of the need of political society, these
must harmonize with natural rights and must build up political society on the basis of truth,
justice, and love.

The State is founded in God and derives its authority from him. This does not mean that every
ruler is appointed by God, but his/her authority as such is. This authority does not come directly
from God, but through the people (from the consent of the governed). The people, as a whole,
therefore, are free to choose the form of government (monarchy, aristocracy, democracy) that
suits them best. The purpose of the State is to promote the Common Good (the good of the
whole people, and each person, under just law). The State’s task is not merely the guardian of
law and order, but the promotion of the well-being of the people.

All should have some share in government. Of the kinds of government, the best form of
constitution is a mixture: of monarchy, in that one man is at the head; of aristocracy in that
many rule as especially qualified,; and of democracy in that the rulers can be chosen by the
people and from them. (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica IaIIae Q 105 Art 1)

Democracy cannot be idolized to the point of making it a substitute for morality or a panacea for
immorality. Its moral value is not automatic but depends on its conformity to the moral law to
which it, like every other form of human behavior, must be subject. The value of democracy
stands or falls by the standards which it embodies or promotes. (Pope John Paul II, Evangelium
Vitae, 70)

All citizens have a right and duty to promote the common good, through voting, material
resources, personal service. Citizens should also recognize the legitimacy of different points of
view about worldly affairs and show respect for those who defend their opinions by legitimate
means.

Principles of unity which allow citizens of diverse backgrounds to cohere as a national

community:
solidarity: structural principle of every society, universal sense of family, expresses directly the
common moral responsibility to work together to promote the common good
subsidiarity: one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they
can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry (QA#79) that is, never assign to a larger or
higher society what can be performed successfully by smaller and lower communities. Serves to
protect vital integrity of family, neighborhood, church, as well as other groups

Relationship between Church and State: The tension between the two spheres of activity has been
worked out differently throughout history. Ultimately, both Church and State have rightful and
independent authority in their respective spheres. Secular power has authority for governance of
the State, ordained ministry authority for care of the Church. Since the temporal order is
subordinate to the spiritual order, in the end, the Church has the precedence, but this does not
mean the Church can directly interfere is State affairs, nor that she can disregard its legitimate
laws. At the same time the State has no right to decide on theological and ecclesiological issues.
Ethics and Economic Society
Economic society develops as human beings apply themselves to the task of earning a living and
improving the material conditions of existence by agriculture, industry, commerce, trade, in the
professions, arts, and other occupations.

The structures and mechanisms of economic life must respect the dignity of the worker,
including spiritual, moral, and intellectual needs, as well as material needs. The worker must
have freedom to choose their work, to prosper at it, and to own property. It is the task of the State
to ensure economic freedom and see that it is not abused.

The purpose of the economy: to meet human need (not human greed)
In the earlier stages of development, man always lived under the weight of necessity. His needs
were few. The problem today is of consumerism. It is not wrong to want to live better. What is
wrong is a style of life which wants more in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.
In consumerism, people are ensnared in a web of false and superficial gratification rather than
being helped to experience their personhood in an authentic way. (Pope John Paul II, Centisimus
Annus 36,41)

The essential means to this end is labor, God gave the earth to all for sustaining themselves, but
it does not yield its fruit without labor. Work is the use of human intelligence and freedom to
develop the world and its resources.

Priority of labor over capital

Initially human beings had no capital or complex tools, only the land and capacity to work. All
property originated in labor, which is why labor has priority over property and over capital.

The spiritual significance of work is that human beings, created in God’s image, share in God’s
creative activity. The subject of work (the worker) is more important than the work done or the
object achieved by it.

Property: ownership of material things: land, houses, productive goods, capital, natural
resources, machinery…intellectual property: products of creative ability protected by law
Property is a moral good, but human beings were given only limited dominion, creation must be
used properly and with respect (preserved, efficiency, without abuse).

The universal destination of earthly goods

The right to private property is not an absolute right, it is subject to the common good and the
universal destination of earthly goods, and it is good insofar as enables human beings to achieve
the universal purpose for which the goods of the world were created.

Questions for Discussion:

What are natural (human) rights? What are derived rights?

What form of government is best? Might it vary with the people and the times?

How does democracy require a people based in morality? What happens when freedom rooted in
democracy becomes an excuse for license? (see Galatians 5:13ff)

What is “fair profit”? Should it be based on service rendered to the community?

What is a “just wage”?