Catholic Social Teaching

Flashcards about Catholic Social Teaching.

Catholic social teaching themes

The themes do not stand alone; they cannot be separated from one another. Instead, they are interdependent, woven together to support and complement one another.

Most basic principle of Catholic social teaching

All human beings have dignity because they are loved by God and made in his image.

Catholic social teaching says

All people, without exception, are given dignity by God.

Catholic social teaching insists

Nothing can take away the fundamental dignity of any person, not even his or her own destructive actions.

For human life

Means allowing people to live. Respect for human life is the basis for the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, and other forms of violence, including most wars.

Respecting human life means

Helping others live to the fullest, experiencing all the dignity and goodness that God intended for them in the physical, social, mental, and spiritual aspects of their lives.

Participation

The right and responsibility of all people to participate in all aspects of human society-educational, political, cultural, religious, economic, and so on.

Marginalized

Forced outside the main group.

Family

Society's most basic building block; it is the place where people are meant to care for and love one another most intimately, and ideally, it is the place where people are able to realize all that God calls them to be.

Common good

The social condition that allows all the people in a community to reach their full human potential and fulfill their human dignity.

Subsidiarity

Governments and large organizations should not take over social responsibilities and decisions that can be carried out by individuals and small local organizations.

Rights

Those conditions or things that any person needs in order to be fully what God created him or her to be.

Survival rights

The rights that are necessary for people to be able to live; these include the right to food, shelter, and basic health care.

Thrival rights

Those things necessary for them to fully realize their God-given dignity. These include such things as education, employment, a safe environment, and enough material goods to support a family. They also include the right to live by one's conscience and religion, to immigrate, and to live without discrimination.

Rights are limited

Rights are limited by his or her responsibilities for the good of others, as well as for the common good of the whole society.