What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God.

The Caritas in Action document has been produced by Salford Diocese as a response to Catholic Social Teaching, which calls us all as Catholics to work for the common good, help build a just society, uphold the dignity of all our brothers and sisters, especially those in the greatest need. 

Caritas in Action provides a unique and engaging set of teaching and learning opportunities for seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

Dignity

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you

Jeremiah 1:5

We believe very human person is made in the image and likeness of God. This is a gift that we all share as fellow human beings; we are all infinitely loved by our Creator. God is present in every human person, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation or economic standing. Each one of us is unique and beautiful. We are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect.

Solidarity

In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers (or sisters) of mine, you did it to me. 

Matthew 25:40

Solidarity arises when we remember that we belong to each other. We reflect on this in a special way at Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 'The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest.'

Common Good

You are not making a gift of your processions to the poor person. You are handing over to them what is theirs.

Saint Ambroise (340-397 AD)

The common good means that the fruits of the earth belong to everyone. No one should be excluded from the gifts of creation. Pope Paul VI spoke about this 50 years ago in his encyclical Populorum Progressio

Option for the poor

The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me...to let the oppressed go free.

Luke 4:18

The option for the poor reminds us of God's preferential love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. God's love is universal; he does not side with oppressors, but loves the humble.

Peace

Peace...is an order that is founded in truth, nurtured and animated by charity, and brought into effect under the auspices of freedom.

Pacem in Terris, 1963#167

Peace is a cornerstone of our Faith. Christ, the Prince of Peace, sacrificed himself with love on the cross.

Creation and environment

Who turned the wonder world of the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of colour and life?

Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1988

In the first pages of the Bible we read how God created the sun and the stars, the water and earth, and every creature. We believe Christ is the redeemer of all creation. In 2015, Pope Francis brought together decades of Church teaching in the encyclical, Laudato Si. In this deeply influential letter, Pope Francis invites everyone on the planet to consider how our actions are affecting the earth and the poorest people. Everything is interconnected, and all of creation praises God. It is our Christian vocation to care for creation.

Subsidiarity and participation (the dignity of work)

A small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.

Rerum Novarum, 1891,#3

The dignity of work has been a key principle of Catholic Social Teaching from the very beginning. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labour) He shone a light on the injustice and exploitation of workers by the rich during the industrial revolution. He advocated for workers to join forces and fight against inhuman conditions. Since then, Church teaching has upheld the dignity of work and participation. The human person should always come before the pursuit of profit. Workers have the right to join trade unions, to a just wage, to spend time with their families and to rest. Work is an essential part of our human dignity and everyone has the right to participate.

Caritas - Catholic Social Teaching Award

This award will be presented to children in recognition for outstanding achievement in putting love into action.