THE SOCIAL TEACHING
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
From a pastoral letter of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops5
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In the Catholic social vision, the human person is central, the clearest
reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes
from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or
gender, age or economic status. The test of every institution or policy is whether
it enhances or threatens human life and human dignity. We believe that people
are more important than things.
Flowing from our God-given dignity, each person has basic rights and
responsibilities. These include the rights to freedom of conscience and religious
liberty, to raise a family, to immigrate, to live free from unfair discrimination,
and to have a share of earthly goods sufficient for oneself and one’s family.
People have a fundamental right to life and to those things which make life truly
human: food, clothing, housing, health care, education, security, social services,
and employment. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities
– to one another, to our families, and to the larger society, to respect the rights
of others and to work for the common good.
The human person is not only sacred but social. We realize our dignity
and rights in relationship with others, in community. No community is more
central than the family; it needs to be supported, not undermined. It is the basic
cell of society, and the state has an obligation to support the family. The family
has major contributions to make in addressing questions of social justice. It is
where we learn and act on our values. What happens in the family is at the basis
of a truly human social life. We also have the right and responsibility to
participate in and contribute to the broader communities in society. The state
and other institutions of political and economic life, with both their limitations
and obligations, are instruments to protect the life, dignity, and rights of the
person; promote the well-being of our families and communities; and pursue
the common good. Catholic social teaching does offer clear guidance on the role
of government. When basic human needs are not being met by private initiative,
then people must work through their government, at appropriate levels, to meet
those needs. A central test of political, legal and economic institutions is what
they do to people, what they do for people, and how people participate in them.
Poor and vulnerable people have a special place in Catholic social
teaching. A basic moral test of a society is how its most vulnerable members are
faring. This is not a new insight; it is the lesson of the parable of the Last
Judgment. Our tradition calls us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable
first. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our sisters and
brothers, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response. We
must seek creative ways to expand the emphasis of our nation’s founders on
individual rights and freedom by extending democratic ideals to economic life
and thus ensure that the basic requirements for life with dignity are accessible
to all.
5 Pastoral Letters & Statements of the U.S. Catholic Bishops – vol. VI – National Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Catholic Conference – Washington DC – pg 217f11