Catholic Social Teaching Introduction Part 2 – The Six Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social teaching Catholic social teaching goes by various names: Catholic social doctrine Catholic social thought The social teaching of the Church However, throughout the literature in Catholic education it is referred to as Catholic social teaching or more commonly by its abbreviation CST.

What is Catholic social teaching? Always taking as its starting point the person and message of Jesus, Catholic social teaching may be defined as the principles developed by the Church on matters of social justice, involving issues of poverty and wealth, education, economics, social organisation and the role of the government The Church's social teaching … “is about ethical formation, [it is the Church’s] own specific contribution towards understanding the requirements of justice and achieving them politically”1 This is not to suggest that Catholic social teaching presents a political viewpoint. Rather [the Church] cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice2 A just society must be the achievement of politics, not of the Church. Yet the promotion of justice through efforts to bring about openness of mind and will to the demands of the common good is something which concerns the Church deeply3 When reading the “signs of the times” Catholic social teaching provides us with underlying principles to guide us to make moral, ethical and just decisions in all areas of social life, including education.

Over a century of social encyclicals As mentioned in part 1 of this introduction to Catholic social teaching, the first social encyclical was written in response to industrial revolution and the negative effects on workers. This encyclical set out some key principles: The duties between labour and capital, as well as government and its citizens. It was particularly concerned with the "The misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class.”4 It supported the rights of labour to form unions. Rejected socialism and unrestricted capitalism. Affirmed the right to private property. Since Rerum Novarum the Church has “read the signs of the times” and produced numerous social encyclicals that have reaffirmed previous encyclicals whilst putting forward new principles and ideas reflecting the changing nature of society and the world.

Principles of Catholic social teaching Since 1891, the Church has put forward key ideas and principles as ethical formation and as a guide to make moral, ethical and just decisions in all areas of social life, including education. Whilst there is much written on Catholic social teaching however, for our purposes the following six key principles help summarise CST Principle One: Dignity of the human person Principle Two: The common good Principle Three: Preferential option for the poor Principle Four: Subsidiarity Principle Five Solidarity Principle Six: Care for God's creation The remaining sessions in this series will take a closer look at each of these principles and their implications for school boards. We will do so by providing you with information as well as points for reflection using the methodology of Catholic social teaching.

Points for reflection What have you found to be the most interesting in this material so far? What, if anything, has surprised you in this material? What do you like/what don’t you like? What reflections do you have on its relevance to you as a Board member? What reflections do you have on its relevance to the Board as a whole?