Contained here is an outline and brief presentation of the basic principles of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. This is not a comprehensive course.

1. Social Doctrine of the Catholic
Church
A Short Introduction for Catechists
By
Rev. Cornelius T. Mc Quillan, C.S.Sp., Psy.D.
Edited by Sharon Piper

2. Introduction
The Social Teaching of the Catholic Church is
based on three truths:
Man is made in God’s Image
The Law of Jesus is to love others as He has
loved us.
The Death of Jesus was meant to save all
peoples

3. Introduction
Mankind is made in God’s Image (Gen 1).
God is the creator of the Universes but only
human beings are created in his Image making
the Human Person superior to all creation.
Adam is God’s masterpiece

4. Introduction
Mankind is made in God’s Image (Gen 1)
God gave the rest of creation to mankind
to tend and look after.
Mankind is therefore accountable to God
for the care he gives the rest of creation.

5. Introduction
Mankind is made in God’s Image (Gen 1).
God is absolutely perfect.
Man, made is His Image, has a relative share
in God’s attributes.

6. Introduction
Mankind is made in God’s Image (Gen 1).
God is Man
Omniscient Has limited knowledge
Omnipresent is trapped in time
Omnipotent is limited in what he
can do

7. Basis of the Social Doctrine
Mankind is made in God’s Image (Gen 1).
God is the Supreme Authority.
In so far as man is responsible
for creation, he has a limited
share in God’s authority.
All authority comes from the Almighty.

8. Basis of the Social Doctrine
Thus the Social Doctrine of the Church is
based on the Dignity of the Human Person as
having a privileged position above all creation.

9. Introduction
Christ’s Law of Love governs all those who belong
to His Kingdom, a kingdom of Justice and Peace.
There can be no Peace without Justice.
Jesus commands us to love one another as we love
ourselves.

10. Introduction
Later Jesus raised the stakes and told us to love
each other as He has loved us.
The Social Doctrine attempts to specify the
exigencies of love in the various social strata in
which mankind lives.

11. Introduction
The Social Doctrine attempts to teach the
exigencies of love for the Individual, Family,
Social Institutions, Organizations, and
Governments.
An integral aspect of Evangelization is the
articulation of the Social Doctrine.

12. Introduction
Justice
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines
justice as the moral virtue of constant,
consistent and firm will to give God and
neighbor that which is their due (CCC #1807).

13. Introduction
Mission of the Church:
The Role of the Church is not to govern and the
Church disclaims any authority to do so. However,
her mission is to Evangelize. The Church
therefore, enters into dialogue with
Governments, Social Institutions, Organizations,
Families and all men and women of good will, in
order to defend human dignity, peoples’ rights as
well as to remind all of their obligations.

14. Introduction
The social doctrine of the Church springs from
the Gospel and the command of Jesus for us
to love one another.
Pope Leo XIII began to formalize the
expression of this Social Doctrine with his
Encyclical Rerum Novarum (May 1891), in
which he delineates the rights and obligations
of business owners as well as that of workers.

15. Introduction
Rerum Novarum:
Reacting to Communism Pope Leo defends:
Personal Property.
Workers right to unionize.
The principle of a Just Wage.
The obligation of any company to justify its
existence by serving the Common Good.

16. Introduction
Common Good(CCC #1906):
The basis of any society is the human person.
The good of each individual is necessarily
related to the common good.
This the some total of social conditions, which
allow people, either as groups or individuals
to reach their fulfillment more fully and more
easily.

17. Principles of the Social Doctrine of the
Catholic Church
The Social Doctrine of the Church is based on
the Dignity of the Human Person.
The Human Person needs to live in Society.
(CCC #1879).
Therefore, People have the right to associate
with others.

18. Principle of the Common Good
The Human person is, and ought to be, the
principle, the subject and the end of all social
Institutions (CCC #1881).
Every aspect of social life must be related to
and stems from the dignity, unity and equality
of all people.

19. Principle of the Common Good
Everyone is responsible for the Common Good
and therefore, the state as well.

20. Principle of the Universal Destination
of Goods
God destined creation for all men and women.
Therefore, there is a universal right to use (not
abuse) the goods of the Earth.
People have a right to what they need, not
just to survive, but to thrive.

21. Principle of the Universal Destination
of Goods
This principle requires that all men and
women co-operate so that the goods of the
earth are available for the integral
development of all.

22. Principle of Solidarity
Through the Mystery of the Incarnation, Jesus
made Himself one with Humanity, even in
Death.
Solidarity is a moral virtue that determines the
order of institutions.
It is a firm and constant commitment to the
Common Good.

23. Principle of Solidarity
This principle implies participation as an
individual or society collaborating in a series
of activities, either directly or by means of
representation, which contribute to the
cultural, economic, political and social life of
the community.

24. Principle of the Universal Destination
of Goods
The Principles of the Universal Destination of
goods, that of the Common Good and the
Principle of Solidarity, oblige us to make a
preferential option for the poor.

25. Human Rights
A person’s basic rights are the basis of the Ten
Commandments.

26. Human Rights
Rights
Life
Family & Descendants
Property
Good Name &/or Reputation
Obligations
Thou shalt not kill.
Do not commit adultery.
Respect Father and Mother.
Do not steal. Do not covet your
neighbors’ goods.
Do not give false testimony.

27. Principles
Principle of Subsidiarity states that:
A community of higher order should not
interfere in the internal life of a community of
a lower order.

28. Other Rights
Right to Work
Freedom of Religion
Right to Immigrate
Right to Association
Right to live Secure
Equality before the Law
Health Care

29. Human Institutions
All human organizations need the authority to
govern themselves
The members have the corresponding duty to
obey legitimate authority.
An organization does not derive its moral
authority from itself, but from God & its members

30. Each right has a corresponding duty
Rights
Work
Equal protection under the
Law
Immigrate
Association
Procreation
Duties
Work honestly
Respect just laws
Fulfill requirements
Obey the rules
Sustain offspring

31. Government
Authority
Protect the Common Good
Enact Laws
Protect Individuals’ Rights
Regulate Immigration
Duties
Work for the Common Good
Execute the Law with Equity
Respect Individuals’ Rights
Defend the Right to Immigrate

32. Human Institutions
Every Human community needs authority in
order to endure and develop (CCC #1919).
The diversity of political regimes is legitimate,
provided that they contribute to the good of
the community.

33. Principle of Subsidiarity
This Principle is opposed to all forms of
collectivism (CCC #1885).
Authority is only exercised with moral
legitimacy when it serves the common Good
(CCC #1903).

34. Principle of Subsidiarity
All societies of a superior order must adapt
attitudes of help and therefore support,
promotion and development, with respect to
lower order societies.

35. Principle of Subsidiarity
The Principle of Subsidarity protects people
from abuses by higher level social authority.

36. Freedom
God is free and mankind made in His image
has a share in God’s freedom.
Man is not free to lose his freedom.
In order to remain free, people need to base
their choices on truth.

37. Freedom
All have a right to know the Truth.
The exercise of free choice depends on
knowing the benefits and cost of each option,
that is Informed Consent.

38. Part II
The Family

39. Family
The Family is the basic Social Unit.
God Himself is a Community
of Persons.
The Family is our first experience of community
and therefore of God.

40. Family
God is creator and the couple made in His image
have the vocation of procreation.
The family is the Sanctuary of Life
The family has the Right and Duties of Procreation.

41. Family
The couple has the exclusive right and obligation to
determine the number of and time between children.
Their decision on the number of children should not
depend on economic factors alone.
The poor have the same right to children as do the
wealthy and society has the obligation to help them by
the Principle of Solidarity.

42. Family
Couples should avoid artificial means of avoiding
pregnancy.
Parents have the obligation of protecting and
educating their children.

43. Government
God is the Supreme Being and all Authority is a
share in His
People have the right to association and to form
the government of their choice.
Citizens have the right of participation in their
government.

44. Government
A Government has the authority to govern
from the people and to enact laws and
provide a juridical system.
The first responsibility of a government is to
work for the Common Good.

45. Government
Governments should not engage is private
enterprise since their duty includes protecting
the Rights of both Entrepreneurs and workers.
They may be obliged to initiate a project for the
Common Good; but once feasible, should
privatize all industry.

46. Government
Nations, by the Principle of Solidarity have the
moral obligation to aid other nations which
are sub-developed.
International Collaboration is in service of the
Common Good.

47. Government
Has the obligation to oversee private industry,
protecting both workers’ rights and the
environment.

48. Citizens
Have equal rights under the Law.
Have the obligation to obey just laws and to pay
for governmental services.

49. Institutions
All institutions, which are composed of persons
are obliged as well as their members to work
for the Common Good.
This principle applies equally to any business
enterprise.

50. End
This course is not meant to be comprehensive,
but merely an resumé of some of the basic
principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

51. Resources
CCC – The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the
Church, 2005, Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Gaudium et Spes – Pastoral Constituion, Doc. Of
Vat II.

52. Papal Encyclicals
Can be found at www.vatican.va
Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum
Benedict XV, Quadrageimo Anno
John XXIII, Mater et Magistra , Pacem in Terris
Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, Humanae Vitae
John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, Fides et Ratio, Centesimos Annus, Sollicitudo Rei
Socialis, Rights of the Family, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Christifideles Laici,
Mullieris Dignitatem , Laborem Exercens