Themes of Catholic
Social Teaching

These themes have been introduced to the modern Church and the world because of Pope Leo XIII. He introduced it by writing Rerum Novarum, the first book of modern Catholic Social Teaching about the rights and obligations of capital and labor.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops helped identify the seven Catholic Social Teachings. 441 Catholic bishops, both active and retired, are in charge of 196 dioceses and archdioceses that follow the Eastern and Latin rites, as well as one "personal ordinariate". The seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching are Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, and Solidarity. These themes have been drawn from numerous documents like papal, conciliar, and episcopal. To create a just society and lead holy lives in the face of modern challenges, the Church's social teaching is a valuable supply of knowledge.