Themes of Catholic
Social Teaching

What are the themes of Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) was developed by the Catholic Church to speak on matters such as social justice, economic rights, and the rights of every person. Their message states that "... based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family." Contrary to popular belief, these seven themes are not only excluded to Catholics, their intentions were to influence social policies and movements globally to bring people together. Below are two themes out of the seven that I believe best fit my fight for justice.

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Life and Dignity of the Human Person proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of social teaching. Upholding the life and dignity of people with disabilities means ensuring their equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and participation in community life.

This includes advocating for accessibility, reasonable accommodations, and the removal of barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully engaging in society. Holding true to group home settings as well.

Illustration display of dignity

Call to Family, Communication, and Participation

Thankfully, due to the efforts made by many influential leaders in the Catholic Church, there is greater emphasis on being more welcoming to people with disabilities, while also ensuring they do not feel like outsiders. Church communities and environments have become much more diversified. 

This could be due to the call to Family, Community, and Participation, which is defined as, how we organize our society in economics  and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Every person has the right to participate within society to their highest ability.