THE TEN BUILDING

BLOCKS OF CATHOLIC
SOCIAL TEACHING
THE PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN
DIGNITY
 The bedrock of Catholic social teaching
 Every human being (regardless of race,
sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, employment or economic
status, health, achievement, etc) is
worthy of respect because he is created
in the image of God and is redeemed by
Jesus Christ.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF THE
COMMON GOOD
 Common good is understood as the social condition
that allows people to reach their full human
potential and to realize their human dignity.
 The principle of common good points to the need for
international structures that can promote the just
development of the human family across regional
and national lines.
 We are called to cultivate an awareness of and
sensitivity to the needs of others.
 RESPECT FOR HUMAN
 LIFE
Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has
inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Hence, a
Culture of Life must always be emphasized over the prevailing Culture of
Death (i.e. euthanasia and abortion)
 There are two extremes on the end of life issue: 1) Vitalism is keeping
the person alive no matter what, even if that is burdensome and not
beneficial for the person. 2) Euthanasia is the intentional hastening of
death of someone who is suffering from a disease that is painful, and
inevitably fatal by voluntary suicide or by killing them.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF
ASSOCIATION
 The human person is not only sacred but
also social in nature. By association with
others (in families, other social
institutions), human persons achieve their
fulfillment.
 The centerpiece of society is the family.
Hence, family stability must always be
protected and never undermined.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF
PARTICIPATION
 All people have a right and duty to
participate in society, working together for
the common good and well-being of all. If
one does not participate, he is marginalized.
 Work, then, becomes a special grace, a form
of continuing participation God’s creation.
Its dignity is to be protected.
 Basic rights of workers must be respected –
the right to productive work, to decent and
fair wages, to organize, to private property
and to economic initiative.
PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR
THE POOR AND THE
VULNERABLE

• All people have human dignity. Hence, all

should be able to reach their full human
potential. Many times the poor are
deprived of the opportunity to achieve
this. Hence, we must reach out to the
poor and the powerless in order to help
them realized this full human potential and
dignity.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF
SOLIDARITY
 This principle proclaims that we are one
human family: that we are our brothers’
and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live.
 We need to reach out beyond the ‘family’
to ‘loving our neighbors’ in this
interdependent world by making choices
that will promote and protect the common
good.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF
STEWARDSHIP
 We show our respect for God, our creator,
by taking good care of ourselves, our
relationship with others, and the
environment around as.
 As stewards, we are managers, not
owners. We must take active
responsibility for the protection of the
environment.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF
SUBSIDIARITY
 This principle deals chiefly with the
responsibilities and limits of government,
and the essential roles of voluntary
associations.
 Simply stated, it means that those closest
to the reality of the problem or situation
should handle the problem. Power should
be exercised at the lowest level.
 HUMAN EQUALITY
 The equality of all persons springs from
their essential dignity. While differences
in talents are part of God’s plan, social and
cultural discrimination in fundamental
rights are an abomination in God’s sight.
 Treating others equally is one way of
defining justice, as rendering to each
person his or her due.
THE END