Category Archives: Social Doctrine of the Church

The social doctrine of the Church teaches that economic initiative is an expression of human intelligence and of the necessity of responding to human needs in a creative fashion. The roles of business owners and management are important for they … Continue reading →

The immediate purpose of the Church’s social doctrine is proposing principles and values that sustain a society worthy of the human person. The principle of subsidiarity includes all of these principles in a certain sense. Love must permeate and be … Continue reading →

Fostering a social and political culture inspired by the Gospel is an area of importance for the lay faithful.  The work of the laity in these areas have never been solely the change of social structures, but includes the voice … Continue reading →

The essential nature of the laity is their secular identity, that is, their living of the faith in the world. This identity is born and nourished by the sacraments, especially Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, and is renewed by the … Continue reading →

The Church teaches that peace is the goal of life in society. It is much more than the absence of war; it represents the fullness of life. Working for peace can never be separated from announcing the Gospel, which is … Continue reading →

The Church condemns war. It asks all people to rethink war in a new way.  Pope John XXIII said in his encyclical “it is hardly possible to imagine that in an atomic era, war could be used as an instrument … Continue reading →

The relationship between humanity and the environment is a foundational aspect of human identity. This in turn, is illustrative of humanity’s deeper relationship with God. Scripturally, creation is always an object of praise. Salvation is perceived as a new creation. … Continue reading →

The  promotion of world peace is a central part of the Church’s mission. It is a part of Christ’s work of redemption. The Church is a “sacrament” or sign and instrument of peace for the world. The Church teaches that … Continue reading →

The Church’s sole and primary purpose in her social doctrine is helping mankind to achieve salvation.  The Church has the right to be a teacher of the truth of faith: the truth not only of dogma but also of morals … Continue reading →

Political authority is founded on the social nature of the human person. Implied in this is the reality that all political authority has God as its author.  Political authority is a necessary, positive and an irreplaceable component of civil life. … Continue reading →

Catholic social doctrine asserts that the human person is the foundation and purpose of politics. Humans naturally social and political, and thus social life is not something that is extra or added to us. Politics originates in the very nature … Continue reading →