Catholic Social Teaching:
The Catechism's Best Kept Secret

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Selected by Stephen M. Colecchi, D.Min.
Office of Justice & Peace
Catholic Diocese of Richmond
March 17, 1997

"This catechism is conceived as an organic presentation of the Catholic faith
in its entirety. It should be seen as a unified whole." (#18)
 Part One: The Profession of Faith "The Implications of the Faith in the One God": Original Sin "gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action, and morals." (#407)

"Sin of the world" can "also refer to the negative influence exerted on people by communal situations and social structures that are the fruit of men's sins." (#408)

Jesus is "our model," "the perfect man (human)." (#520)

 "Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom." (#544)

"By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will...." (#898)


Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery

Baptism: "From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God ... which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races and sexes ...." (#1267) Eucharist: Called Holy Mass "because the liturgy ... concludes with the sending forth (mission) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives." (#1332) Offertory: "From the very beginning Christians have brought, along with the bread and wine for the Eucharist, gifts to share with those in need." (#1351)

"The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest...." (#1397)


Penance:

"Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right...." (#1435)


Part Three: Life in Christ

Section One: Man's Vocation: Life in the Spirit
"Life in the Holy Spirit fulfills the vocation of man. This life is made up of divine charity and human solidarity." (#1699)

Chapter One: The Dignity of the Human Person

 
"The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God..." (#1700) (foundational for social teaching)

Christ is "the image of the invisible God" in whose image humanity is created. (#1701)

Virtue of Justice: "Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good." (#1807)

  "Sins give rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness.
'Structures of sin' are the ... effect of personal sins. They lead their victims to do evil in their turn. In an analogous sense, they constitute a 'social sin.'" (#1869)


Chapter Two: The Human Community

 
"The human person needs to live in society." It is "a requirement of his nature." (#1879) "He rightly owes loyalty to the communities of which he is part and respect to those in authority who have charge of the common good." (#1880)

"'...The human person...is and ought to be the principle, the subject and the end of all social institutions.'" (#1881)

"Certain societies, such as the family and the state, correspond more directly to the nature of man; they are necessary to him. (#1882)

"Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative." (# 1883)
 

"the principle of subsidiarity" (#1883)

"The acknowledged priority of the conversion of heart in no way eliminates but on the contrary imposes the obligation of bringing the appropriate remedies to institutions and living conditions...so that they conform to the norms of justice...." (#1888)

 Participation in Social Life:
  I. Authority "Every human community needs an authority to govern it. ... Its role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society." (#1898)


II. The Common Good:

"...the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment...." (#1906)
  1. "presupposes respect for the person as such."   2. "requires the social well-being and development of the group itself." "...It should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on." (#1908)


3. "requires peace...the stability and security of a just order." (#1909)
 

 "It is the role of the state to defend and promote the common good of civil society, its citizens, and intermediate bodies." (#1910)
  Human interdependence requires the recognition of "a universal common good." It "calls for the organization of a community of nations...." (#1911)


III. Responsibility and Participation:

"It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position or role, in promoting the common good." (#1913)   Participation is achieved by taking personal responsibility for family, work and contributing to the common good and active involvement in public life. (#1914-5)


Social Justice:
 

I. "Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that 'everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as another self....'" (#1931)
  "The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged...." (#1932)

II. Equality and Differences Among Men (People)

 "Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design." (#1935)   "Differences appear tied to age, physical abilities, intellectual or moral aptitudes, the benefits derived from social commerce, and the distribution of wealth. The 'talents' are not distributed equally." (#1936)   "These differences belong to God's plan, who wills that each receive what he needs from others, and that those endowed with particular "talents" share the benefits with those who need them." (#1937)   "Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace." (#1938)

III. Human Solidarity
 

"Solidarity is manifested in the first place by the distribution of goods and remuneration for work. It also presupposes the effort for a more just social order where tensions...and conflicts more readily settled by negotiation." (#1940)   "To the church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human persons or the salvation of souls." (#2032)   "...The conscience of each person should avoid confining itself to individualistic consideration .... ...Conscience should take account of the good of all, as expressed in the moral law ... and consequently in the law of the Church and in the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium on moral questions." (#2039)


Section Two: The Ten Commandments

 
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
  The Sabbath rest "...helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives." (#2184)   "Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery." (#2186)

4. Honor your father and your mother.
 

"...one of the foundations of the social doctrine of the Church." (#2198)

"The family is the original cell of social life." (#2207)

"The family must be helped and defended by appropriate social measures. Where families cannot fulfill their responsibilities, other social bodies have the duty of helping them and of supporting the institution of the family. Following the principle of subsidiarity...." (#2209) "The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially: --the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate;

--in keeping with the country's institutions, the right to medical care, assistance for the aged, and family benefits...." (#2211)


"The fourth commandment illuminates other relationships in society." (#2212)

"Those in authority should practicedistributive justice ... , taking into account of the needs and contribution of each, with a view to harmony and peace." (# 2236)

"Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person. They will dispense justice humanely by respecting the rights of everyone, especially of families and the disadvantaged. ... Political rights are meant to be exercised for the common good of the ... human community." (#2237)

"... it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country." (#2240)

"The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin." (#2241)

Role of the Church in society:

 
"The church, because of her commission and competence, is not to be confused in any way with the political community." (#2245)
       
      5. You shall not kill.
Legitimate Defense: "Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life, the common good of the family or of the state." (#2265)

Capital Punishment: "...The Church has acknowledged ... in cases of extreme gravity, the death penalty." But: "If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives ... public authority should limit itself to such means, because they ... are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person." (# 2266, 2267)

Abortion: "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." (#2270)

Euthanasia: May discontinue burdensome, extraordinary, or disproportionate medical treatments; but may not directly take human life. (#2278)

 Holistic Health: "Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance." (#2288)

Peace: "Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries." (#2304)

Just War Criteria (#2309)

"'Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation.' A danger of modern warfare is ... atomic, biological, or chemical weapons ...." (#2314) Arms Race: "The arms race does not ensure peace. Far from eliminating the causes of war, it risks aggravating them. Spending enormous sums ... impedes efforts to aid needy populations; it thwarts the development of peoples. Over-armament multiplies reasons for conflict and increases the danger of escalation." (#2315) (See also # 2329)

6. You shall not commit adultery.
 

"Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials." (#2354)

Homosexual acts are not approved; but unjust discrimination against homosexual persons is condemned. Respect, compassion and sensitivity are urged. (#2357-2358)

7. You shall not steal.
 

"The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race." (#2402)
  "The right to private property does not do away with the original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The universal destination of goods remains primordial, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for the right to private property...." (#2403)


"Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good." (#2406)

Justice defined: commutative,legal,distributive (#2411)

"Man's dominion ... requires respect for the integrity of creation." (# 2415)

"The Church's social teaching comprises a body of doctrine ...." (#2422)
 

"The Church's social teaching proposes principles for reflection; it provides criteria for judgement; it gives guidelines for action: Any system in which social relationships are determined entirely by economic factors is contrary to the nature of the human person...." (#2423) "A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable." (#2424)

"A system that 'subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of groups to the collective organization of production' is contrary to human dignity." (#2424)

"Reasonable regulation of the marketplace and economic initiatives, in keeping ... a view to the common good, is to be commended." (#2425)
 

"Economic life is not meant solely to multiply goods produced and increase profit or power; it is ordered first of all to the service of persons, of the whole man, and of the entire human community." (#2426)


"Human work proceeds directly from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation...." (# 2427)
 

"Everyone should be able to draw from work the means of providing for this life and that of his family, and of serving the human community." (#2428)

"Everyone has the right of economic initiative....He should seek to observe regulations issued by legitimate authority for the sake of the common good." (#2429)

"The responsibility of the state: ... guarantees of individual freedom and private property...stable currency and efficient public services." (#2431)

Business enterprises "are responsible to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations" and not only for "increase of profits" which are "necessary" for the "future of a business...." (#2432)


"Access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination.... For its part society should...help citizens find work ...." (#2433)

 
"A just wage .... To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. ...(It) should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural, and spiritual level...." (#2434)

"Recourse to a strike is morally legitimate when it cannot be avoided...." (#2435)
 

 Justice and Solidarity Among Nations:
  "There must be solidarity among nations.... It is even more essential (for) ... dismantling the 'perverse mechanisms' that impede the development of less advanced countries...," including "usurious financial systems, iniquitous commercial relations among nations, and the arms race...." (#2438)

"Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility toward those which are unable to ensure the means of their development...." (#2439)


Role of the Church/Laity:

 "It is not the role of the Pastors of the Church to intervene directly into political structuring and organization of social life. This task is part of the vocation of the lay faithful...." (#2442)

"...Those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church." (#2448)

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
 

"The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity." (#2492)

"'Civil authorities have particular responsibilities in this field because of the common good....'" (#2498)

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
 

"Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate." Includes communications media and entertainment. (#2525)


Part Four: Christian Prayer

The Lord's Prayer
  "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"
  "Give us" expresses covenant. (#2829)
  "Our bread" includes both spiritual and physical nourishment and a concern for world hunger. (#2831)

"This must be shown by the establishment of justice in personal and social, economic and international relations, without ever forgetting that there are no just structures without people who want to be just." (#2832)