SEVEN THEMES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
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
Solidarity
Care for God's Creation
1. Research each of the Seven Themes of Catholic Social
Teaching and write a brief description of each of the
principles.
I.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Foundation of all principles
Made in God’s image
Not earned, but endowed
Inherent worth and value
Reverence
From conception through natural death
Consistent Ethic
Life in all its forms is sacred
The good of all and the good of the wider community
Not just individual but also global
Development of the group
Taking the whole into account
Activities: ( choose 2)
1. List ten attacks on human dignity which are evident in the modern
world.
2. Prepare a case study of a social justice issue which is legal in the U.S.
but immoral in the church’s teaching.
3. Write letters to U.S. Senators or House of Representatives about
supporting legislation that supports the dignity of Human Life
Reflections (choose 2)
1. Many injustices plague humanity today. Suppose you had the power to
eliminate three of them. Which would you choose and why?
2. Reflect on the Life of Maximilian Kolbe and his act of self-sacrifice in a
German concentration camp.
3. What is prejudice? How do we become prejudiced? Give an example
of a prejudice that is harmful. How can you overcome prejudice in
yourself and help others overcome prejudice?
Research the life of one of the following Saints and describe how their
life reflected this Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
St Thomas Moore
St. Katharine Drexel
St. Casmir
St. Stanislaus
II.
Call to Family and Community
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Sanctity of Marriage
Sanctity of family: rights and responsibilities
Advocacy for immigrants and refugees
Activities: ( choose 2)
1. Ask married couples (young, middle aged, and elderly) to speak about the
joys and obstacles of marriage.
2. Ask parents to speak about the joys and duties of being parents. What
qualities are important for good parenting?
3. List some social problems that Jesus would see if he returned to today’s
world. What would Jesus’ response be?
Reflections: (choose 2)
1. What are the ingredients for a long lasting loving relationship? Discuss the
importance of children in a marriage and the responsibilities of good
parenting.
2. Read: Ephesians 5:22; 6:4. What is Paul’s message about family life?
3. If you were to keep only that which serves basic human needs, what would
you no longer own that is now yours?
4. Who are the modern day outcasts? How do you think Jesus would treat these
people? How can we respond to them and their needs?
Research the life of one of the following Saints and describe how their life reflected this
Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
St. John Baptist de la Salle
St. Peter Claver St Martin
Blessed Fredric Ozanam
St. Martin of Tours
III.
Preferential Option for the Poor
Preferential love
Priority of restoring to the community, those excluded
God hears the cry of the poor and responds
Covenant
Those in greatest need
Most vulnerable
An action of love
Activity:
Research the Poverty USA- Student Action project (www.uscb.org) to learn about
poverty and actions to alleviate it. Please describe what you learned and some
actions that can be taken to alleviate poverty.
Reflection: (choose 2)
1. “Social Justice can be obtained only when the dignity of all people is
respected. The promotion of human dignity is entrusted to us by God.”
(CCC#1929) What are the ways human dignity can be promoted by society?
2. Discuss the following quotation from Martin Luther King: “Injustice
anywhere is an injustice everywhere.”
3. Why do you think healthcare for the mentally ill and substance abuser is not
funded on a par with other diseases and conditions?
Research the life of one of the following Saints and describe how their life reflected this
Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
St Nicholas
St Damien of Molokai
St. John Chrysostom
St Vincent De Paul
IV.
Human Rights and Responsibilities
Inalienable
Realized only in community
Must be protected
Not granted, not earned
Responsibility
All are equal
Activities (choose 2)
1. Research the development of Catholic Schools or Catholic Health care and how
either institution has been an agent of change for social justice.
2. Read Luke 10:29-37, 17:11-19 and John 4:4-12. For each passage summarize Jusus’
attitude in your own words.
3. In Galatians 5:12 Paul says, “Serve one another with love.” Investigate the service
organizations in your school/parish. Make a commitment to assist with one service
project this year.
4. Visit a local nursing home. Spend time with the residents; if possible provide small
gifts or entertainment.
Reflection (choose 2)
1. Comment on this quotation from Elizabeth Ann Seton: “Live simply so that others
may simply live.”
2. Make a list of people whose causes involve working for issues of justice. If you could
invite one of those persons to share his or her experience with you who would it be
and why?
3. Read Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:12-19, Isaiah 58:6-9, Matthew 25:31-46,
Luke 4:18-19. What do these passages say about welcoming strangers?
Research the life of one of the following and describe how their life reflected this
Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
Dorothy Day
St Joseph the Worker
Adolph Kolping
V.
Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Priority of people over capital
Economic justice
Respect for vocation
Human work is participation in vocation
Safe working conditions
Just wages
Activities: (choose 2)
1. Report on a 20th century international leader committed to doing God’s work in their
daily lives. e.g. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Martin
Luther King, Jr., Bishop Oscar Romero, Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, Maximilian Kolbe.
What were their leadership qualities and accomplishments? What do their lives and
work say to you?
2. Select a problem in your community, state, country or the world. List and explain the
actions to which a prophet might call people in order to improve conditions
3. Research the early labor unions and the role of the church in the labor movement.
Reflections:
1. Jesus was not afraid to work to serve others. Read John 13:1-11. Discuss how you
can follow Jesus’ example.
2. Many of the products we use and the clothes we wear are produced in sweatshops
here and abroad. Would Americans be willing to boycott these products and
purchase only non-sweatshop items?
3. Research recent sweatshop disasters; where those are located and which companies
sell items manufactured in sweatshops.
Research the life of one of the following Saints and describe how their life reflected this
Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
St Isidore
St John Fisher
St Marguerite D’Youville
St. Marie Rose Durocher
St Peter Canisius
VI.
Solidarity
One human family
Relationship building
Love of Neighbor has global implications
Remove artificial borders and boundaries.
Interdependence
“Standing with” ‐Companioning
Activities ( choose 2)
Using the Faithful Citizenship resources found at www.osccb.org
1. What are some discrepancies between American cultural values and Catholic
Social teaching?
2. What is meant by the just war theory
3. Write a letter to a person you failed to show respect toward. Explain what you
have learned from your mistake and how you intend to be different because of
what you now realize.
Reflection (choose 2)
1. What is meant by the statement we are a global family?
2. Read Romans 12:4-6, Ephesians 4:5-6, Col 3:11 What is the meaning of
these passages?
3. Read Micah 2:1-3, 4:3 and 6:8 Describe Micah’s message in these
passages.
4. Read the Old Testament Book of Amos. Why is Amos called the “Prophet of
Social Justice”? What were the injustices to which Amos was reacting?
Research the life of one of the following and describe how their life reflected this
Principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
St Martin de Porres
St Elizabeth of Portugal
St Frances Xavier Cabrini
VII Care of God’s Creation
care for all of creation
proper use of resources
co‐creators and guardians
environmental and ecological reverence
recognition of God’s revelation in all of creation
Activities (choose 2):
1. Imagine the world with no suffering or problems. Everyone and everything exists
in harmony. Describe this vision of the world in a drawing or a poem.
2. Read the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2. Do you think you have any
duties and responsibilities toward creation and the environment? List them.
3. Write a parable or a poem about injustice to Mother Earth. Make sure the
message is clear.
4. View the film “ Brother Sun, Sister Moon” Discuss the meaning of the film.
Reflections (choose2)
1. Identify the five most urgent environmental threats in our world today- what is our
responsibility as disciples of Jesus to address them?
2. What are some of the prices modern day prophets pay for being faithful to god’s
invitation to speak up about injustice? Who are some modern day prophets?
3. If the earth could cry out and complain to the Creator, what would it say? How
would god respond?
4. Discuss ways in which people can use God’s resources but still live in harmony
with nature so as not to pollute the environment.
5. “Every creature possesses its own goodness. Because of the goodness of all
God’s creation, people must respect all creatures as well as the
environment.”(CCC# 339). What does this statement tell us about how people
should interact with one another?
How does St Francis of Assisi’s life reflect this Catholic Social Teaching?