Catholic Social Teachings

Catholic Social Teachings are the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding how humans interact with one another in society along with their social institutions. The following quotes are in direct relation to a few of the ideas that CST embodies—the dignity of labor, rights of workers, wealth and property, etc.

Work as an expression of the human self

“Work thus belongs to the vocation of every person; indeed, man expresses and fulfills himself by working.” (CA 6, p. 443 ).

            The dignity of labor is vital to any community. Work is inexorable to humans. It becomes an expression of the human self.

Universal destination of the earth’s goods

   “God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone. This is the foundation of the universal destination of the earth’s goods.” (CA 31, p. 462 ).

Property ownership not an absolute right

“[P]rivate property does not constitute for anyone an absolute and unconditional right. No one is justified in keeping for his exclusive use what he does not need, when others lack necessities.” (PP 23, p.245).

           

There must be rights and limitations relating to wealth and property in a society. Looking at it from a universal standpoint, humans inherited this earth as a means to help them sustain human life—including all its members. It is the universal destination of earth’s goods. Sustenance does not exclude or favor anyone. Private property is not an absolute right. No one is justified to keep what he does not need while others lack necessities.

On women in the workplace

“The true advancement of women requires that labor should be structured in such a way that women do not have to pay for their advancement by abandoning what is specific to them and at the expense of the family, in which women as mothers have an irreplaceable role. (LE 19, p.379 ).

            There is a factor of equality that must be acknowledged. This quote is one that may actually be seen both positively and negatively. Women should be able to participate in labor; however, they should not have to work to the point of abandoning what is specific to them and at the expense of family since they have such an irreplaceable role there. Though this does fight to give women equal and “better” working conditions, it pigeonholes women into their specific roles in family and how they should not have to abandon that role for any work.