Catholic Social Teaching - National Centre for Evangelisation, Australia

“It is important for the whole Church that the welcome of the poor and the promotion of justice are not entrusted to ‘specialists’, but that they are the focus of attention of all the pastoral work, of formation of future priests and other religious, of the normal commitment of all parishes, movements and ecclesial groups.”

Pope Francis, at the Centro Astalli Refugee Centre, Rome, 12 September 2013.

Catholic Social Teaching draws on Scripture, tradition, reason and experience to address issues of social, economic and ecological justice. It provides principles for reflection, criteria for judgement and guidelines for action that help us to build up the Reign of God in the world. These teachings develop in dialogue with the people, places and events of history as the Church discerns and responds to the signs of the times.

In the modern period, this teaching is often communicated through encyclicals issued by Popes and Pastoral Letters by Bishops or groups of Bishops. Hence the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference teaches about social, economic and ecological issues in communion with the Pope. Their teachings address the Australian context more specifically and concretely than the international teachings could hope to do. For example the Social Justice Statements available on the ACBC website show how the Australian Bishops have responded to homelessness and economic exclusion in Australia, the need for just relationships with First Nations’ people and communities, and our country’s response to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

The Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry succinctly explained the connection between evangelisation and Catholic Social Teaching in the document ‘Evangelisation: Encounter, Discipleship, Mission’:

“Thirdly and very importantly, our missionary endeavour propels us on to be missionaries of charity to others, especially those who are lost, lonely or least. Our movement out into the peripheries to find those needing the caress and tenderness of Christ – both physically and spiritually – is part of what we call the Diakonia. This is expressed normally in our diocese, local parishes, schools, and ecclesial communities.”

So that you can gain a brief understanding of what Catholic Social Teaching is, here are the four principles that are universally drawn on to guide decision-making in promoting social, economic and ecological justice. They are also drawn on to make moral and ethical decisions.

Human dignity
Each person is created in the image and likeness of God. Each person has intrinsic worth and no person can simply be disposed of. Regardless of what a person does, or has had done to them, they cannot be deprived of their human dignity.

The common good
Each person and group in society should be able to meet their fundamental needs and realise their potential. This requires social conditions to be established to allow human flourishing, especially for the vulnerable and marginalised.

Subsidiarity
Each person and group in society has the right to participate in decision-making processes that affect them. This requires individuals or groups at higher levels to offer appropriate support or advice to allow this decision-making to effectively take place.

Solidarity
Solidarity is exercised when we recognise each person is our neighbour. We are to love, support and stand with them in good times and adversity. This sometimes requires us to accept and value others even when there are apparent differences.

Further reading
The Church in society: Catholic Social Teaching (Becoming Catholic)
Catholic Social Teaching FAQs (Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace)
Catholic Social Teaching – An Introduction
Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est on Christian Love (Pope Benedict XVI, 2005)
Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World (Pope Francis, 2013)
Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ on Care for our Common Home (Pope Francis, 2015)
Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti on Fraternity and Social Friendship (Pope Francis, 2020)
Encyclical Letter Dilexit Nos on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ (Pope Francis, 2024)

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference acknowledges with sorrow the experiences of adults subjected to childhood abuse within the Church. Read the Acknowledgement of Victims/Survivors.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of this great South land upon which we gather. We honour elders past, present and future, and thank them for their sacrifice and stewardship. We commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.