25 Catholic Quotes from the Church’s Social Teaching

by CAPP-USA

Magisterial Quotes from Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) has evolved over time, beginning with Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum in which he addressed the rights and conditions of workers during the Industrial Revolution. Since then, popes and Church councils have contributed to CST, addressing the challenges of each generation.

It is difficult to claim the “best” quotes from Catholic social teaching, but here are twenty-five that capture its richness. 

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching is a body of doctrine that “seeks to apply the essence of Christian moral principles to life in society. It is not an economic or political program, but it offers a powerful way of thinking about what the common good requires, and how structures in society can promote or undermine human well-being and the requirements of justice.” (Vincent Cardinal Nichols’, Archbishop of Westminster, foreword to: Just Money: How Catholic Social Teaching can Redeem Capitalism by Clifford Longley; Published by Theos, 2014)

CST is not just a set of ideas. CST is meant to inspire action, encouraging Catholics and all people of good will to work toward a more just and equitable society.

1. “The social message of the gospel must not be considered a theory, but above all else a basis and motivation for action.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 57)
2. Absent CST “each individual becomes the criterion for measuring himself and his own actions…This leads to an effective lack of concern for others”. (Pope Francis)

The Three Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Dignity of the Human Person: Every person is created in the image and likeness of God and has inherent dignity and value. This principle underlines the importance of respecting and protecting human life at all stages and is the prime principle of CST.

Solidarity: Solidarity is about recognizing that we are all part of one human family and that we have a responsibility to care for one another, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Subsidiarity: This principle holds that decisions should be made at the most local level possible, close to the people affected by them. Higher levels of authority should intervene only when necessary.

3. Catholic social teaching “‘rests on the threefold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity’.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 55)
4. “[T]he guiding principle…of all of the Church’s social doctrine, is a ​correct view of the human person ​and of his unique value”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 11)
5. “Fundamental rights are neither created by the lawmaker nor granted to the citizen. The value of human dignity…takes precedence over all political decision-making”. (Pope Benedict XVI)
6. Solidarity is radical. “[A]ll men and women are called to live as one, each taking care of the other”. We are “our brothers’ keeper”. (Pope Francis, 3)
7. Subsidiarity “is a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry.” (Pope Pius XI, 79)

Catholic social teaching “‘rests on the threefold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity’.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 55)

The Results of Catholic Social Teaching

The Common Good: The common good refers to the conditions that allow all people to reach their full potential and live in dignity. It emphasizes the well-being of all people, especially the most vulnerable.

8. Catholic social teaching results in the common good: “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily”. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1906)
9. “There cannot be holistic development and universal common good unless people’s spiritual and moral welfare is taken into account”.
   (Pope Benedict XVI, 76)
10. Catholic social teaching leads to social justice, which occurs when “associations or individuals…obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1928) 
11. Catholic social teaching combats “specific structures of sin which impede the full realization of those who are in any way oppressed by them”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)

Catholic Social Teaching is Charity

Charity typically refers to direct acts of kindness and assistance to those in immediate need. CST, on the other hand, addresses the root causes of social issues and seeks to transform society’s structures to promote justice, equality, and the common good.

CST is concerned with changing systems and institutions to prevent social problems from arising in the first place. And, as Pope Benedict XVI pointed out – this is charity!

12. The practice of Catholic social teaching “is the institutional path — we might also call it the political path — of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)
13. “Charity is at the heart of the Church’s social doctrine.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 2)
14. And, “every Christian is called to practice charity in a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)
15. “Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.” (Pope Francis, 3.1)

The practice of Catholic social teaching “is the institutional path — we might also call it the political path — of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)

The Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Preferential Option for the Poor: The Church teaches that the needs of the poor and vulnerable should be given priority in social and economic decisions. This principle challenges society to consider the impact of decisions on the most marginalized.

16. A preferential option for the poor “demands before all else an appreciation of the immense dignity of the poor”. (Pope Francis, 158)
17. “Considerations of justice and equity can at times demand that those in power pay more attention to the weaker members of society, since these are at a disadvantage when it comes to defending their own rights and asserting their legitimate interests.” (Pope St. John XXIII, 56)

Care for Creation: This principle emphasizes the importance of stewardship of the environment. Humans are called to protect and sustain the natural world, recognizing it as God’s creation.

18. The earth “cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her”. (Pope Francis, 2)
19. “Nature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship over it.” (Pope Francis)

Right to Private Property: Catholic Social Teaching recognizes the right to private property but insists this right be exercised with a sense of stewardship, ensuring that the needs of others, especially the poor, are considered.

20. “The practice of all ages has consecrated the principle of private ownership”. (Pope Leo XIII, 11)
21. “By its very nature private property has a social quality which is based on the law of the common destination of earthly goods.” (Gaudium et Spes, 71)

Universal Destination of Goods points out that the earth’s resources and goods are intended for the benefit of all people. It advocates for the fair and just distribution of the earth’s resources, ensuring that all people can access what they need for a dignified life. It serves as a foundational concept in Catholic Social Teaching, promoting the common good and social justice.

22. The universal destination of goods holds that “The goods of creation are destined for the entire human race” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2452)
23. The universal destination of goods is for “the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 31)

Dignity of Work: the dignity of work refers to the inherent value and worth of human labor. This concept emphasizes that work is not merely a means to an end (such as earning a wage) but an essential aspect of human dignity and participation in God’s creation. The dignity of work is grounded in the belief that work reflects the creative nature of God, who worked to create the world and continues to sustain it.

24. “[T]he door to the dignity of a man is work.” (Pope Francis)
25. “[W]ork is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 3)