The call to work for social justice is imbedded in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, who came to bring good tidings to the poor.... The Church's social teaching applies the Gospel command of love to and within social systems, structures and institutions. It proposes principles for reflection; it provides criteria for judgement; it gives guidelines for action. - National Directory for Catechesis, 173
The US Bishops articulate seven key themes that form the heart of Catholic social teaching:
See: Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions
Justice and Peace Resources and Tools USCCB Dept. of Justice, Peace and Human Development
Resources for Youth USCCB Dept. of Justice, Peace and Human Development
Two Feet of Love in Action / Los Dos Pies del Amor en Acción USCCB Resource on Social justice and Charitable works
Environmental Justice Program USCCB
Ending Poverty in Community -EPIC Toolkit USCCB lessons
Faithful Citizenship USCCB Resources
Faithful Citizenship for Religious Ed and Youth Ministry USCCB
Faithful Citizenship Resources for Youth USCCB
CRS Education Catholic Relief Services
Core Educational Programs (including Food Fast and Rice Bowl) Catholic Relief Services
Family Resources Catholic Relief Services
Poverty USA Catholic Campaign for Human Development
1891 Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Labor) - Pope Leo XIII 1931 Quadragesimo Anno (In the Fortieth Year) - Pope Pius XI 1961 Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress) - Pope John XXIII 1963 Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) - Pope John XXIII 1965 Gaudium et Spes (On the Church in the Modern World) Vatican II 1967 Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) - Pope Paul VI 1971 Octogesima Adveniens (A Call to Action) - Pope Paul VI 1971 Justicia in Mundo (Justice in the World) - Synod of Bishops 1981 Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) - Pope John Paul II 1987 Solicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concern) - Pope John Paul II 1991 Centesimus Annus (The Hundredth Year) - Pope John Paul II 1995 Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) - Pope John Paul II 1998 Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) - Pope John Paul II 2005 Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) - Pope Benedict XVI 2009 Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) - Pope Benedict XVI 2015 Laudato Si' (On Care for Our Common Home) - Pope Francis
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Human Communion
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Social Agenda: A Collection of Magisterial Texts
Papal & Episcopal Documents relating to Catholic Social Teaching
USCCB Pro-life Links
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