Key principles of

Catholic Social Teaching

1. The dignity of the human person

Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore has inherent dignity.

Poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice make it impossible to live a life worthy of this dignity.

2. The Common Good

We realise our dignity and rights in relationship with others, in community.

Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the good of the whole society, to the common good.

3. Subsidiarity

All people have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Subsidiarity means that decisions are made at the lowest level possible by the people most affected by the decisions.

4. Solidarity

Solidarity is the value binding us together to build a world where all human beings receive what rightly belongs to them.

We are one human family.

5. Preferential option for the poor

A “preferential option for the poor” means we take up the cause of the poor as our own, considering the needs of the most vulnerable people first.

6. Participation

Everyone has a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.  

Everyone has the right to participate in those institutions necessary for human fulfilment, such as work, education and politics.

7. Stewardship of Creation

We have a duty to care for the earth’s resources responsibly 0 to be stewards rather than consumers.

Picture creditsSean SpragueNeil SpragueP. Jeffery/ACT-CaritasCaritas InternationalCaritas Australia Photo Credit: Neil Sprague