Catholic Social Teaching is founded in Scripture and includes statements and
letters written by Church leaders. It offers wisdom and insights on living the
Gospel in today’s world. Jesus tells us to love God and to love our neighbours, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty.
Modern Catholic Social Teaching is said to have originated in 1891 with the
encyclical letter, Rerum Novarum. Pope Francis continues to add to Catholic Social Teaching with his own encyclicals, including Laudato Si’ (2015) and Fratelli Tutti (2020).
At St Mary’s, we use the 9 CAFOD Catholic Social Teaching principles to guide our actions and to help us build a world of justice, love and peace. The principles are:-
- Human Dignity
- Common Good
- Participation
- Subsidiarity
- Stewardship
- Solidarity
- Preferential Option for the Poor
- Distributive Justice
- Promoting Peace
In our whole school assembly time, our School Council children are helping us to learn about how the Catholic Social Teaching principles can guide us in our lives in school, at home and in the wider community. Diolch to Mrs Robertson and School Council for guiding us closer to God in our thoughts, words and actions.