The document outlines the fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) according to the Church. It discusses four key principles: human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. It states that these principles provide parameters for interpreting social phenomena and criteria for discerning social interactions. The document focuses in depth on the principle of human dignity, describing it as the bedrock and foundation of CST. It explains that according to CST, every individual has inherent and immeasurable worth or dignity based on being created in God's image and simply through their existence as a human person.

1. CATHOLIC SOCIAL
TEACHINGS OF THE
CHURCH

2. C AT H O L I C S O C I A L T E A C H I N G S O F T H E
C H U R C H
FUNDAMENT
AL
PRINCIPLES

3. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES (CST 160)
1.Human Dignity
2.Common Good
3.Subsidiarity
4.Solidarity

4. WHY
PRINCIPLES
ARE NECESSARY?

5. Church presents them as the primary and fundamental parameters of
reference for interpreting and evaluating social phenomena, which is the
necessary source for working out the criteria for the discernment and
orientation of social interactions in every area. (CST 161)
PARAMETER
S/CRITERIA
All social realities: political,
economics, culture, etc.

6. GUIDE TO YOUR
DESTINATION

7. OR, better yet, a
GUIDE
Back HOME

8. Finally…….
ROADMAP
TO
BETTER
SOCIETY

9. Properties
1. permanence in time
2. universality of meaning

10. Characteristics
162. The principles of the Church's social doctrine must be appreciated in their
unity, interrelatedness and articulation.
Dignity
Common Good
Subsidiarity
Solidarity
action

11. PRINCIPLES OF CST
1. HUMAN DIGNITY

12. HUMAN DIGNITY
Bed-rock of CST
Foundation of CST
Basis of all rights & duties
Basis of value and social
relations
Defines the real worth/value
of the person/individual

13. SOME ISSUES ON DIGNITY
•Do hardened criminals have
dignity also?
•Do drug pushers/addicts have
dignity also?
•Is dignity based on the quality
of the action of a person?

14. HUMAN DIGNITY
SELF-WORTH
SELF-RESPECT

15. COMMON NOTION OF VALUE/WORTH
Action
Socio-cultural practices/customs
Social class/ status
Achievement
Gender (straight/not straight
Race
Religion
Normal/not-normal

16. HUMAN DIGNITY
108. The fundamental message of Sacred
Scripture proclaims that the human person
is a creature of God (cf. Ps 139:14-18), and
sees in his being in the image of God the
element that characterizes and distinguishes
him…. Therefore, “being in the image of
God the human individual possesses the
dignity of a person, who is not just
something, but someone.

17. HUMAN DIGNITY
Source of worth/value:
1. Imago dei
2. Existence = alive, human being,
person

18. HUMAN DIGNITY
Based on the two sources (& not
on the common notions)
-- Every individual has an
inherent and immeasurable
worth or dignity

19. HUMAN DIGNITY
Inviolable
Equal to all regardless of . . . .
(Man and woman have the same dignity
and are of equal value CST 111)
Therefore, life is sacred

20. HUMAN DIGNITY
Properties of HD (implications of
the meaning)
1. Unity (a person cannot be
reduced to any of his/her aspect
or element or part)
2. Unique (She/he exists as an “I”
capable of self-understanding,
self-possession and self-
determination. (CST 131)

21. HUMAN DIGNITY
3. Unrepeatable The human person, must
always be understood in his
unrepeatable and inviolable
uniqueness. (CST 131)
4. Transcendental nature (CST 130)
 open to the infinite and to all
created beings. He is open above
all to the infinite — God
open to the fullness of being, to
the unlimited horizon of being.

22. HUMAN DIGNITY
112. … the relationship with
God requires that the life of
man be considered sacred
and inviolable[216].

23. What is the meaning of the
statement:
to Respect human dignity?

24. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
PRINCIPLES:
1. The person represents the
ultimate end of society – the
good of the person (CST 132)

25. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
PRINCIPLES:
2. the social order and its
development must invariably work
to the benefit of the human person
CST 132)

26. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
Hierarchy of importance in
progress & Development
1. Order of Persons
2. Order of Things
3. Social Order
4. Others. . .

27. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
THEREFORE
TO RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY,
MEANS

28. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
1 ) to “consider every neighbour
without exception as another self,
taking into account first of all his life
and the means necessary for living it
with dignity”[247]. (CST 132)

29. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
1 ) to “consider every neighbour
without exception as another self,
taking into account first of all his life
and the means necessary for living it
with dignity”[247]. (CST 132)

30. RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
2. Every political, economic, social,
scientific and cultural programme must
be inspired by the awareness of the
primacy of each human being over
society[248]. (CST 132)

31. What is the meaning of the
statement:
to violate human dignity?

32. DISCUSSIONS & IMPLICATIONS

33. HUMAN ACTION
Can we reduce human dignity in
the actions (whether positive or
negative) of the human person?

34. SOCIAL FUNCTION OF HD
•Should the dignity of a person
be subordinated to the good of
the society/majority?

35. •What guarantees the respect
for dignity to a person who
is committing an evil act?