Catholic Social Thoughts: Principles for a Better World

Running head: CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
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CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
Introduction:
Catholic social teaching is based on the belief that almighty has created the universe with
a plan to develop a kingdom of peace, love as well as justice. God has special place for everyone
in the kingdom where he assigns particular responsibilities and duties to every individuals as
global citizens. This teaching includes different thoughts of life that initiates from family to that
of even international development (Clark & Zaleswski, 2015). This involves thinking for those
who are homeless to working for environment, how individuals should shop and consume things,
maintain dignity and others and thereby build a wonderful place for human beings to live on
making everyone happy and contented. There are 9 important principles of catholic social
thoughts which will now be discussed to shed more light on how the world can be made a better
place for living.
Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church is of the opinion that human life is not only sacred but also believes
that dignity of a human individual is the main foundation of a moral vision of the society. Every
individual should consider human beings are precious and should uptake activities that enhance
the life and dignity of human person (Thompson, 2015). In the light of self and community, one
should remember that no individual should affect the dignity of other persons for the profit of
self. Rather they should undertake activities by keeping in mind that dignity of the communities
are maintained while acting upon self’s wishes and aspirations. This would help in better benefit
of the world and reduce selfishness increasing the chance of the community to feel respected.

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CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
Common Good
This principle advises human beings to overcome the habits of excessive individualism
and undertake activities which focus on the fact that human beings are not only sacred but also
social. One should overcome the habits of self-obsession and consider organizing our society as
a community which would excel in every aspect (Lu, 2017). These would include economics,
politics, laws, policies and many others. These would help in developing the capacity of
individuals to grow in community where each and everyone would overcome the feeling of self-
obsession and introduce reforms that would help in development of the community for common
good and development of entire society. This can be related with the term ubuntu which means
humanity with others. By this term, one refers to the belief in a universal bond of sharing which
connects all humanity. “A person is a person through other people” – it means that one can only
call himself a human when he thinks and performs activities for the betterment of other
individuals of the humanity and thereby provide help for common good without being selfish.
Preferential Option for the Poor:
The catholic social thought is of the opinion that every society and individual has the
responsibility to evaluate about how the most vulnerable members of the community are fairing.
It is indeed important that every individuals should try to understand that how the level of
deprivation as well as the powerlessness of the poor section o the society are wounding the
whole community. It is extremely important for every individual to overcome the concept of self
and take initiatives thinking of the options for the poorer classes of people to achieve the
common good (McNiff et al, 2013). A healthy community can only be developed when
members of the community will give up the thoughts of self and provide better attentions to