An Analysis of the Principles of Catholic Social Thought in Sociology

This sociology assignment delves into the principles of Catholic Social Thought, examining their relevance and application within a sociological framework. The essay identifies and explains key principles such as the common good, the life and dignity of the human person, the correlation of responsibilities and rights, the preferential option for the vulnerable and the poor, and subsidiarity. It draws upon the foundational documents and interpretations of Catholic Social Thought, emphasizing the understanding of individuals as social beings and the importance of interrelationships. The assignment highlights the significance of human dignity, social justice, and the responsibilities that individuals and communities share in promoting a just society. It also discusses the interconnectedness of the self and community, highlighting the importance of societal structures in shaping individual identity and well-being, and how the principles of Catholic Social Thought can be applied to address contemporary social issues, particularly those affecting the marginalized and vulnerable populations, and the creation of a balance in society.

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
Name of the Student
University Name
Author Note

SOCIOLOGY 1
‘The principles of catholic social thought’ are derived from documents of papal also the
information and the statements that has been drawn from the bishop’s conference within the last
few years. These principle documents have been majorly identified and interpreted with the
respect of study regarding underpinnings of principals towards living of the work category of
individuals and scriptures within the Christian tradition (Brady, 2017). Rise of catholic social
thought has continued today at both the practices and within theoretical underpinnings. The
assignment aims to choose three to five principles of catholic social thought and illustrate and
highlight them with further coherent explanation.
Principle 1 – The common good
Foundation principles is a most common good that is based on the understanding in the
catholic social thought that individuals are created a social beings, and always within the
interrelationship and interdependence with the others.
Principle 2 - The life and dignity of the human person
The catholic social thought promotes the dignity of each and every human being since
each is made within the image and the likeness of God. This dignity always needs to be
seen and understood within the relationship towards the promotion of the common
good.
Principle 3 -the correlation of the responsibilities and the rights
The context of human dignity grounds and is protected by the spectrum of
corresponding duties and human rights. This principle of the correlation of the duties
and the rights tends to promote the living condition as well as the dignity of work and
the rights towards the workers.

SOCIOLOGY 2
From the above principles of ‘Catholic Social Thought’, in can thus be explained regarding the
inclusion of some of the essential elements of the proclamation of Church social doctrine. It is
important to practically promote the integration of catholic social thought that has been observed
over the years. Elaborating the basic doctrine of ‘Catholic Social Thought’ includes the
principles which proclaims the thought that human beings are developed or formed by the God
and hence the synthesis for their making is sacred in nature (Brennan, 2014). It is furthermore
taken into consideration that the social teaching foundation is a belief of human towards dignity
inherited and also the life’s sanctity. As per principles regarding the catholic social thought, the
goal of the community through out illustrates that within global culture that has been mostly
driven by individualism and human beings, they are generally being social and sacred.
As per the noted principle, potentiality regarding individual growth and human dignity within the
society, these factors have being noted by the behaviour of the individuals tendency to organise
Principle 4 – the preferential options for the vulnerable and the poor
Many of the people do helping marginalised in the society are called towards making an
option for the poor. This includes the consideration of those who are economically poor
in the full front of the mines in all the decision making procedure.
Principle 6 – subsidiarity
It is important to face the environmental concerns of the day that disproportionately
affects the economically poor. Towards the response of the decisions that made for
addressing the challenges in each of the spheres of the society, the principles of the
subsidiarity calls for the actions at the lowest level possible.

SOCIOLOGY 3
societal rules (Carlson, 2014). Also indications of principal regarding the responsibilities and the
rise includes community that is healthy with several rate of protection for dignity of human race
that needs identification and accomplishments for the protection of human rights. This is needed
for the protection and the fulfilment of responsibilities (Sorokin, 2017). Hence it can be stated
that each and every individual residing in the society has their basic or fundamental
responsibilities towards their society and families by adhering to the basic rights that are
essential for the maintenance of decency in human standards. The principal for the choices for
wild animal together with war explain with society of human being; pursues categorisation
together with the discrimination among the poor and the rich (Grotenhuis, R. E. N. É. and
ADVICE, 2015). Stewardship of creation explain with the individuals need to show esteem for
almighty creator for the almighty by their superintendence of action and formation.
‘Principles of Catholic Social Thought’ have always tried to develop and equilibrium for the
entire society by respecting solidarity, dignity of human and prioritising of the needs regarding
the marginalized and the weak people so that each and everyone would flourish and live well life
on true basis (Tablan, 2014). The core concept of the ‘Catholic Social Thought’ is regarding the
fundamental principle for flourishment of human revolving around the context of self and how
individuals might exist in various other forms. According to the research it is stated often that, “ I
am who I am because of who we all are” - targeting the strength and the bond amog community
and self.
As per above stated principles interrelationship among context of community and ‘self’ needs to
be understood. Human beings being a social animal have certain fundamental desire’s and basic
rights for existing in a community. Our community is a amalgamate aspect regarding shared
interest together with attributes of the inhabitants (Schloesser, 2014). Thus ‘self’ of an individual

SOCIOLOGY 4
or a person is being determined by the environment of community together with categories of the
life of a community that is noted through the individual’s responsibilities and rights.
According to the words by famous Aristotle, self needs requires to be served through the
societies viewpoint. It should also be ensured that individuals needs to properly fit in to
community or society. This is because of the very explanation of society or a community is not
complete without unity regarding the self of attributes of individual (McGoldrick, 2014). Thus it
can be stated from the above ‘ Principles of Catholic Social Thought’ that ‘self’ is independent
from the communal norms because one community its consists of several of self-individuals.

SOCIOLOGY 5
References
Brady, B. V. (2017). Essential Catholic Social Thought 2nd edition. Orbis Books.
Brennan, P. M. (2014). Subsidiarity in the tradition of Catholic social doctrine. In Global
perspectives on subsidiarity (pp. 29-47). Springer, Dordrecht.
Carlson, M. (2014). Aquinas on Inclusion: Using the Good Doctor and Catholic Social Teaching
to Build a Moral Case for Inclusion in Catholic Schools for Children with Special
Needs. Journal of Catholic Education, 18(1), n1.
Grotenhuis, R. E. N. É., & ADVICE, S. (2015). Cordaid, social entrepreneurship and catholic
social thought. Strategic advice, (9).
McGoldrick, T. A. (2014). Episcopal conferences worldwide and catholic social thought, in
theory and praxis: an update. Theological Studies, 75(2), 376-403.
Schloesser, S. (2014). Accommodation as a Rhetorical Principle: Twenty Years after John
O’Malley’s The First Jesuits (1993). Journal of Jesuit Studies, 1(3), 347-372.
Sorokin, P. (2017). Social and cultural dynamics: A study of change in major systems of art,
truth, ethics, law and social relationships. Routledge.
Tablan, F. (2014). Ethical implications of Catholic social teachings on human work for the
service industry. Journal of Religion and Business Ethics, 3(1), 11.