Catholic Social Thought: Applying Principles to Self and Community

This essay delves into the core principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), emphasizing their relevance to individual self-awareness and community development. It discusses key concepts such as the dignity of the human person, the common good, preferential option for the poor, subsidiarity, the universal purpose of goods, stewardship of creation, promotion of peace, participation, and global solidarity. Each principle is examined in detail, highlighting how these tenets can guide individuals and societies toward fostering justice, equality, and a better world. The essay argues that by embracing these principles, communities can prioritize the well-being of all members, promote sustainable practices, and work towards a more harmonious and equitable global society. The paper uses examples and relatable concepts like 'ubuntu' and the golden rule to illustrate the practical application of CST in everyday life.

Running head: CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS
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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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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

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those with special needs and those who are poor and at the margins of the society. Following the
golden rule of humanism, a person should never exploit another vulnerable person in a way by
which they would themselves not like to be treated. The rich should keep in mind about this
factor and should not perform any activities that harm the poor.
Subsidiarity:
This principle states that a community should be developed in such a way where each and
every member of the society starting from the high socioeconomic background to that of the low
socioeconomic backgrounds would have the right and responsibility to actively participate in
different types of political institutions. These would ultimately help the government to achieve it
proper goals and develop a strong union. The functions of the government should take place in a
way where even the lowest levels of the government can act successfully and adequately as long
as possible. Only when the important requirements and needs in question cannot be met at the
lower level, then only the higher levels of governments should intervene (Teixera, 2017). This
would ultimately help in developing human dignity, build common good and thereby protect
human rights.
Universal Purpose of Goods
This principle confirms that very individual should develop personality and personal
attributes where their thinking procedures would always be guided by up taking activities that
will do good to the common people rather than taking self as the only individuals to be care for.
This can be done by protecting human dignity and maintaining healthy community by
maintaining the fact that rights of all individuals of the community are protected and
responsibilities are met (Long, 2015). Every person has the fundamental right to possess things

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important for human needs like food, clothing, shelter, employment, care, education and others.
Therefore overcoming the concept of self and taking steps for helping them to get their basic
requirements should be taken as prime duty. This will help in developing common good.
Economic justice should also be maintained.
Stewardship of Creation:
The God has created the world and has allocated proper resources which human being
should respect as gifts from the divine creation. It is the duty of the human beings to care and
respect these goods provided by the God as responsible citizens and care should have taken that
the resources are not exploited. It is to the duty of every individual to utilize resource for self
which is minimum and important for living a proper life (Johnston, 2014). Resources should not
be wasted and every chance should be given to the others of the community like those of the
lesser privileged class to utilize resources so that they can also be a part of the universal gifts
provided to us. We should act as responsible stewards and trustees for these gifts and develop a
community with equal access to these gifts rather than utilizing all resources by self. This can be
related with the principle of Golden rule. This states that people should focus on treating others
the way by which they themselves want to be treated. If the richer class of society does not
themselves want to suffer due to lack of proper resources in the future, they should also do not
destroy resources in the present time and only use resources which is only required.
Promotion of Peace:
Initiatives should be taken which promotes peace not only among the communities but
also among the nations. Peace should be promoted as positive and action oriented concept which
is not only achieved by the absence of war but also by the involving of the mutual respect and

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confidence between individuals, societies, nations and others. Every individual should not
always be self centered but try to initiate strategies which ensure peace and discourage
negativities (Miller, 2015). Overcoming concept of self and ensuring promotion of peace among
the communities to ensure common good should be the duty of each individual.
Participation:
The Catholic social thought promotes the principle of participation where it is believed
that each and every individual of the society irrespective of the social status should get the equal
rights in different aspect of the society like that in the economic, political as well as cultural life
of the society. It should be considered that every individual should possess the fundamental
demand of justice and requirement for maintaining the human dignity where all people of the
community should have a minimum level of participation in the community (David et al, 2013).
Overcoming biases and stereotypes of self and encouraging each individual’s contribution in the
community to participate for greater good of the world is very important.
Global solidarity:
This belief is mainly based on the principle that all individuals should work together to be
stronger and to make a difference. Working globally to achieve justice at all levels and being
responsible for maintaining unity across cross-national, economic, racial and ideological barriers
are very important for proper functioning of every nations in the worlds (Calo, 2015). Respecting
and promoting social, economic and political rights of all people overcoming thoughts and
biasness of self and acting together as one power ensure better functioning and happier days in
the community rather than craving for self happiness. Being united globally ensures common
good for all the communities.

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Conclusion:
The Catholic principles of thought provide nine important principles. With the help of the
principles, communities can be developed where every individuals ensure living nit for self but
for the better good of the nation and hence the world. These principles if followed by every
individual will help in making the world a place where everyone not only lives happily but for
the best of mental and physical health as well.
References:
Calo, Z. R. (2015). Catholic Social Thought and Human Rights. American Journal of Economics
and Sociology, 74(1), 93-112.
Clark, C., & Zalewski, D. A. (2015). Rethinking Finance in Light of Catholic Social
Thought. Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 12(1), 19-44.
David, J. M., David, J. M., & Hendry, S. J. (2013). Using Principles of Catholic Social Thought
to Evaluate Business Activities. Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 10(1), 155-177.

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Johnston, L. (2014). Catholic Social Thought. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of
America, 69.
Long, B. (2015). The NDIS as a'Good News' story-Perspectives from economics and Catholic
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