Catholic social teaching (CST)

After the devastating flood of 2000, CAFOD helped villagers in Mozambique rebuild their homes [Simon Rawles]

The principles, insights and guidance from Catholic social teaching (CST) have inspired CAFOD since its foundation and remain a vital underpinning of its work

Catholic social teaching (CST) is the Catholic Church’s ethical framework for analysing the economic, social and political realities of the world we live in

Based on the core beliefs of Christian faith, such as the dignity of the human person made in the image of God, it sets out ethical principles and guidance, which can appeal to all people, whether Catholic or not.

CST has a particular importance for catholics, whom it challenges to transform the world we live in as part of living faith.

It came to prominence in modern times as the Church responded to immense changes in social and political structures.

But this does not mean it is something new. From the time of the early Church, Christians have been inspired by faith to seek justice and to protect and uphold people who are poor.

This teaching has become more systematic, as successive popes and the Second Vatican Council have set out the Church's thinking on complex contemporary realities.

CST has several distinctive characteristics.

• Catholics regard it as authoritative: when set out either at the global level by the Pope or a Synod of Bishops, or at national level by Conferences of Bishops, it has a claim on the attention and response of the global Catholic community.
• It is dynamic and unfolding. Although it contains principles that are permanently true, such as the obligation to seek social justice, it is also enriched by absorbing new insights such as the importance of human rights. CST develops in response to changing social, political and economic realities.
• Although formally articulated by bishops and the Pope, it is nourished, expressed and applied in practice by the faith and action of members of the Church who work for justice.

CAFOD and CST

The principles, insights and guidance from CST have inspired CAFOD since its foundation and remain a vital underpinning of its work.

Its central principles help form CAFOD's Vision, Mission and Values, and are intrinsic to CAFOD's commitment to partnership working.

The Pope's statements and teaching on debt provide inspiration and motivation for CAFOD's campaigns work on issues of global poverty.

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