Principles of the Churchs Social Doctrine

Chapter Four of the Compendium of the Social Doctrines of the Church (CSDC) lists down and
explains for us the Principles of the Churchs Social Doctrine.

The Principles are as follows:

1. The Dignity of the Human Person. The Church invites all people to recognize in everyone
near and far, known and unknown, and above all in the poor and the suffering a brother or
sister for whom Christ died (1 Cor 8:11; Rom 14:15)[Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC) 1931, CSDC 105].

2. Common Good. The common good indicates the sum total of social conditions which allow
people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily
(Gaudium et Spes (GS) 26, CSDC 164).

3. Universal Destination of Goods. God destined the earth and all it contains for all men and all
peoples so that all created things would be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of
justice tempered by charity (GS 69, CSDC 171). God gave the earth to the whole human race
for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favouring anyone The earth, by
reason of its fruitfulness and its capacity to satisfy human needs, is God's first gift for the
sustenance of human life (Centessimus Annus (CA) 31, CSDC 171).

3. Subsidiarity. On the basis of this principle, all societies of a superior order must adopt
attitudes of help (subsidium) therefore of support, promotion, development with respect
to lower-order societies. (CSDC 186). Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what
they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it
is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a
greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.
(Quadragessimo Anno (QA) 48, CSDC 186).
4. Participation. Participation is expressed essentially in a series of activities by means of which
the citizen, either as an individual or in association with others, whether directly or through
representation, contributes to the cultural, economic, political and social life of the civil
community to which he belongs (GS 75, CSDC 189).

5. Solidarity. The firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good,
that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for
all (Solicitudo Rei Socialis (SRS) 38, CSDC 193). As thus, we also need to clarify, solidarity is
not, and is more than a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so
many people.

Reflecting on these principles, CSDC also highlights the Fundamental Values of Social Life.

a. Truth. Modern times call for an intensive educational effort (GS 61) and a corresponding
commitment on the part of all so that the quest for truth cannot be ascribed to the sum of
different opinions, nor to one or another of these opinions will be encouraged in every
sector and will prevail over every attempt to relativize its demands or to offend it. (GS
17).

b. Freedom. Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be
recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect.
(CCC 1738). The meaning of freedom must not be restricted, however, to the arbitrary
and uncontrolled exercise of one's own personal autonomy: Far from being achieved in
total self-sufficiency and the absence of relationships, freedom only truly exists where
reciprocal bonds, governed by truth and justice, link people to one another(CSDC 199)

c. Justice. It consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and
neighbour(CCC 1807, CSDC 201).

See, Judge, Act. To end, the Church presents the principles of her social doctrine to us as points
for reflection, they promote awareness and inspire social action. Because of their permanence
in time and their universality of meaning, the 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. (CSDC 161)