16 social encyclicals

• The encyclical promoted authentic human development and viewed material progress as a means to an end, with the end being increasing spiritual and moral well-being.
• Seven Tenets of Catholic Social Teaching:

  • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
  • Call to Family, Community and Participation
  • Rights and Responsibilities
  • Options for the poor and vulnerable
  • The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
  • Solidarity
  • Care for God’s Creation
• Vatican produced 16 social encyclicals, 1 pastoral constitution, and 1 decree aiming for the development of the church's involvement in the world
• Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Novarum" in 1891 addressed the main problem of the ills of private sector unrestricted capitalism
• Pope Pius XI's encyclical "Quadragesimo Anno" in 1931 focused on the failure to respect freedom to form associations and stressed the principles of solidarity and cooperation
• Subsidiarity is the principle that the lowest competent social order need not hand over its authority to a higher order
• Pope John XXIII's encyclical "Mater et Magistra" in 1961 emphasized the need for "community" and "socialization" where greed and violation reign
• Pope Paul VI's encyclical "Populorum Progressio" in 1967 stressed the importance of the integral development of the human person and that the economy must serve the needs of humanity
• Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Laborem Exercen" in 1981 focused on protecting the fundamental rights of laborers as work brings fulfillment to the human person
• Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" in 2009 emphasized that charity must always be grounded in truth
• Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato si'" in 2015 addressed environmental issues
• Ownership of property must avoid two extremes:

  • Individualism, denying or minimizing the social and public character of the right to own property
  • Collectivism, rejecting or minimizing the private and individual character of the right to own property
• The distribution of goods in society should be more even, and everyone should have their own share of goods
• The social economy will not be in order until each person is provided with all goods available through natural resources, technology, and social organization
• Free competition is justified and useful, but the right ordering of economic life cannot be left to a free competition of forces
• Free competition must be effectively controlled by the government
• Catholics are not to compromise with socialism
• Pope John XXIII, best known for convening the Second Vatican Council, with the motto "Oboedientia et Pax" (Obedience and Peace)
• A proper balance should be kept between the freedom of individual citizens and the regulating activity of the government
• Rights and protection of agricultural workers, who must receive all essential public services
• Condemns "conspicuous consumption," wasting and destruction of surplus goods while masses of people experience want and hunger
• Catholic social teaching is valid for all time, based on the principle that individuals are the foundation, cause, and end of all social institutions
• Apply the social teaching of the church using the method of: see, judge, act
• Pacem in Terris ('Peace on Earth') was the first encyclical addressed to "all men of goodwill," condemning war, racism, the arms race, and stockpiling weapons, especially atomic weapons
• Pope Paul VI, known for the encyclical "Populorum Progressio" on development, solidarity, and peace
• Dignitatis Humanae emphasizes the fundamental right to religious freedom for everyone, even non-Catholics
• Populorum Progressio warns against the abuses of the capitalist system accompanying industrialization
• Humanae Vitae addresses the role of sex in life and family, dignity of women, and condemns pornography and abortion
• Octogesima Adveniens highlights urbanization, youth, creating employment, the environment, and human rights
• St. John Paul II's encyclical "Laborem Exercens" emphasizes the importance of work for human fulfillment and criticizes the exclusive right to private ownership of the means of production
• Sollicitudo Rei Socialis emphasizes moderate, left-of-center, and nonpartisan social and political principles of Catholic social thought
• Key principles include: The Dignity of the Human Person, The Common Good, Solidarity, Subsidiarity, The Purpose of the Social Order, The Purpose of Government, Participation, The Universal Purpose of Goods, The Option for the Poor, and The Care of Creation
• Centesimus Annus, 100 years after Rerum Novarum, criticizes socialism and liberalism, condemns the excesses of capitalism, and emphasizes the rights of the poor and defenseless
• Private property is acceptable, but the world's goods are stated to have a 'universal destination', and consumerism is criticized for damaging human physical and spiritual health
• Evangelium Vitae stresses the worth of every human life, condemns actions like murder, genocide, abortion, and euthanasia, and advocates for laws that benefit all, especially the unborn and married couples
• Caritas in Veritate, directed by Pope Benedict XVI, addresses globalization, global poverty, injustice, and the arms race, emphasizing charity and truth in individuals and organizations
• Evangelii Gaudium focuses on the 'social dimension of Evangelization', addressing social problems like the crisis of communal commitment, markets, exclusion, consumerism, and the need for peace based on the common good of all
• Laudato Si affirms the connection between justice, peace, and care of Creation, advocating for recycling, waste segregation, and carpooling as acts of fidelity to Christ and love for neighbors who share a common home
• Fratelli Tutti, released by Pope Francis, emphasizes universal fraternity, the rejection of exclusion, the importance of an open heart and world, and the necessity of engaging in politics with social charity for human dignity