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Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching

 

Catholic Social Teaching is: The underlying insight is that everyone has the right and responsibility to live in our world constructively, not destructively, and to ensure that we leave it in a better state than when we entered it.

At the core of Catholic Social Teaching are a number of key concepts and principles.

Chief among these are: justice, human dignity, the common good, the principles of participation, solidarity, and subsidiarity, the universal destination of the world’s goods, and the option for the poor.

 

Catholic Social Teaching Coverage

 

Catholic Social Teaching  calls us all as Catholics to work for the common good, help build a just society, uphold the dignity of human life and work for justice and the dignity of all our brothers and sisters, especially those in the greatest need.   

 

What does Catholic Social Teaching look like in our school?

 

Dignity of the Human Person

Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God.  Therefore, every person’s life and dignity must be respected and supported from conception until the end of their natural life on earth.

   

Foundation

KS1

KS2

God made me and loves me very much

God loves us equally as His children

We are all equal in God’s eyes and loved

God made me and all my friends very beautiful

We are all different and amazing

I have been given a special gift for the world

We show our love for each other

We love and look after each other because we are brothers and sisters

Each person is unique and irreplaceable- everyone matters

We thank God for loving us and our love for each other

Loving each other makes us strong

People matter more than possessions

 

Family and Community

The human person is not only sacred, but social.  How society is organized, be it socially, economically, legally or politically has a direct impact on the dignity and growth of every human person and community.  Marriage and family should be supported and strengthened.  Every person has a right to work to support themselves and their families as well as the building up of the common good for all.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

My family at home

We are all part of a community

What makes community?

My school family

We look after and care for each other

Who is in my community?

We are all different and we love and care for each other

I belong to my family and my community

Building up the community

We love and look after each other because we are all brothers and sisters in God’s family

My community needs me

Building up the kingdom of God

 

Solidarity and the Common Good

We are all People of God, one family.  Therefore what happens to one has an impact on all, locally, nationally and globally.  At the heart of solidarity is the pursuit of peace and justice.  Our love for all calls us to work for a peaceful and just society where everyone has a fair share of the goods needed for a sustainable life, and opportunities for growth and development are offered equally.  The dignity of every person is respected.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

We are friends

We are brothers and sisters- one family- one world

I listen to you with my ears, eyes, heart and mind

We play together in love and peace

We learn together

We walk together as people of peace

We help each other

We build together a community of peace

We face challenges together

We thank God for each other

We celebrate together

Building our mission team

 

Dignity of Work

Work is a way in which we can continue to participate in God’s creation.  Work gives dignity to life and must be carried out in such a way that the basic rights of workers are respected.  Everyone has the right to productive work, to fair and liveable wages, and to organize and join a union.  The economy must be conducted so that it serves the needs of the people.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

We are helping to do God’s work

Everybody’s work is valuable and important for the community

Exploring our understanding of work. How does our work build us up?

We use our gifts for each other

Working together to build up our school family

The many sides of working together to build up community

Everybody’s gifts are needed to build God’s world

Finding my special job- my gift to the world

Recognising and helping others to find their gift and share it

When we build together we can do much more

Working hard to be the best you can be for others

Enabling each other to aim high

 

Rights and Responsibilities

Every person has a fundamental right to life.  It is this right that makes all other rights possible.  Everyone has the right to food, health care, housing, education and employment.  We all need to strive to secure and respect these rights for others both locally and globally.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

God wants everyone to be happy

Happiness is? Exploring what makes us happy

Barriers to happiness

God gives us all we need to be happy

Finding happiness with each other

Exploring our responsibilities for each other

Making the right choices

Helping each other to make the right choices

Recognising the difference between rights and responsibilities

We share all God’s gifts

Fair shares for all

Happiness comes in sharing and giving

 

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Society is judged on how it cares for the poor and vulnerable – our brothers and sisters.  We read in scripture how God has a special concern for the oppressed, poor, vulnerable and those forced to the margins of society.  The Church calls us to respond to the cry of the poor and put their needs first.  This preferential treatment for the poor and vulnerable must be seen in action in our daily lives.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

God’s gifts are for everyone (food, clothing, education, medical etc.)

Some of God’s family have plenty of food, toys and clothes. Some don’t

Why are some parts of our area richer or poorer than others?

Learning to share our toys and food with our friends so that everybody has enough

Exploring the feelings of those who have plenty and those who have little

What are the needs of those in a poor area compared with those in a rich area?

Helping everybody to be happy by playing, sharing and learning together

Working together to make our family happy. Exploring fairness and justice

Helping each other to see brothers and sisters, not strangers, in need. Raising awareness locally and nationally

Using our gifts to help others

Who needs our help? How can we help?

Being Christ’s voice in our area for those who need us the most

 

Stewardship

The world God has created for us has been entrusted to everyone and we are responsible and accountable to God as stewards of the earth.  The world has been given to us as a gift, to enjoy and care for so that future generations can enjoy it too.  It is in caring for creation that we show our love and respect for its creator.

Foundation

KS1

KS2

Discovering God’s beautiful creation

Learning from God’s creation (interdependence)

All things are connected

Playing in and caring for creation

Making good choices- being responsible

Enough for everybody’s need, but not everybody’s greed

Helping God’s creation grow

God’s gardeners

Stewards of God’s world (understanding the concept)

Celebrating God’s creation

Celebrating the harvest

Seeing God in creation

 

Catholic Social Teaching

Cardinal's Introduction

Cardinal's Introduction

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