Catholic Social Teaching
St Bernadette’s will continue to ensure that all members of our community understand the principle underpinning the ‘common good’. That it is the care for the greatest good of all persons. As a school we have adopted using the Rooted in Love resources, a new project by Caritas, to support schools in their journey with Catholic Social Teaching.
Because we are interdependent, the common good is more like a multiplication sum, where if any one number is zero then the total is always zero. If anyone is left out and deprived of what is essential, then the common good has been betrayed.
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Choosing the Common Good, paragraph 8.
Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of His love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium
The themes of Catholic Social Teaching are:
● Human Dignity
● Community and Participation
● Care for Creation
● Dignity in Work
● Peace & Reconciliation
● Solidarity
Solidarity - All people are God's children -
That makes us brothers and sisters. We are connected to each other. We can be very different from each other, but we are still one family - God's family.
An option for the poor and vulnerable -
You need food, water, a house, your school, a doctor. So does everybody else on the whole Earth, but there are many people who do not have these things. Jesus wants us to take extra good care of these people.
The dignity of the human person -
Each of us are special because of God's love. We must treat others in a caring way because they were made by God too.
The dignity and rights of workers - All people work in the same way -
Their work should be safe and helpful to them because God made them. By our work we help ourselves and others, and we show our love to God.
We are called to Stewardship -
God made the earth and sky, the people, animals and flowers. God tells us we must take good care of them. It is an important job.
We are called to live as family and community -
Jesus knows that people can only be happy if they have families and friends. He tells us that we can let these important people help us. He asks us to help them too.
Rights and Responsibilities -
All of God's people need food, clothes, work, a home, school, a doctor. Some people have what they need, but many people don't. Jesus wants the people who have what they need to help others.
Promotion of Peace -
When we fall out with our friends we must say sorry. We must try to live in peace and get on with everyone. This is not easy but Jesus wants us to keep on trying.