Catholic Social Teaching & Work (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note

Catholic social teaching

• Catholic Social Teaching refers to the Catholic teaching that people should act within society to improve it for everyone, especially those most in need of support

• All humans are God’s creation and therefore all are equally worthy of dignity and respect

• The gospels teach that all Catholics have a duty to ‘love your neighbour’

• Jesus taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37) to explain the teaching that you should ‘love your neighbour.’ 

  • Jesus demonstrated that people should see everyone as a ‘neighbour’

  • Therefore people should love everyone, regardless of who they are

• In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) Jesus teaches believers that whatever they do to help those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, a stranger, or in prison, they do for God

  • Jesus says that the people who help are the ones who will “inherit the kingdom”, meaning that they will be with God in heaven

  • God rewards those who love their neighbour

• Jesus spent much of his ministry helping those who were in need, 

• Catholics today try to follow the teaching and example Jesus set

• This is because the Church is the ‘body of Christ’ on earth today

  • St Paul taught this, saying to the early Christians:

• Therefore the Catholic Church teaches and encourages its members to carry out their duty to ‘love your neighbour’ locally, nationally and globally

• This is a way for them to put their faith into action

  • The apostle John’s letter shows that this care for neighbour is a vital part of showing love for God

• Catholic social teaching lays out in greater detail how Catholics should act as the body of Christ on earth today

• The Church document Gaudium et Spes from the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s said that everyone should be entitled to a fair standard of living:

• More recently, Evangelii Gaudium, written by Pope Francis in 2013, says that Catholics must strive to help the poor to be fully part of society

Catholic teaching on justice, peace & reconciliation

• Justice, peace and reconciliation are key elements of Catholic social teaching

• There can be no peace in the world without justice and setting differences aside

• Jesus taught his followers how to become blessed through their actions, 

  • These actions include being merciful, being peacemakers, and working for justice even if this means they are persecuted 

• Catholics today believe in the importance of:

  • treating other people fairly

  • keeping peace with others and avoiding conflict

  • making up with others quickly if there is any conflict (reconciliation)

Work of Catholic social agencies

• Catholics have a duty to 'love their neighbour' locally, nationally & globally

• Locally they can do this by:

  • Praying together

  • Being part of their local Church and community

  • Participating in local charity projects

• Nationally they can work together on community projects and by uniting with other churches to work for charities that help on a national scale

  • One example is Street Pastors, a national scheme where volunteers support their communities

• Globally, they can work to raise awareness of inequality and persecution across the world

  • At the global level, international Catholic charities carry out this vital work

  • Examples include CAFOD, Trocaire and Missio

CAFOD

• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) works to fight poverty and injustice around the world 

• CAFOD responds to emergencies and natural disasters, providing short-term aid in times of greatest need 

• Its chief aim is to give people the skills to help themselves and to be able to support their families and their communities

• CAFOD challenges inequality and conflict in the world, speaking out for justice

• CAFOD tackles the issues caused by conflict, for example, working to support refugees

Trócaire

• Trócaire is an Irish Catholic organisation that provides aid abroad in emergencies

• Like CAFOD, Trócaire also has a wider mission to end poverty and tackle its causes

• It works with communities to help them cope with the effects of climate change and gain fair access to food, land and vital resources

• Trócaire also speaks out against inequality and and works for justice where human rights are not being upheld

• Trócaire works internationally in over 20 developing countries globally

Missio

• Missio is a UK-based organisation that works to support Catholic Churches overseas

• Missio works in the places of greatest need in the world

• It provides education and health care to support those in poverty

• It is also involved in educating children and providing training for future priests and nuns