Catholic Social Teaching is based on the belief that God has a plan for creation, a plan to build his kingdom of peace, love and justice. It holds that God has a special plan for every single one of us, whoever we are.
Our part in this plan isn’t just limited to things ‘spiritual’, or times when we do “religious things.” It involves every aspect of our lives, from the things we pray about, to how we live as a responsible global citizen.
Our part in this is a vocation for the common good, a call to treat everyone as our brothers and sisters. It is something that we all share.
The Catholic Church has principles of social teaching that we share with our children through all that we do, through the curriculum, special events and activity and through our ordinary actions in school.
These principles include:
- Human Dignity
- Common Good
- Participation
- Subsidiarity
- Stewardship
- Solidarity
- Preferential Option for the Poor
- Distributive Justice
- Promoting Peace
Human Dignity – Everyone is Special
“Human person are willed by God; they are imprinted with God’s image. Their dignity does not come from the work they do, but from the persons they are”
Saint Pope John Paul II.
At St Anthony’s we recognise the human dignity in others by:
- being respectful
- raising awareness of our rights
- preferential option for the vulnerable
- treating others fairly and equally.
The Common Good– Taking Part in our Communities
"All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would...distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Acts 2:44-45
At St Anthony’s we show we are part of a community by:
- working together
- participating and engaging
- working for the common good
- being active members of our community.
Participation – The Dignity of Work
"Each of us has a part to play, a gift to share, a service to offer, for building up the Body of Christ in love."
Pope Francis, June19, 2013
At St Anthony’s we recognise the dignity of work by:
- respecting all workers
- supporting wellbeing and everyone's rights
- contributing to society
- making responsible economical choices.
Subsidiarity– All People Should Have a Say
"..together we want to give voice to all those who suffer, to all those who have no voice and are not heard." Pope Francis, September 20, 2016
At St Anthony’s we acknowledge our rights and responsibilities by:
- understanding our own rights
- following our school rules
- living our mission
- recognising our duties as members of the community.
Stewardship – Caring for God’s Creation and Gifts
"Our earth is talking to us and we must listen to it and decipher its message if we want to survive." Pope Benedict XVI, July 24, 2007
"...the world we have received also belongs to those who will follow us." Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
At St Anthony’s we show care for creation by:
- having awe and wonder for our natural world
- making environmentally responsible choices
- taking responsibility for our environment
-
contributing to sustainability in our environment.
Solidarity – We are One Big Family
"The word ‘solidarity’...refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity...[it is about] community and the priority of the life of all..."
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel).
At St Anthony’s we show solidarity by:
- making socially responsible choices
- praying for others
- making connections
- raising awareness of social justice.
Option for the Poor – Some People Need Extra Help
“The [Option for the Poor] affects the life of each Christian as he or she seeks to imitate the life of Christ”
Saint Pope
John Paul II.
At St Anthony’s we show preferential option for the poor and vulnerable by:
- fundraising for charitable causes
- treating others with dignity and respect
- thinking of the needs of others.
Distributive Justice – Being Fair
"...we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone." Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
At St Anthony’s we recognise the need to share the worlds resources by:
- Sharing our belongs
- all children have access to all the equipment needed
- all children have resources dedicated to assist their need
- all children are treated fairly and equally.
Promoting Peace – We can be God’s Instruments of Peace
"Today the world has a profound thirst for peace. In many countries, people are suffering due to wars which, though often forgotten, are always the cause of suffering and poverty."
Pope Francis, September 20, 2016
At St Anthony’s we show we are people of peace by:
- using kind hands and feet
- using kind words treating others kindly
- turning away from conflict
- creating bonds between others.