Catholic Social Teaching

The Latest

Pope Francis addresses participants in a conference of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences at the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Oct. 20, 2017.

Don't sacrifice justice and family for efficiency, Pope tells business leaders

Oct 20, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis met Friday with leaders in business and civil society, telling them not to get carried away by wealth... Read more

Coffee fruits in the process of ripening. Courtesy of Levanta Coffee.

How a college mission trip inspired a coffee business

Jul 24, 2017

By Mary Farrow

When Matt Hohler was in college in 2010, he was a reluctant Catholic - and not a coffee drinker.   Read more

Why Catholic teaching on marriage matters for society

Mar 2, 2017

By Andrea Gagliarducci

As Catholics continue to debate pastoral and doctrinal approaches to marriage, they should remember that the Catholic approach to marriage... Read more

Social doctrine is about solidarity, Catholic leaders insist

Jan 20, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Catholics must fight the societal ills of contempt, poverty, and unemployment through solidarity, recent speakers at the Catholic University of... Read more

Here's what the Catholic Church has to say about your paycheck

Dec 29, 2016

By Adelaide Mena

“To defraud anyone of wages that are his due is a great crime which cries to the avenging anger of... Read more

Vatican foundation exploring pros, cons of new technologies

Nov 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

Alongside the various technological advances booming throughout the world, the digital age has also brought with it questions as to... Read more

Washington state's bishops listened to the poor. Here’s what they heard.

Nov 22, 2016

The stories of poor people – and the need for Christians to help them – are the focus of the... Read more

Did you know there's a third party based on Catholic teaching?

Oct 12, 2016

In a country long entrenched in a two-party political system, Mike Maturen faces an uphill battle.  Read more

The United States capitol building.

As welfare reform turns 20, Catholics discuss its legacy

Aug 24, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Welfare reform was one of the biggest United States legislative events of the 1990s, but after 20 years what is... Read more

Part of the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine in southern Africa, October 2007.

In Malawi, Catholic leaders aim to help corporations be responsible

Jul 19, 2016

Amid Malawi’s booming industry in mineral extraction, the country’s Catholic bishops and NGO partners hope corporations will help the wider... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, June 15, 2016.

WYD pilgrims to receive a social doctrine app from the Pope

Jul 9, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis has established a tech-savvy track record as Pope, and now in addition to breaking records on Instagram and... Read more

Pope Francis greets the head of the Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, May 13, 2016.

Generate new models of economic progress, Pope urges business leaders

May 14, 2016

Economic worldviews based only on material well-being cannot contribute to dignified labor and new models of economic progress are needed,... Read more

U.S. Labor Day commemorative stamp, issued in 1956.

Labor Day the Catholic way: help young workers and struggling families

Sep 7, 2015

The need for decent work at a living wage – one which can support a family – was a key... Read more

Above St. John Bosco's initial tomb at the Salesian Institute in Turin.

They lived Christianity: Italy's saints of social action

May 15, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Turin is an opportunity to reflect on the outstanding group of saints whose lives embodied... Read more

About 7,000 members of the business group Confederazione Cooperative Italiane gathered in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall for an audience with Pope Francis Feb. 28, 2015.

Pope puts family at the center of social justice

Feb 28, 2015

By Ann Schneible

In an audience with the Confederazione Cooperative Italiane (confederation of Italian co-operatives) Pope Francis called for the “globalization of solidarity” which... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to journalists on the papal plane on his way to Strasbourg, France, Nov. 25, 2014.

The Pope sides with the Gospel, not political ideologies

Nov 26, 2014

Pope Francis has said he aims to express the social doctrine of the Church, not the views of partisan political... Read more

Saints and Social Justice, A Guide to Changing the World by Brandon Vogt.

Lives of the saints model Catholic social teaching in new book

Jul 22, 2014

By Hillary Mast

Dignity of the human person, solidarity and care for creation are just a few topics author Brandon Vogt discusses in... Read more

(L-R) Marc Barnes, Joseph Antoniello, Emilio Marquez, Samantha McCoy, Patrick Walters and Matthew Seal of the Harmonium Project. Courtesy of The Harmonium Project/Matthew Seal.

Students inspired by John Paul II to revitalize college town

May 14, 2014

By Hillary Mast

A group of college classmates have set out on a mission to revamp their university town in Ohio after learning... Read more

A tapestry of St. John Paul II, whose 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus inspired the foundation which met in Rome this week.

Experts in business, economy, consider Popes' call to solidarity

May 10, 2014

Business leaders, economic analysts and  theologians gathered at the Vatican this week to consider, in light of Catholic social teaching,... Read more

Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Cardinal encourages business schools to form principled leaders

Apr 2, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Cardinal Peter Turkson has encouraged business school faculty to teach their students about the Church's social teaching and to form... Read more