A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching Third Edition

Contents

Introduction xi

1. Life anD Dignity of tHe Human Person 1

Brothers and Sisters to Us: Pastoral Letter on Racism   1

Satement on Capital Punishment    5

The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae)  8

For Reflection and Dialogue 18

2. Call to Family,Community,and Participation    21

On the Condition of Labor (Rerum Novarum)22

On Reconstructing the Social Order(Quadragesimo Anno)22

On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (Centesimus Annus)22

The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae)  23

On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth (Caritas in Veritate)24

On Love in the Family (Amoris Laetitia) 29

For Reflection and Dialogue 30

3. Rights and resPonsibilities    33

Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on
Catholic Social Teaching and the US Economy 33

Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines 38

On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth (Caritas in Veritate) 41

For Reflection and Dialogue 42

4.Option for the Poor and VuLnerabLe 45

On Christianity and Social Progress(Mater et Magistra) 46

On the Development of Peoples (Populorum Progressio)53

On Social Concern (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis)55

A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty
and to Respect the Dignity of All God’s Children  62

For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on

Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers 63

On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth(Caritas in Veritate) 64
The Joy of the Gospel(Evangelii Gaudium)67
For Reflection and Dialogue 71

5. The Dignity of Work and the rights of Workers  73
On the Condition of Labor(Rerum Novarum)   74
On Reconstructing the Social Order(Quadragesimo Anno) 79
On Human Work(Laborem Exercens)80
On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum(Centesimus Annus)84
For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food,
Farmers, and Farmworkers 92
On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth(Caritas in Veritate) 95
For Reflection and Dialogue 96

6. Solidarity  99
Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response 105
God Is Love(Deus Caritas Est)112
Saved in Hope(Spe Salvi)114
On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth(Caritas in Veritate)115
For Reflection and Dialogue 117

7. Care for God’s creation 119
Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on the
Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching 120
Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the
Common Good 125
For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food,
Farmers, and Farmworkers 127
On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth(Caritas in Veritate) 127
On Care for Our Common Home(Laudato Si’) 128
For Reflection and Dialogue 133

Appendix A: Homilyand Catechetical Message Guide135
Appendix B: Sample Penance Service143
Appendix C: Papal biographies          147
Appendix D: Chart of Historical Milestones    153
Glossary              155
Sources               161
Suggested reading and resources       165
Index             167

Topics
related to Catholic social teaching emerge regularly
in American political and civic discourse, often
connected to discussions about religious freedom,
abortion, immigrant rights, racism, capital
punishment, and health care. This third edition of A
Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching by Rev.
Kevin E. McKenna incorporates the essential
teachings of Pope Francis in Evangelium
Gaudium, Laudato Si’, and Amoris Laetitia to offer a
clear, beginner-level reference tool and study guide
for Church leaders and other interested Catholics to
help them navigate this vast body of teaching.

Building on core themes of human dignity, community,
rights and responsibilities, option for the poor,
dignity of work, solidarity, and care of creation,
McKenna distills a vast amount of Catholic teaching
into easily digestible summaries, each carefully
referenced to its primary source and correlated to
pressing issues making today’s headlines.

The book
includes crucial teachings of the popes from Louis
XIII through Francis as well as from the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each chapter
concludes with questions for reflection and dialogue
and appendices provide tools for parishes and study
groups.

This practical and thorough guide remains a
perennial favorite for study and reference in
Catholic parishes, universities, and ministry
formation programs.