Unlock Catholic Social Teaching

St. John Paul II was the first of the three modern popes to shape catholic social teaching.

Where Do I Start?

Three Principles

Major Themes

The right of private property is a major theme in Catholic social teaching.

Problems in our Society

Modern society, especially developed societies, are in danger of 4 problems; consumerism, secularism, alienation, and harm to the environment.

Recent Articles

Pope Francis waves to crowd in St. Peter's square.

Pope Francis and LGBT

Catholic social teaching being symbolized by people gathering in a marketplace at evening.

What is Socialism?

Shoplifting is not ok. Decriminalizing it has only led to further disrespect for the right of private property.

Immigration and Mass Deportations

Catholic Worker, New York City 1973. Dorothy Day morning mass and prayers

Will God Forgive an Abortion?

“By her social doctrine the Church makes an effective contribution…

Her moral vision in this area ‘rests on the threefold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity’.”

Pope St. John Paul II, 55

Catholic Social Teaching and Other Contemporary Issues

It is our special task to order and throw light upon all the affairs of the world in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ: “let the laity also by their combined efforts remedy the customs and conditions of the world.”

Lumen Gentium, 36

Transgenderism

We are facing a crisis in human sexuality caused by a representation of human anthropology that cancels out differences between men and women.

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Abortion

One of the most divisive issues during the past 50 years! Why is the Church so one-sided (and must always be so)?

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Racism is contrary to Christ and the teachings of the Gospel

The belief humanity can be divided into separate and exclusive biological entities with some races innately superior to others. This leads to personal and societal prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against other people because they are of a different race or ethnicity. What does Catholic social teaching have to say about such an insidious “ism”? CLICK to read more.

Democratic Socialism

Candidates for President of the United States and many in congress espouse this as an alternative model for our country. What, exactly, is it? What does the Catholic Church say?

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Climate Change

One political party committed the US to the Paris Agreement and proposes a “Green New Deal”. Another party withdrew from the Paris Agreement and inimically opposes the other’s proposal. What does Catholic social teaching say?

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Immigration

The Church recognizes the rights of nations to govern and protect themselves in the interests of the Common Good and “…the right of all men to migrate to other countries and to seek conditions worthy of human life for themselves and for their families.” (Gaudium et Spes)

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Universal Healthcare

US health care is, in many ways, the envy of the world. Would universal, or national, healthcare improve it? See how Catholic social teaching can inform the discussion!

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Euthanasia

Without a Christian perspective, the world often seeks to avoid suffering at all costs and strives to make death as painless as possible. It is then that “[w]e must accompany people towards death, but not provoke death or facilitate any form of suicide.” (Pope Francis)

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The Family

The answer to the dangers to our society.

“The future of humanity passes by way of the family.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 86)

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Marriage

The foundation of the family.

"[T]ranscends the feelings and momentary needs of the couple”. It is born “from the depth of the obligation assumed by the spouses". (Pope Francis, 66)

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Dignity of Work

"We were created with a vocation to work."

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Gun Control

It is one of the most divisive and painful issues in the United States. Gun ownership is an issue where there is legitimate diversity of opinion. How does the Church reconcile self-defense with the sacredness of human life?

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The Death Penalty

The Church's historical teaching, the changes Pope Francis made, and what the Church teaches now.

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COVID-19

The Crisis and the Cure: How does Catholic social teaching evaluate governments’ response?

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The Common Good

The Common Good is not a principle, but an aspirational result: “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily”. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1906)

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Physical Environment

This is about more than ‘just’ protecting the environment. There are profound spiritual dimensions involved.

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Integral Ecology

The solution to all our environmental problems!

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Human Environment

“[W]e must also mention the more serious destruction of the human environment, something which is by no means receiving the attention it deserves.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)

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The Church has identified four dangers to society, pathologies, eating away at our culture.

The Four Dangers to Society

The Church identifies the major ‘risks and problems’ eating away at our cultural, economic and political systems. What are they?

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Consumerism

Having and wanting a lot of ‘stuff’ is at the heart of several of society’s ills. Which ones? Why does this limit our freedom?

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Our environments, both our physical and human (moral), are in peril, in more ways than you likely realize

Environmental Degradation

Yes! The environment is in danger. But, it is actually worse (and, more complicated) than you think.

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Alienation

Society and individuals are alienated! We are “marked by a ‘globalization of indifference’ that makes us…closed in on ourselves.” (Pope Francis, 1) The consequences are devastating!

CLICK to read more.

Radical Secularism

[COMING SOON]

“The greatest challenge of our time”! (Pope Benedict XVI, 3) Why? Radical secularism holds that there is no such thing as an objective truth. But, “Without truth, without trust and love for what is true...social action ends up serving private interests and the logic of power.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 5) Sound familiar?

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A crowd waves American flags while helicopters fly past, but Catholic social teaching is neither liberal or conservative

Catholic Social Teaching is Neither Conservative Or Liberal

Just as “Christian charitable activity must be independent of parties and ideologies” (Pope Benedict XVI, 31) it must be reiterated and acknowledged that Catholic social teaching is not an endorsement of or for any political teaching. The Church is clear that none of the magisterial documents are teachings to or for the right or the left. Catholic social teaching is neither liberal nor conservative.

However, there are warnings to both sides of the political spectrum.

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

What Must I Do?

Our Church Has Issued a Clear Call to Action

John Paul II was the first of the three modern popes to shape catholic social teaching.

Pope St. John Paul II

“A new state of affairs today… calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle.”

– Christifideles Laici, 3

Benedict XVI is the second of the three modern popes to shape catholic social teaching.

Pope Benedict XVI

“Freedom…demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.”

– White House Address

Francis is the third of the three modern popes to shape catholic social teaching.

Pope Francis

Participation in politics is a Christian obligation: “We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics…”

– Address to the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania

“Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy.
It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.”

Pope Francis, 3.1

Who We Are

An Introduction to CAPP-USA

The Vatican Fondazione

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Our Founder

CAPP-USA is the U.S. Affiliate of the Vatican-based foundation established by Pope St. John Paul II to promote the knowledge and practice of Catholic social teaching.

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Unlock Catholic Social Teaching

Where Do I Start?

Recent Articles

“By her social doctrine the Church makes an effective contribution…

Her moral vision in this area ‘rests on the threefold cornerstone of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity’.”

Catholic Social Teaching and Other Contemporary Issues

It is our special task to order and throw light upon all the affairs of the world in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ: “let the laity also by their combined efforts remedy the customs and conditions of the world.”

Radical Secularism

Catholic Social Teaching is Neither Conservative Or Liberal

However, there are warnings to both sides of the political spectrum.

What Must I Do?

Pope St. John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Francis

“Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.”

Who We Are

CAPP-USA is the U.S. Affiliate of the Vatican-based foundation established by Pope St. John Paul II to promote the knowledge and practice of Catholic social teaching.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter:

Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, Inc (CAPP-USA) is the United States affiliate of Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice at the Vatican. | Sitemap

Phone: (888) 473-3331

Address: 295 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10017

“Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy.
It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.”