1. Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Information for users
How to use this resource:
This PowerPoint has been designed as a broad introduction to the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching. For examples of the principles in programs supported by Caritas Australia, check for links in the Notes section of some slides. It is suitable for secondary students, teachers and general adult audiences.
It is our hope that you will use these slides in a way that best suits your purposes. As such, the slides are editable so that the content is flexible for you to adapt to your needs. If you do edit this presentation, please ensure content and photos from this resource remain with the appropriate credit to Caritas Australia and the photographers.
Caritas Australia has many resources about Catholic Social Teaching at and
For primary and secondary school teachers there is a comprehensive online toolkit at with cartoons, film clips and lesson plans for the classroom.
We would love to hear about how you have used our resources, as well as any feedback you might have about them. us at
Last updated August 2019

2. CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Caritas Australia works in partnership with communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Our work is guided by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
These principles can be a powerful tool to help students assess social realities such as poverty, in the light of the Gospel. It supports their ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully as they grow as global citizens.
Broadly, Catholic Social Teaching principles can be integrated into inquiry learning across Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography and many other curriculum areas. They can also contribute to addressing the Cross Curricular Priorities and General Capabilities.
Most Caritas Australia education resources link to the Catholic Social Teaching principles and the Australian Curriculum.
For example:
Civics and Citizenship Curriculum Key ideas:
How societies and economies operate and how they are changing over time.
How people exercise their responsibilities, participate in society and make informed decisions?
Year 7 Geography 
Unit 1:  Water in the world 
Unit 2:  Place and liveability
Year 9:
How ideas about and experiences of Australian identity are influenced by global connectedness and mobility. 
Reflect on their role as a citizen in Australian, regional and global contexts.
 Year 10: Reflect on their role as a citizen in Australian, regional and global contexts.
Year 10  Civics and Citizenship:
The Australian Government’s role and responsibilities at a global level, for example provision of foreign aid, peacekeeping, participation in international organisations and the United Nations.
For example:
Ethical Understanding: exploring the types of participation that Australia has in the Asia region and internationally (for example, exchange programs, peacekeeping, election monitoring, health programs, disaster management). Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia: Investigating Australia’s involvement with the United Nations (for example, representation in the organisation and adherence to conventions and declarations that Australia has ratified) exploring the provision of Australian government or non-government aid to a country in the Asia and Pacific region or elsewhere in the world and analysing its effects on places in that country. Intercultural Understanding: researching connections between Australia and countries in the Asia and Pacific regions (for example, in terms of migration, trade, tourism, aid, education, defence or cultural influences) and explaining the effects of at least one of these connections on their own place and another place in Australia.

3. Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

4. Background on Catholic social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching sums up the teachings of the Church on social justice issues.
It promotes a vision of a just society that is grounded in the Bible and in the wisdom gathered from experience by the Christian community as it has responded to social justice issues through history.
Watch this short animation ‘CST in 3 minutes’, created by several Caritas Internationalis agencies.

5. Background on Catholic social Teaching
The four core principles of Catholic Social Teaching are:
The Dignity of the Human Person
The Common Good
Solidarity
Subsidiarity
A Somali refugee child in Kenya, Photo credit: Laura Sheahen/Catholic Relief Services

6. Background on Catholic social Teaching
Out of the four core principles flow the principles of the Preferential Option for the Poor, Participation, Economic Justice and Care for our Common Home, among others.
These principles are responsive to particular social issues such as poverty and inequality, the right to work, and environmental degradation.
Growing vegetables in Nepal. Photo credit: Caritas Australia

7. Caritas Australia and Catholic social Teaching
Our long-term development and emergency aid work is shaped by the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST).
CST covers all spheres of life – the economic, political, personal and spiritual.
With human dignity at its centre, a holistic approach to development, founded on the principles of CST, is what Pope Paul VI called ‘authentic development’.
Mariama and her daughter in Niger, Photo credit: François Therrien

8. Human Dignity We believe that every person is made in God’s image.
We believe that every person has inherent dignity and every life is sacred.
The innate dignity of each person is the foundation and inspiration of our vision for a just and compassionate world.

9. Human Dignity
We see the image of God in every person, no matter their circumstance.
The women, men and children most vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice should not be hindered from living a life equal to their dignity.
Learn more:
Three years ago Karimah took part in Red Dust’s cultural healing program supported by Caritas Australia. Designed by First Australians, Red Dust fosters healing by acknowledging and directly targeting individuals’ pain and experiences.
South Sudanese girl in Ugandan refugee camp. Refugees have fled conflict and famine in East Africa, Photo credit: Tommy Trenchard/Caritas

10. The Common Good
We believe that humans are not only sacred but social and that we experience the fullness of life in our relationships with others.
Working towards the common good requires a commitment from each of us to respect the rights and responsibilities of all people.

11. The common good
We believe every person is entitled to share in society’s resources. Every person is also responsible for sharing our society’s resources – the common good - with others.
This extends beyond our personal interests, and beyond national borders, to our one global human family.
Learn more:
After completing training at the Caritas Australia supported Farmer Field School training in Nepal, Kaluram soon experienced an increase in crop production and income. He and other farmers then formed a farmers’ cooperative, so they could pool their labour.
Bayan values her education and support she receives while attending classes run by the Caritas Education Program in Jordan. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

12. Solidarity
Solidarity requires that we see another person as a neighbour, a fellow human who is equal in dignity.
Solidarity means recognising the responsibilities we have to each other, and taking an active role in helping others attain their full potential.
This is more than just a feeling. It drives us to action.

13. Solidarity
We are called by the principle of solidarity to take the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) to heart, and to express this understanding in how we live and interact with others, not as a matter of charity, but of justice.
Solidarity makes it impossible for us to look away from the injustices that our sisters and brothers experience.
Learn more:
Following the disaster Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, students from St Francis of the Field School in Victoria held a ‘Bread and Butter Day’ to show their solidarity with and raise funds for the people devastated by the event. Instead of writing lunch orders on their lunch bags, the students wrote their thoughts to the people of the Philippines. And instead of using their money for lunch money, they had bread and butter for lunch, and donated their lunch money to Caritas Australia’s Typhoon Haiyan Appeal to help provide emergency relief to those affected.
Myanmar refugees in Thailand, Photo credit: Patrick Nicholson/Caritas

14. Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity means that all people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
These decisions should be made at the appropriate level, by the people most affected by the decision.

15. subsidiarity
It also means that those in positions of authority have the responsibility to listen to everyone’s voice, and make decisions according to the common good.
Partnerships and collaboration amongst groups, including all levels of government and social institutions, are necessary to work toward a shared, unified vision for society.
Learn more:
The Caritas Australia supported AACES program in Malawi works with communities using a ‘strengths-based approach’. Community members identify their strengths, and use these to develop a plan for their community’s future.
Michaela outside the colourful walls of the Purple House where she is a trainee. Photo Credit: Emma Murray

16. Preferential option for the poor and vulnerable
Children, women and men most vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice are rich in the eyes of Jesus.
We are called to be companions to women, men and children who are in vulnerable circumstances.
We recognise that extreme poverty is not inherent but constructed in societies and cultures.

17. Preferential option for the poor and vulnerable
We are called to expose the institutions and structures which create and perpetuate inequality and hold them to account.
We are called to mobilise our resources, our networks and our prayers in support of the children, women and men who are systematically denied opportunities to exercise and enjoy their rights, freedoms and dignity.
Learn more:
The Caritas Australia supported Maryknoll Deaf Development Program in Cambodia helps deaf people and people with a hearing impairment learn sign language and income-generating skills. Maryknoll takes a proactive approach to identify those with the greatest need.
South Sudanese father and child in Refugee camp in Uganda, Photo credit: Tommy Trenchard/Caritas

18. Participation
The principle of participation recognises that everyone has something valuable and unique to contribute.
Participation is an innate expression of human dignity.
The principle of participation is both a right and a responsibility.

19. Participation
Everyone has the right to participate in activities necessary for human fulfilment, such as work, education, and political participation.
Participation also implies shared responsibility, where each person, according to their role and ability, participates in society, seeking together the well-being of all.
Learn more:
Saunoa, a woman from Asau Village in Samoa, saw that some of the women in her community did not have enough productive work to do. So Saunoa decided to do something about it. “I had seen some other women’s groups and I wrote to ask if we could have some help setting up a similar group here. The next thing I knew Caritas Samoa arrived and was offering the chance to be a part of the sewing program. Maybe God intervened, I don’t know, but the timing was very good!” Caritas Samoa is Caritas Australia’s partner in Samoa.
Nguyet’s passion and talent is making paper flowers. Photo credit: Nguyen Minh Duc

20. Care for Our common home
As Christians we believe that the whole universe was created by God. We are part of creation, connected to all beings.
Furthermore, we have been entrusted by God with the responsibility of caring for His creation.

21. Care for Our common home
We must respect, care for and share all gifts God has given us – including animals, land, the environment, our own personal talents and other resources.
We must care for creation responsibly, as true stewards rather than consumers.
Learn more:
The Caritas Australia supported Ethno Ecotourism Project in Bolivia, aims to enhance the living conditions of the Indigenous peoples by promoting sustainable tourism. The program promotes environmental conservation and a respect for traditional cultural practices.
Read Rosa’s story:
Aloma helps to rehabilitate the mangroves that protect their houses and families from the effects of natural disasters and storm surges. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

22. The promotion of peace
Peace goes beyond the idea of the absence of war or violence.
The desire for peace is more than an aspirational goal.
Peace is a fruit of justice; and requires a respect for human dignity of all, and a society which is directed towards the common good.

23. The promotion of peace
Injustices and extreme disparities jeopardise peace.
We work together with communities to promote peace through right relationships that embody respect, justice and collaboration.
Learn more:
A food and hygiene kit distribution centre in Lebanon, is run through the Ecumenism in Action program, a collaborative program between Caritas and the International Orthodox Christian Churches (IOCC). Its aim is to bring together volunteers of different Christian denominations to assist people affected by the conflict.
Lebanon, Photo credit: Sam Tarling/Caritas

24. Economic justice
We believe that everyone capable should be involved in economic activity with fair working conditions, and should be able to draw from work the means to provide for themselves and their family.

25. Economic justice
Economic activity is not meant solely for profit, but rather in service of the entire human community.
Economic justice means not placing money in the centre or prioritising profit and financial wealth over people’s dignity and wellbeing.
Learn more:
For over 20 years, Linda has worked her small farm in Zimbabwe. After her husband passed away, Linda was left to support seven children with her modest farm earnings.
A few years ago, Linda joined the local farmers’ group, which is supported by Caritas Australia. The group of farmers work together to share resources and expertise. Joining the group helped Linda earn enough income to cover her household expenses. Linda has also become the group’s marketing manager, finding the best markets in which to sell produce.
“I am so happy to be the marketing manager,” says Linda. “And it gives me great pleasure when members of the group are able to make money from the produce that they are selling. To see my grandchildren with a roof over their head, food on the table, and a uniform to wear to school gives me great satisfaction.”
Kumari cooks sweet snacks that she sells for 10 rupees each. Nepal, Photo credit: CRS/Caritas Nepal