Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a body of doctrine that has developed over more than a century, beginning with Pope Leo XIII's landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891. It addresses the social, political, and economic questions of each age in the light of the Gospel.
The seven key principles include: the life and dignity of the human person; the call to family, community, and participation; rights and responsibilities; the option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God's creation.
CST is a rich treasury often called "the Church's best kept secret" — yet it offers the most coherent and comprehensive vision of the just society available in our time.
