St Paul's Catholic Primary School

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching is based around the Church's belief that we can all make a difference in making our world a better place for all. These teachings are rooting in Scripture and especially in the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. Christ shows us how to walk in his footsteps, bringing love and care to those both near and far. it is our vocation to live as Jesus and the saints throughout the ages, bettering our world for everyone.

The Catholic Church has seven principles of social teaching that we will explore in school, just like our virtues. Throughout your child's spiritual journey at St. Joseph's, we explore these principles through our curriculum, activities and everyday actions.

• Dignity of the human person
• Family and Community
• Solidarity and The Common Good
• Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
• Stewardship of God's Creation 

Dignity of Work 

Work not only enables a person to support themselves and others, it also provides a sense of purpose and dignity. This Catholic social teaching reminds us that through work a person is able to develop their talents and cooperate with God in building a better world for all.

Options for the Poor and Vulnerable 

Giving preferential option for the poor means we should feel the need to think first of the needs of those who are most vulnerable.The poor and vulnerable have a special place in the kingdom of God. Putting into practice the preferential option for the poor means considering the impact of our own decision and of public policy on the most vulnerable members of society.

Christ taught that when we feed the hungry, offer hospitality to the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick and visit those imprisoned, we are looking after Him.

Family and Community                                                           

Solidarity and the Common Good

We are connected to people and places all over the world. God made everyone, so we are all brothers and sisters in God’s family wherever we live. God created us as one global family and called to support our brothers and sisters. 

Being in solidarity is recognising others as our brothers and sisters and actively working for their good.

Saint: St. Therese of Lisieux

Rights and Responsibilities

All God’s people have the right to food, work, clothes, a home, school and medical care. These ‘rights’ are things that every person on earth needs in order to live a full life. But many people do not have them. Jesus wants people who enjoy these rights to help their sisters and brothers obtain their rights. It is not enough to feel badly for others. Jesus says it is our responsibility to see that everyone receives his or her rights.

Saint: St. Vincent de Paul

The rights and responsibilities we are considering are; 

1. I have the right to be heard.
   I have the responsibility to listen.
2. I have the right to learn.
   I have the responsibility to allow others to learn.
3. I have the right to feel safe.

 I have the responsibility to ensure the safety of others.

4. I have the right to an education.

 I have the responsibility to be on time and attend.

5. I have the right to positive emotional support
   I have the responsibility to create a positive environment for others.
6. I have the right to be treated with respect.

I have the responsibility to treat others with respect.

For example, in year 1 in History, we are learning about Kings and Queens. We considering if the Kings and Queens that we learn about used their responsibilities that they had for their people well. We also learning about the book "I want my hat back" and considering if we think that the Bear was responsible for his actions. 

Dignity of the Human Person

Human dignity involves reverence, respect and protection towards each person, as a free being with a unique history. Human dignity is therefore not relative to social status, nor to physical or intellectual performance.

Stewardship of God's Creation

During Summer 2 as a school we are focusing on Stewardship. 
We are considering how we can look after our environment, and exploring Pope Francis encyclical- Laudato Si. 

For more information- https://cafod.org.uk/pray/laudato-si--encyclical

In Summer 1 as a school we are focusing on option of the poor. 

"Caring for those in poverty, both in our local neighbourhood and throughout the world, is a fundamental duty of us all. However, the preferential option for the poor goes further than this. In the Gospels Jesus, time and again shows a preferential option for the poor, putting them first, giving them special importance, thinking of their needs and enabling them to have their rightful place in the world. It is not enough simply to think of those living in poverty and try to help them. The voice of people living in poverty needs to be heard. We must enable them to be full part of the decision making process. We must enable those living in poverty to play a full role in society."   https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/caritas/option-for-the-poor/

In Spring  2 as a school we are focused on Families and Communities. 

"Local individuals and groups can make a real difference. They are able to instill a greater sense of responsibility, a strong sense of community, a readiness to protect others, a spirit of creativity and a deep love for the land. . . . Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds. (Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home [Laudato Si’], nos. 179, 219)" 

Here are some of our displays around school. 

In Spring 1 as a school we were focused on Solidarity. 

The Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity is about recognising others as our brothers and sisters and actively working for their good. In our connected humanity, we are invited to build relationships to understand what life is like for others who are different from us. -https://www.caritas.org.nz/catholic-social-teaching/solidarity#:~:text=The%20Catholic%20social%20teaching%20principle,who%20are%20different%20from%20us.

"We are one  human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological  differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be.  Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of  the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI  taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be  peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote  peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict." 
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/solidarity

Here are some displays that are around our school Spring 1 term 2023 

On the inset day in September, all staff explored the different elements of catholic social teaching. We are going to focus on one for each half term. Staff looked through the book choices and the different topics to see if any could link to different elements of CTS.