St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
We act with love, build our faith and grow as people
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the official teaching of the church on social order, the way in which it impacts all our lives and is an integral part of our Catholic Faith.
CST is rooted in scripture and provides a moral compass as a guide for how we should live out our faith.
At the heart of CST are the following principles:
Dignity – we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Each one of us should be treated with love and respect.
Solidarity – reminds us that we live together side by side and should work together to help those living in poverty.
The Common Good – The produce and fruits of the earth belong to us all and as such we should share all that we have for the good of all.
Option for the poor – The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me… to let the oppressed go free. Luke 4:18 God cared for the poorest and most vulnerable among us.
Peace – in striving for peace for all, we should work together not just for the absence of war, but for the fullness of life including: well-being, prosperity, joy and the absence of fear.
Stewardship for creation – At the beginning of the bible, God created our world and entrusted us to look after it. In 2015, Pope Francis, in his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ reminds us of this and of what we should be doing to look after ‘Our Common Home’.
The dignity of work and participation – This principle covers the rights of the worker to fair working conditions, fair pay, and the right to join trade unions. The dignity of the worker should come before profit and should have the opportunity to participate in work.
At St. Margaret Clitherow, we aspire to live out CST through all that we do. Children take an active roll in this; their endeavours are reflected in the charitable works that they support and in their participation in school life.
