Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

COMPENDIUM

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

TO HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II
MASTER OF SOCIAL DOCTRINE AND
EVANGELICAL WITNESS
TO JUSTICE AND PEACE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abbreviations
BiblicalAbbreviations
Letter ofCardinal Angelo Sodano
Presentation

INTRODUCTION

AN INTEGRAL AND SOLIDARY HUMANISM

a.Atthedawnofthe Third Millennium
b.The significanceofthisdocument
c.Attheserviceofthefulltruthabout man
d.In thesignofsolidarity, respectandlove

PART ONE

CHAPTER ONE
GOD'S PLAN OF LOVE FOR HUMANITY

I. GOD'S LIBERATING ACTION IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL
a.God'sgratuitouspresence
b.The principleofcreationandGod'sgratuitousaction

II. JESUS CHRIST, THE FULFILMENT OF THE FATHER'S PLAN OF LOVE
a.In Jesus Christ thedecisiveeventofthehistoryofGodwithmankindisfulfilled
b.The revelationofTrinitarianlove

III. THE HUMAN PERSON IN GOD'S PLAN OF LOVE
a.Trinitarianlove, theoriginandgoalofthe human person
b.Christian salvation: for all peopleandthewholeperson
c.The discipleof Christ as a newcreation
d.The transcendenceofsalvationandtheautonomyofearthlyrealities

IV. GOD'S PLAN AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
a.The Church, signanddefenderofthetranscendenceofthe human person
b.The Church, theKingdomofGodandtherenewalofsocialrelations
c.New heavensand a newearth
d.Mary and her “fiat” in God's plan oflove

CHAPTER TWO
THE CHURCH'S MISSION AND SOCIAL DOCTRINE

I. EVANGELIZATION AND SOCIAL DOCTRINE
a.The Church, God'sdwellingplacewithmenandwomen
b.Enrichingandpermeatingsocietywiththe Gospel
c.Socialdoctrine, evangelizationand human promotion
d.The rightsanddutiesofthe Church

II. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL DOCTRINE
a.Knowledgeilluminatedbyfaith
b.In friendlydialoguewith all branchesofknowledge
c.An expressionoftheChurch'sministryofteaching
d.For a societyreconciled in justiceandlove
e.A messageforthesonsanddaughtersofthe Church andforhumanity
f.Underthesignofcontinuityandrenewal

III. THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL DOCTRINE IN OUR TIME: HISTORICAL NOTES
a.The beginningof a newpath
b.FromRerumNovarumtoourownday
c.In the light andundertheimpulseofthe Gospel

CHAPTER THREE
THE HUMAN PERSON AND HUMAN RIGHTS

I.SOCIAL DOCTRINE AND THE PERSONALIST PRINCIPLE

II. THE HUMAN PERSON AS THE “IMAGO DEI”
a.Creatures in theimageofGod
b.The tragedyof sin
c.The universalityof sin andtheuniversalityofsalvation

III. THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN PERSON
A.The unityoftheperson
B.Opennesstotranscendenceanduniquenessoftheperson

a.Open totranscendence
b.Unique andunrepeatable
c.Respectfor human dignity

C.The freedomofthe human person

a.The valueandlimitsoffreedom
b.The bondunitingfreedomwithtruthandthenaturallaw

D.The equaldignityof all people
E.The socialnatureof human beings

IV. HUMAN RIGHTS
a.The valueof human rights
b.The specificationofrights
c.Rightsandduties
d.Rightsofpeoplesandnations
e.Filling in thegapbetweentheletterandthespirit

CHAPTER FOUR
PRINCIPLES OF THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL DOCTRINE

I.MEANING AND UNITY

II. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COMMON GOOD
a.Meaningandprimaryimplications
b.Responsibilityofeveryoneforthecommongood
c.Tasks ofthepoliticalcommunity

III. THE UNIVERSAL DESTINATION OF GOODS
a.Origin andmeaning
b.The universal destinationofgoodsand private property
c.The universal destinationofgoodsandthepreferentialoptionforthepoor

IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY
a.Origin andmeaning
b.Concreteindications

V. PARTICIPATION
a.Meaningandvalue
b.Participationanddemocracy

VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLIDARITY
a.Meaningandvalue
b.Solidarityas a socialprincipleand a moralvirtue
c.Solidarityandthecommongrowthofmankind
d.Solidarity in thelifeandmessageof Jesus Christ

VII. THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF SOCIAL LIFE
a.The relationshipbetweenprinciplesandvalues
b.Truth
c.Freedom
d.Justice

VIII.THE WAY OF LOVE

PART TWO

CHAPTER FIVE
THE FAMILY, THE VITAL CELL OF SOCIETY

I.THE FAMILY, THE FIRST NATURAL SOCIETY
a.Importanceofthefamilyfortheperson
b.Importanceofthefamilyforsociety

II. MARRIAGE, THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY
a.The valueofmarriage
b.The sacramentofmarriage

III. THE SOCIAL SUBJECTIVITY OF THE FAMILY
a.Love andtheformationof a communityofpersons
b.The familyisthesanctuaryoflife
c.The taskofeducating
d.The dignityandrightsofchildren

IV. THE FAMILY AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SOCIAL LIFE
a.Solidarity in thefamily
b.The family, economiclifeandwork

V.SOCIETY AT THE SERVICE OF THE FAMILY

CHAPTER SIX
HUMAN WORK

I. BIBLICAL ASPECTS
a.The dutytocultivateandcarefortheearth
b.Jesus, a man ofwork
c.The dutytowork

II.THE PROPHETIC VALUE OF “RERUM NOVARUM”

III. THE DIGNITY OF WORK
a.The subjectiveandobjectivedimensionsofwork
b.The relationshipbetweenlabourandcapital
c.Work, therighttoparticipate
d.The relationshipbetweenlabourand private property
e.Rest fromwork

IV. THE RIGHT TO WORK
a.Work isnecessary
b.The roleofthe State andcivilsociety in promotingtherighttowork
c.The familyandtherighttowork
d.Women andtherighttowork
e.Child labour
f.Immigration andwork
g.The worldofagricultureandtherighttowork

V. THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS
a.The dignityofworkersandtherespectfortheirrights
b.The rightto fair remunerationandincomedistribution
c.The righttostrike

VI. SOLIDARITY AMONG WORKERS
a.The importanceofunions
b.New formsofsolidarity

VII. THE “NEW THINGS” OF THE WORLD OF WORK
a.An epoch-makingphaseoftransition
b.Socialdoctrineandthe “newthings”

CHAPTER SEVEN
ECONOMIC LIFE

I. BIBLICAL ASPECTS
a.Man, povertyandriches
b.Wealthexiststobeshared

II.MORALITY AND THE ECONOMY

III.PRIVATE INITIATIVE AND BUSINESS INITIATIVE
a.Business anditsgoals
b.Roleofbusinessownersandmanagement

IV.ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS AT THE SERVICE OF MAN
a.Roleofthefreemarket
b.Action ofthe State
c.Roleof intermediate bodies
d.Savingsandconsumergoods

V. THE “NEW THINGS” IN THE ECONOMIC SECTOR
a.Globalization: opportunitiesandrisks
b.The international financialsystem
c.Roleofthe international community in an eraof a global economy
d.An integral development in solidarity
e.Need formoreeducationalandculturalformation

CHAPTER EIGHT
THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY

I. BIBLICAL ASPECTS
a.God'sdominion
b.Jesus andpoliticalauthority
c.The early Christian communities

II. FOUNDATION AND PURPOSE OF THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY
a.Political community, the human personand a people
b.Defendingandpromoting human rights
c.Sociallifebased on civilfriendship

III. POLITICAL AUTHORITY
a.The foundationofpoliticalauthority
b.Authority asmoralforce
c.The righttoconscientiousobjection
d.The righttoresist
e.Inflictingpunishment

IV.THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
a.Values anddemocracy
b.Institutionsanddemocracy
c.Moral componentsofpoliticalrepresentation
d.Instruments forpoliticalparticipation
e.Information anddemocracy

V. THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY AT THE SERVICE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
a.Value ofcivilsociety
b.Priority ofcivilsociety
c.Applicationoftheprincipleofsubsidiarity

VI. THE STATE AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
A.Religiousfreedom, a fundamental human right
B.The Catholic Church andthepoliticalcommunity

a.Autonomyandindependence
b.Cooperation

CHAPTER NINE
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

I. BIBLICAL ASPECTS
a.Unityofthe human family
b.Jesus Christ, prototype andfoundationofthenewhumanity
c.The universal vocationofChristianity

II. THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
a.The international communityandvalues
b.Relations based on harmonybetweenthejuridicalandmoralorders

III. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
a.The valueof international organizations
b.The juridicalpersonalityofthe Holy See

IV. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
a.Cooperationtoguaranteetherighttodevelopment
b.The fightagainstpoverty
c.Foreigndebt

CHAPTER TEN
SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT

I.BIBLICAL ASPECTS

II.MAN AND THE UNIVERSE OF CREATED THINGS

III.THE CRISIS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT

IV. A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY
a.The environment, a collectivegood
b.The useofbiotechnology
c.The environmentandthesharingofgoods
d.New lifestyles

CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE PROMOTION OF PEACE

I.BIBLICAL ASPECTS

II.PEACE: THE FRUIT OF JUSTICE AND LOVE

III.THE FAILURE OF PEACE: WAR
a.Legitimatedefence
b.Defendingpeace
c.The dutytoprotecttheinnocent
d.Measuresagainstthosewhothreatenpeace
e.Disarmament
f.The condemnationofterrorism

IV.THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCH TO PEACE

PART THREE

CHAPTER TWELVE
SOCIAL DOCTRINE AND ECCLESIAL ACTION

I. PASTORAL ACTION IN THE SOCIAL FIELD
a.Socialdoctrineandtheinculturationoffaith
b.Socialdoctrineandsocial pastoral activity
c.Socialdoctrineandformation
d.Promotingdialogue
e.The subjectsofsocial pastoral activity

II. SOCIAL DOCTRINE AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE LAY FAITHFUL
a.The layfaithful
b.Spiritualityofthelayfaithful
c.Actingwithprudence
d.Socialdoctrineandlayassociations
e.Service in thevarioussectorsofsociallife

1.Service tothe human person
2.Service in culture
3.Service in theeconomy
4.Service in politics

CONCLUSION
FOR A CIVILIZATION OF LOVE

a.The helpthatthe Church offersto modern man
b.Startingafreshfromfaith in Christ
c.A solid hope
d.Buildingthe “civilizationoflove”

Index ofreferences
Analytical index