10 Golden Principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST)

As Christians we have The Bible and the following 10 major principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) to guide us to be perfect followers of Christ:

1.     Dignity of the Human Person: This is typically the protection and promotion on human rights. Thus, every Christian has to promote and protect the rights the people especially the targeted groups whose rights are being violated every day.

2.  Common Good and Community: Everyone is entitled with some responsibilities for the good of the society. Some people have completely dedicated their lives for the service of the society. Others are partially dedicated for serving people. But all people have personal responsibility to serve for the common good in the community.

3.    Option for the Poor: When we serve the community we have to always look for the most poor, the neediest and the most marginalized people in the community and society. Very often we serve the society in the name of poor, but in realty we neglect the vulnerable people. Thus, after a long time of our service still not improvement in the community. In the present context of Odisha, our most services would be dedicated for the Tribal, Dalit, Women, Children and Minorities, be it education or any other social transforming service. Very offend we share only the religious ritual service with these poor targeted groups, and neglect to share the educational academic knowledge (especially in English medium schools) with these poor people just because they can’t pay the fees. Are we then, working for the money or upliftment of the society?

4.  Rights and Responsibilities: The protection of every person’s rights is the responsibility of each person. We need to look inward and reflect are we the violator of these human rights, are we depriving the poor of their rights? In which are the areas we have deprived the need?

5.   Role of Government and Subsidiary: Our service should be better off than that of government. We need to raise voice time to time when we acknowledge violation or corruption in our government subsidiary system. For example, government is providing stipend and scholarship to the poor tribal, dalit and economically backward students, however the amount is very less which doesn’t even meet the basic annual expenditure of the requirement of students.

6.   Economic Justice: As per the Catholic Social Teaching (CST), no one is allowed to amass the excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life. Are we wealthy when a neighbor community is lacking the necessities of life? We should take a radical step to bring equal economic standard of life in the society and community.

7.   Stewardship of God's Creation: Goods on earth are gifts from God, and they are intended for the welfare of everyone. We are responsible for taking care of these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumer and users.

8.  Promotion of Peace and Disarmament: In the words of Pope John Paul II, "Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.” There is a close relationship in Catholic teaching between peace and justice. Peace is the fruit of justice. And justice is the binding agreements of compensation.

9.   Participation: All people have a right to participate in the economic, political, and cultural life of society. The CST does not exclude the priest and religious from the economic, political and cultural life.

10.  Global Solidarity and Development: We are one human family, irrespective of our culture, tradition and nationality. As human being all of us have equal rights. So if some of us are deprived of human rights it is our collective business to bother.