The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

by Catholic Church

Publisher:

Libreria Editrice Vaticana

, 2004

Overview

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a unique, unprecedented document in the history of the Church, serves as a tool to inspire and guide the faithful, who are faced with moral and pastoral challenges daily. It is divided into five sections: an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion entitled “For a Civilization of Love.” The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church is a must-have resource for leaders of social ministry at the diocesan and parish level as well as those in religious education, schools, and youth and young adult ministry.

This text is a critical resource for any study on Catholic social teaching. Study it along with the other primary sources of Catholic social teaching—Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, Vatican II’s Gaudium et Spes, or Pope John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae, for example—and carry your entire library with you in your laptop, tablet, or phone. Logos brings you unparalleled access to the studies of the Catholic Church.

Key Features

• Essential authoritative documentation and analysis of the Church’s social teachings
• Extensive references and notes that link to the sources of Catholic social teaching

Contents

• Introduction: An Integral and Solidary Humanism
• Part One
  • Chapter One: God’s Plan of Love for Humanity
  • Chapter Two: The Church’s Mission and Social Doctrine
  • Chapter Three: The Human Person and Human Rights
  • Chapter Four: Principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine
• Part Two
  • Chapter Five: The Family, the Vital Cell of Society
  • Chapter Six: Human Work
  • Chapter Seven: Economic Life
  • Chapter Eight: The Political Community
  • Chapter Nine: The International Community
  • Chapter Ten: Safeguarding the Environment
  • Chapter Eleven: The Promotion of Peace
• Part Three
  • Chapter Twelve: Social Doctrine and Ecclesial Action
  • Conclusion: For a Civilization of Love

Top Highlights

“A society that wishes and intends to remain at the service of the human being at every level is a society that has the common good—the good of all people and of the whole person³⁴⁷—as its primary goal. The human person cannot find fulfilment in himself, that is, apart from the fact that he exists ‘with’ others and ‘for’ others.” (source)

“Authentic social changes are effective and lasting only to the extent that they are based on resolute changes in personal conduct.” (source)

“Man can turn to good only in freedom, which God has given to him as one of the highest signs of his image^{251” (source)}

“Subsidiarity, understood in the positive sense as economic, institutional or juridical assistance offered to lesser social entities, entails a corresponding series of negative implications that require the State to refrain from anything that would de facto restrict the existential space of the smaller essential cells of society. Their initiative, freedom and responsibility must not be supplanted.” (source)

“Man is also in relationship with himself and is able to reflect on himself.” (source)

Praise for the Print Edition

The Compendium is not only a comprehensive new edition gathering Catholic doctrine relating to social work. With recurring references to moral issues raised by advances in medicine, globalization, and other contemporary matters, it carries these principles into today’s world and its central social developments.

—Midwest Book Review

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church is an invaluable resource for teachers of Catholic Social Teaching, and for those who direct programs of Christian Service.

—Anthony J. Pogorelc, research fellow and professor, Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, The Catholic University of America

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church is a valuable instrument for the formation of everyone and particularly of the laity.

—Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Product Details

• Title: The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
• Publisher: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
• Publication Date: 2004
• Pages: 480

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