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Abstract
Catholic Social Thought is comprised of a body of principles that present a vision of a just society and that, at least in general terms, offer an approach to achieving that just society. This set of principles provides criteria for prudential judgments and direction for current policy and action. This article identifies the foundational principles of Catholic Social Thought as set out in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and provides an explanation of the meaning and primary implications of those foundational principles.
Introduction
The first part of the recently released Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church1 discusses the basic principles of Catholic Social Thought. As the Compendium presents them2, there are four basic principles:
* the dignity of the human person;
* the common good;
* subsidiarity; and
* solidarity.3
These principles are presented as the permanent, universal and "primary and fundamental parameters of reference for interpreting and evaluating social phenomena, which is the necessary source for working out the criteria for the discernment and orientation of social interactions in every area."4 They are also presented as grounded in a humanism that allows them to "speak to all people and all nations,"5 and to serve as a basis for dialogue with "all people of good will who are committed to serving the common good,"6 and who seek answers to the question of the place of humans in nature and in human society.7
Because the basic principles of Catholic Social Thought are the "fundamental presuppositions of social doctrine,"8 it is necessary to have an understanding of them in order to understand the second part of the Compendium, which addresses the major areas in which the Church's social teachings have application. Given their foundational importance, a brief explication of the meaning and primary implications of these basic principles follows. In the course of this explication, I will also make some observations about how the Compendium categorizes the basic principles.
Dignity of the Human Person
"Any vision of the good society must have as its foundation a correct view of the human person and the nature of the good life for persons."9 Thus all of the Church's social doctrine begins with the recognition of the inviolable dignity of the...