1.  Dignity of the Human Person

All people are sacred, made in the image and likeness of God.  People do not lose dignity because of disability, poverty, age, lack of success, or race.  This emphasizes people over things, being over having.

2. Common Good and Community

The human person is both sacred and social.  We realize our dignity and rights in relationship with others, in community.  Human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community.  All people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all.  The family is a central social institution that must be supported and strengthened.

3.  Rights and Responsibilities

People have a fundamental right to life, food, shelter, health care, education and employment.  All people have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.  Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities. 

4.  Option for the Poor

The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.  The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation.  We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.

5.  Gloral Solidarity and Development

We are one human family.  Our responsibilities to each other cross rantional, racial, economic and ideological differences.  We are called to work globally for justice.

6.  Promotion of Peace and Disarmament

Catholic teaching understands peace as a positive, action-oriented concept.  Peace is not just hte absence of war.  It involves mutual respect and collaboration between peoples and nations.  Theree is a close relationship between peace and justice.

7. Stewardship of God's Creation

The good of the earth are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone as mere consumers and users.  How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, a sign of our respect for the Creator.

8.  Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around.  People have a right to productive work and fair wages.  Workers have the right to safe working conditions, the right to participate in decisions that affect them in the workplace, and the right to security in case of sickness, disab ility, unemployment or old age.  All workers have thr right to form unions.  In fact, unions are referred to in the teaching as an "indispensable" element in the search for social justice.