CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHTS AND

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
1. Respect for the Dignity of the
Human Person
All men are created in the image of
GOD and are called to communion
with Him.
 This means that business, being
essentially an expression of human
relationship, is “for people”.
Thus, the profit motive must not
become an excuse for exploiting
persons.
Man is the center of human socio-
economic activity.
2. Priority of Man over Things
and the Priority of Labor over
Capital
Man is the “primary efficient
cause” of production.
Man is prior than capital which is
the whole collection of means of
production and remains as a mere
“instrumental cause”
Exs: Kidney Selling
Face to Face
Eutanasia
Child Labor
Human Trafficking
FACE TO FACE
VIDEO1
CHILD LABOR
VIDEO
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.pptx
3. Common Good
 It is the sum of all those social
thoughts which favor the full
development of the human
personality and is inseparable from
the good of the human person.
This commits public authorities to
respect, regulate, protect and
promote human rights and
facilitates the fulfillment of their
respective duties.
Exs: Surrogacy

SURROGACY
VIDEO
4. Solidarity
 Each person, as a member of
society, is indissolubly linked to the
destiny of society itself and, by the
demand of the Gospel, to the
destiny of all mankind’s salvation.
 Ethical demands require all men,
groups, and local communities,
associations, organizations,
nations, and continents to
“participate” in the management
of all activities of economic,
political and cultural life while
overcoming any purely conception
of individualism.
 5. Subsidiarity
(A complement of solidarity)
 It mandates that social institutions
have auxiliary and complementary
functions concerning the tasks and
needs of individuals or smaller groups,
i.e., social institutions should leave to
the individuals or groups what they
can do by their own power and assist
them where they are unable to
accomplish a task or, a least, a useful
endeavor.
It protects the human person, local
communities and “intermediary
bodies” from losing their legitimate
autonomy.
6. Universal Purpose of Material
Goods
The goods of the earth are for the
use of everyone in order to satisfy
their right to life in consonance
with the dignity of the person and
the needs of the family.
The destination of earthly goods is
for all to share fairly to all created
things under the guidance of
justice tempered by charity.
7. Stewardship
 This states that man has a basic
natural right to life and must take
of it, not as an absolute owner, but
as a responsible partner
Exs: Giving Alms
Bribery

slavery
8. Profit
 Though considered by Liberal
Capitalism as the chief motive of
economic activity and progress,
may increase one’s wealth and may
not be distributed equitably.
Ex: Cutting Trees

unhygienic
Plastic rice
trees
video
9. Competition
 A practice that can be exercised
through any means, and, as the
Supreme law of economic activity
and progress.
 As Liberal Capitalism would put it,
competition may improve the
quality of goods but not the quality
of life.
Ex: Fur Industry

VIDEO
10. The Right to Private Property
It is an absolute right devoid of
social responsibility.
Ex: Hacienda Luisita
As presented by Liberal Capitalism,
it may result in material
advancement for a few but it will
not bring peace and prosperity to
the majority.
While admitting the necessity of a
more equitable distribution of
wealth and power, we must also
reject a socio-economic system
which is materialistic and an
idolatry of collectivity ultimately
oppressing those it wants to uplift
by stifling freedom and autonomy.
1. Respect for the dignity of Human Person
2. Priority of Man over Things, Labor over Capital
3. Common Good
4. Solidarity
5. Subsidiarity
6. Universal Purpose of Material Goods
7. Stewardship
8. Profit
9. Competition
10. The Right to Private Property
4M7
1. Shawarma Shack – unhygienic food preparation
2. Nestle USA– child slave labor
3. ADMU – bullying incident
4. Grab – Income inequality with drivers
5. Aristocrat etc. – illegal waste disposal
6. Nutri-Asia – contractualization
7. Facebook – user data privacy issues
8. China – shark finning on soup ingredients
9. Africa – illegal trade of elephant tusks
10. Bitag – use of profane language
11. Apple – Planned Obsolescence
12. LTO – fixers
13. DPWH – road widening – cutting of trees
14. Avon – use of animals for cosmetic test
15. Binance – Digital Currency Criminals