Catholic Social Teaching from a Dominican Perspective

Today the Las Casas Institute is launching six short online videos for use in parishes, Sixth-Forms, and University Chaplaincies. Dr Roderick Howlett looks at: (1) What it means to be human; (2) The Economy; (3) Work; (4) the Environment; (5) Conflict Resolution; (6) Citizens’ Responsibility in a Democracy.

The videos are now live on YouTube! See the first video, on ‘What it means to be human’, here:

A full playlist of the videos can be found on the Las Casas YouTube page at this link

There is also a reading list that goes with the videos.

Reading/Resource List

What is it to be human? (1)

Further Reading

Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2022), encyclical on fraternity and social friendship: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html

Ruston, Roger. Human Rights and the Image of God. SCM Press, 2004.

Economy (2)

General Resources

Consumer ethical ranking website: www.goodonyou.eco

Further Reading

Annett, Anthony. Cathonomics: How Catholic Tradition Can Create a More Just Economy. Georgetown University Press, 2022.

Book Series on Economics as a Moral Science: https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/research/las-casas-institute-for-social-justice/research-interests/re-thinking-economics/book-series-economics-as-a-moral-science/

Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio (1967), encyclical on the development of peoples:  https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum.html

Work (3)

General Resources

Information on finding and joining a trade union: https://www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion

Information on the living wage and a list of living wage employers: www.livingwage.org.uk.

Further Reading

Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891), encyclical on capital and labour: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html

Environment (4)

General Resources

Laudato Si Action Platform: https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/

Further Reading

Pope Francis, Laudato Si (2015), encyclical on care for our common home: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Peace and Conflict Resolution (5)

General Resources

Assumption Volunteers gap year programme: https://assumptionvolunteers.org.uk/

Jesuit Refugee Service: https://jrs.net/en/home/

Further Reading

Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris (1965), encyclical on establishing universal peace in truth, justice, charity and liberty: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem.html

Responsibilities of Citizens in a Democracy (6)

Further Reading

Concise summary of the See-Judge-Act Method: https://grassroots.caritas.eu/see-judge-act/