Catholic Social Teaching

Rooted in Love is a new project set up by the Diocese of Westminster to support schools in their teaching journey through the Catholic Social Teaching Principles. These are to be explored on a half-termly basis and will be supported through a range of activities, assemblies, and additional work to help increase our contributions towards the charities we support.

Catholic Social Teaching is:

The underlying insight is that everyone has the right and responsibility to live in our world constructively, not destructively, and to ensure that we leave it in a better state than when we entered it.

At the core of Catholic Social Teaching are a number of concepts and principles. The chief among these are Care of Creation, Preferential Option for the Poor, Solidarity and Peace, Community and Participation, Dignity of Workers, and Human Dignity.

Please see our yearly overview for Catholic Social Teaching across the school.

Our Catholic Social Teaching displays

Care for Creation

Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it, and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.

– Pope Francis

Human Dignity

God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; So, God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

-Genesis 1:26-27

Dignity of Workers

Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food.

-Matthew 10:9-10

Community and Participation

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison and help you?’ ‘Truly I tell you, when you did this to one of the least of these members of my family, you did it to me.’

-Matthew 25

Solidarity and Peace

Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good – the good of all and each individual because we are all really responsible for all.

-St John Paul II

Preferential Option for the Poor

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who mourn now, for you will laugh.

-Luke 6:20-22