Catholic Social Teachings

Listen Click the icon next to a title to listen to the class recordings. Some files are large and may take a few moments to begin playback.

Seeing God in Others
by Jean Vanier

"Somewhere this cry of, "Do you want to be my friend?" touched me. I began visiting asylums, hospitals, different institutions, families, and I discovered an immense world of pain which I never, never could have imagined..." read more

Article posted at the Catholic Education Resource Center

Return to top

Benedict XVI’s Plea: Put the Poor at the Heart of Catholic Life

"Pope Benedict XVI clearly puts care for the poor at the heart of the Catholic Church. In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), he said three things make the Church the Church: Proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments and caring for the poor. This love of the poor is an essential and defining activity of the Church. Benedict declares, “Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to her [the Church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel..." view USCCB blog

(blog posted on March 25, 2008)

Return to top

An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
by Deacon Mike Bickerstaff

"Christian revelation . . . promotes deeper understanding of the laws of social living." The Church receives from the Gospel the full revelation of the truth about man. When she fulfills her mission of proclaiming the Gospel, she bears witness to man, in the name of Christ, to his dignity and his vocation to the communion of persons. She teaches him the demands of justice and peace in conformity with divine wisdom." (CCC #2419)... view slides

(class presented on April 21, 2008)

Return to top

Listen to Podcast Who's Afraid of Catholic Social Teaching
by Mark Brumley

Mark Brumley is president of Ignatius Press, one of the nation’s largest Catholic publishing companies, and he is author of How Not to Share Your Faith and a contributor to The Five Issues That Matter Most. He is also the former director of Communications and of the Office for Social Ministries of the Diocese of San Diego.

Mark Brumley is a regular guest on television and radio regarding the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, and issues of faith in contemporary society. He is an adjunct professor of theology for the Institute for Pastoral Theology of Ave Maria University. His articles have appeared in such publications as The Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Register, Catholic Dossier, The Catholic Faith, This Rock, and National Review Online.

Formerly the associate publisher of The Southern Cross, the diocesan paper of San Diego, he is presently the associate publisher of the online magazine, IgnatiusInsight.com.

(originally podcast on April 22, 2009, Catholic Answers Live)

Return to top