Catholic Social Teaching & Economics

Summary

Economic theory is based upon logic and revealed human activity.
CST is based upon logic and divine revelation.
The economy is to serve all people - a means to distribute goods fairly to all people.
CST is to influence both individuals & governmental decisions and choices.
Markets connects human activities so almost any purchase may affect the 'price of tea in China'.
There are many indirect negative and positive results to economic decisions. Intentions are import in judging morality of economic decisions.
Priority of Labor over other means of production.
Work should bring dignity to the person.
Option for the Poor and the primacy of people over things.
The gap between rich and poor should be reduced.
Markets can serve God's plan for the world, when people, you and I, bring the values of Catholic Social Teaching to economic decisions.
Discerning economic justice require careful reflection and attention to the values of the rich tradition of CST.
Both work and love of the poor are opportunities for us to become more fully human, as God has intended us to be.