CST: Moral vision for today's church

BREAKTHROUGH

- ELFREN S. CRUZ

Pope Leo XIII has said that he will use the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) as the basic framework for his papacy. I feel that it is the moral obligation for all Catholics to understand what CST is all about.

CST is a rich and comprehensive body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church that addresses the complex social, economic and political issues of the modern world. It is grounded in biblical faith, Church tradition and centuries of reflection on justice, human dignity and the common good. It offers a vision for building a just society that upholds the rights of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable.

While the roots of CST can be traced back to Scripture and the early Christian community, its formal modern expression began in the late 19th century. The Bible, particularly the teachings of the prophets and Jesus Christ, consistently emphasizes compassion, justice and concern for the marginalized. These themes shaped the Church's outlook on human society from the earliest centuries. The writings of Church fathers such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas also provided philosophical and theological foundations for later developments in social thought.