What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic social teaching is not just about policies but about creating a culture of solidarity and compassion – Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
Catholic Social Teaching is rooted in the wisdom of Church leaders, who reflect on the political, economic, and social challenges of our time. CST helps us understand how to live our faith in daily life and respond to God’s call to work for the common good.
At the heart of the Catholic faith, CST is guided by the values of the Gospel, which shape everything we do at St Robert Southwell. Its key themes include:
- Human Dignity – every person is precious and worthy of respect because they are made in the image of God
- Community & Participation – contributing to and caring for our communities
- Care for Creation – protecting the environment and God’s world
- Dignity in Work – valuing the contribution of all workers
- Option for the Poor – standing in solidarity with those in need
- Solidarity & Peace – promoting justice, unity, and reconciliation
How is Catholic Social Teaching implemented at St Robert Southwell?
At St Robert Southwell, (CST) is at the heart of everything we do. Its principles are threaded through all areas of our curriculum and embedded in every aspect of school life, including classroom learning, assemblies, and community projects. We use Rooted in Love as a guide to help pupils understand and apply the key themes of CST.Rooted in Love is a Religious Education resource for primary and secondary schools, developed in partnership with the Diocese of Westminster Education Service and funded by the ALF grant. It supports the teaching of Catholic Social Teaching as outlined in the Religious Education Directory 2023. The resource includes prayer and liturgy ideas for each theme, along with practical suggestions for putting these values into action across the Catholic life and mission of the school. Rooted in Love is structured around six themes, one for each half term. Each theme begins with a launch assembly, followed by classroom lessons and discussions that deepen pupils’ understanding. The principles of Catholic Social Teaching are woven throughout school life, and children are encouraged to make connections between their learning and these core values in every subject. As a school we use our Catholic Social Teaching stamps to demonstrate how Catholic Social Teaching is embedded into our whole curriculum.
