Catholics for the Common Good Institute’s Focus, and Selected Catholic Teachings

The Dignity of the Human Person: What Does it Mean to Be Human?

• Gaudium et Spes
• Redemptor Hominis *** Pope St. John Paul II
• Reflections on Gaudium et Spes, “the Magna Carta of Human Dignity” (1995) ~ Pope St. John Paul II

Respect for Life at all stages and conditions. The most basic human right is life.

Life

• Love in Truth (Caritas in Veritate) Encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI, 2009
• Gospel of Life Encyclical Pope St. John Paul the Great
• Living the Gospel of Life U.S. Bishops

Transmission of Life

• Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI
• Donum Vitae (including the rights of the child) Vatican CDF in Audience with Pope St. John Paul II

Bioethics

• Instruction Dignitas Personae on Bioethics Vatican CDF, 2008
• Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation (Donum Vitae) Vatican CDF
• The Views of the Holy See on Human Embryonic Cloning (presented to the United Nations)

End of Life

• Questions about Medically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration U.S. Bishops
• Declaration on Euthanasia Vatican
• Lenten Message 2005, Reflection on Threats to the Elderly Pope John Paul the Great

Promote Marriage, the Family and Children’s Rights

Marriage

• “Complete My Joy” Apostolic Exhortation on the Domestic Church, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix, AZ
• “Language of Love” Pastoral Letter, Bishop James Conley, Lincoln, Neb.
• Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan U.S. Bishops
• Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World (Familiaris Consortio) Pope St. John Paul II
• Donum Vitae (including the rights of the child related to marriage IIA1) Vatican CDF in Audience with Pope St. John Paul II
• Considerations on Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons Vatican
• Arcanum: On Christian Marraige Pope Leo XIII
• Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions U.S. Bishops
• Family, Marriage and “De Facto” Unions Vatican

Family

• On Love in the Family (Amoris Laetitia, Apostolic Exhortation) Pope Francis
• Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World Pope St. John Paul II
• Letter to Families from Pope John Paul II Pope St. John Paul II
• Charter of the Rights of the Family Holy See
• Charter of the Rights of the Family Explained U.S. Bishops
• The Family and Human Rights Pontifical Council for the Family, Vatican

Authentic Feminism

• Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women) Pope St. John Paul II
• Letter to Women Pope St. John Paul II

Human Sexuality

• Pastoral Care of Couples who are Cohabitating (summary of teachings) Archbishop Sheehan (Santa Fe)
• I Will Give You Shepherds, Apostolic Exhortation on Priestly Formatin. Pope St John Paul II
• Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI
• Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World (sections 11-16) Pope John Paul II
• Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict XVI

Pornography

• Pornography and the Attack on the Living Temple of God – Bishop Paul S. Loverde (Arlington)
•  Dignity of the Human Person and the Dangers of Pornography – Bishop Robert Finn (Kansas City – St. Joseph)

Same-Sex Attraction and Related Lifestyles

• Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care** U.S. Bishops
• Pastoral Ministry to Young People with Same-Sex Attraction Canadian Bishops
• Instruction on Pastoral Care for Homosexual Persons Vatican
• Considerations on Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons Vatican (excerpts from the document related to marriage and children)
• Letter on Homosexuality — Archbishop Sean O’Malley (Boston)
• Instruction on Homosexuality and Priestly Vocations Vatican
  • Statement on Instruction on Homosexuality and Priestly Vocations Bishop Skylstad, President of the USCCB
  • Statement on Instruction on Homosexuality and Priestly Vocations Archbishop Charles Chaput (Denver)
• Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers U.S. Bishops

Advance Human Freedom

• The Splendor of Truth Encyclical Pope John Paul the Great
• Dignitas Humanae (On Religious Freedom) Pope Paul VI
• Doctrinal Note on Participation of Catholics in Political Life Vatican
• Declaration on Religious Freedom Vatican II

Promote the Common Good Regarding Social Conditions

• Human Rights
• Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth) Encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI, 2009
• Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concern) (1987) Encyclical, Pope St. John Paul II
• Centesimus Annus (On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) Encyclical Pope St. John Paul II
• Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) Encyclical, Pope St. John Paul II, 1981
• Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Workers) Encyclical, Pope Leo XIII, 1891
• Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
• Reconstruction of the Social Order (Quadragesimo Anno) Encyclical, Pius XI, 1931
• Christianity and Social Progress (Mater et Magistra); Encyclical, Pope St. John XXIII, 1961
• Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris) Encyclical Pope St. John XXIII, 1963
• Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World) Vatican II
• The Development of Peoples Pope Paul VI, 1967
• Instruction on Certain Aspects of the “Theology of Liberation” Vatican CDF, 1984
• Economic Justice for All U.S. Bishops, 1986

Participation of the Laity

• Doctrinal Note on Participation of Catholics in Political Life ** Congregation For The Doctrine Of The Faith
• Christifideles Laici (Lay Members of Christ Faithful People) Pope St. John Paul II
  (including the call for this new Catholic action)
• Ecclesia in America (the Church in America) ** Pope St. John Paul the Great
• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States U.S. Bishops
• The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Summary — U.S. Bishops
• The Apostolate of the Laity Vatican II
• Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church Vatican II
• Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope) Pope Benedict XVI, 2007
• Veritas Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) Encyclical Pope John Paul the Great**

Other Important Teachings for Formation

• NEW — Evangelii Gaudium (Exhortation on the Newe Evangelization) Pope Francis 2013
• NEW Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith) Pope Francis 2013
• Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope) Pope Benedict XVI, 2007
• Tender Mercy of God, On Forgiveness and Reconciliation Archbishop Jose Gomez (San Antonio)
• Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
• Ecclesia in America (The Church in America) Pope St. John Paul the Great

Vatican II Documents

Constitutions

• • Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church ***
  • Gaudium et Spes, The Pastoral Constitution
  • Dei Verbum, Dogmatic, Consitution on Divine Revelation
  • Sacrosanctum Concilium, Consitution on Divine Liturgy

Declarations

• • Dignitatis Humanae, Declaration on Religious Freedom
  • Nostra Aetate, Declaration on Ecumenism
  • Gravissimum Educationis, Declaration on Christian Education

Decrees

• Apostolicam Actuositatem: Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity ***
• Christus Dominus, Pastoral Office of the Bishops
• Ad Gentes, Decree on Missionary Activity