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A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching
The language of Catholic social teaching emerges regularly in American public discourse, often connected to discussions about religious freedom, abortion, immigrant rights, racism, and capital punishment. In this thoroughly revised volume, Kevin E. McKenna provides a clear, primer-level reference tool to help readers navigate this vast body of Catholic teaching.
Building on the core themes of human dignity, community, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor, dignity of work, solidarity , and care of creation , priest and teacher Kevin E. McKenna expertly distills Catholic social teaching into easily digestible summaries. He sheds light on such issues as religious freedom, rights to privacy and self-determination, and the value of the common good. This newly-updated, practical book includes pertinent material of the past decade from papal documents and the US Catholic Bishops, links to online support materials, an expanded glossary, and new questions for self-study or group conversation
Building on the core themes of human dignity, community, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor, dignity of work, solidarity , and care of creation , priest and teacher Kevin E. McKenna expertly distills Catholic social teaching into easily digestible summaries. He sheds light on such issues as religious freedom, rights to privacy and self-determination, and the value of the common good. This newly-updated, practical book includes pertinent material of the past decade from papal documents and the US Catholic Bishops, links to online support materials, an expanded glossary, and new questions for self-study or group conversation
173 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 7, 2014
A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching lives up to its name and then some! In this revised edition, Fr. Kevin McKenna touches on topics of social justice such as human dignity, rights of workers, and care for the poor, just to name a few. Under these umbrella labels, we can dive deeper and see specific issues. For example, Life and Dignity of the Human Person includes issues such as racism, capital punishment, and abortion. Fr. McKenna carefully and succinctly addresses all of these issues, using Church documents released by popes and bishops.
With recent talks in the news about increasing minimum wage, it was interesting to read what the great minds in our Church had to say about the rights of workers. However, these sections discuss more than unions and a just or living wage. They also discuss relationships between employer and employee, relationships between wealthy and poor nations, and the dangers of consumerism. Though the media chooses to ignore each of these sub-points and focus solely on sensational journalism, they are important as well and should be brought to the table.
Fr. McKenna has a masterful way of dissecting complex papal documents, like Evangelium Vitae or Caritas in Veritate, and explaining them in readable chunks. As great as the chapters are, the appendices are equally wonderful! I especially like the "Homily and Catechetical Message Guide." In this first appendix, the reader gets a list of Mass readings for all three years and which ones correspond to which issues. For example, the readings for the Feast of the Ascension fall under the category of "Dignity of the Human Person." In summation, I would recommend this book to all priests and any laity with an interest in the social teachings of the Church in a clear and concise manner.
With recent talks in the news about increasing minimum wage, it was interesting to read what the great minds in our Church had to say about the rights of workers. However, these sections discuss more than unions and a just or living wage. They also discuss relationships between employer and employee, relationships between wealthy and poor nations, and the dangers of consumerism. Though the media chooses to ignore each of these sub-points and focus solely on sensational journalism, they are important as well and should be brought to the table.
Fr. McKenna has a masterful way of dissecting complex papal documents, like Evangelium Vitae or Caritas in Veritate, and explaining them in readable chunks. As great as the chapters are, the appendices are equally wonderful! I especially like the "Homily and Catechetical Message Guide." In this first appendix, the reader gets a list of Mass readings for all three years and which ones correspond to which issues. For example, the readings for the Feast of the Ascension fall under the category of "Dignity of the Human Person." In summation, I would recommend this book to all priests and any laity with an interest in the social teachings of the Church in a clear and concise manner.
August 11, 2017
This book is what it says it is. It is a "concise guide". McKenna gives short summaries of the work others have done on CST. It isn't particularly engaging, but it is factual.
February 7, 2024
Helpful curated passages from primary sources. I am using this with my CST class.
October 4, 2015
This is exactly what it says it is a concise guide and reference book to Catholic Social Teaching. It is not an explication or discourse on this however. Breaking into 7 important areas, various papal encyclicals and writings of the USCCB are summarized by key points. It is very dry summary, but does include questions at the end of each section for use in study setting. I was disappointed in that expected more of a textual discussion, but that is my own fault for not reading the description better
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews