Foundational Documents
Papal and Vatican Documents
- Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Labor)—Pope Leo XIII, 1891
- Quadragesimo Anno (After Forty Years)—Pope Pius XI, 1931
- Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress)—Pope John XXIII, 1961
- Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth)—Pope John XXIII, 1963
- Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)—Second Vatican Council, 1965
- Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom)—Second Vatican Council, 1965
- Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples)—Pope Paul VI, 1967
- Octogesima Adveniens (A Call to Action)—Pope Paul VI, 1971
- Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World)—Paul VI, 1975
- Laborem Exercens (On Human Work)—Pope John Paul II, 1981
- Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concern)—Pope John Paul II, 1987
- The Church and Racism: Towards a more fraternal society—Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1989
- Centesimus Annus (The Hundredth Year)—Pope John Paul II, 1991
- Veritatis splendor (The Splendor of Truth)—Pope John Paul II, 1993
- Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)—Pope John Paul II, 1995
- Dignitas Personae (The Dignity of a Person)—Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1998
- Ecclesia in America (The Church in America)—Pope John Paul II, 1999
- Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason)—Pope John Paul II, 1998
- Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002
- Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church—Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004
- Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love)—Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
- Sacramentum Caritatis (The Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission)—Pope Benedict XVI, 2007 (especially paragraphs 47, 49, 82-84, and 88-92)
- Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth)—Pope Benedict XVI, 2009
Synod Document
- Justice in the World—Synod of Bishops, 1971
United States Catholic Bishops Documents
- Labor Day Statements
- Respecting the Just Rights of Workers, June 2009
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, November 2007
- A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death, November 2005
- Catholics in Political Life, June 2004
- "For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food" Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers, December 2003
- Strangers No Longer, January 2003, Joint Statement from Bishops of the United States and Mexico
- A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children, December 2002
- Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Violence, March 2002
- A Call to Solidarity with Africa, November 2001
- A Pastoral Message: Living with Faith and Hope After September 11, November 2001
- Resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, June 2001
- Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good, June 2001
- Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice, November 2000
- Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice, November 1999
- In All Things Charity: A Pastoral Challenge for the New Millennium, November 1999
- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, June 1999
- A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty, April 1999
- A Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good, May 1999
- A Jubilee Call for Debt Forgiveness, April 1999
- Living the Gospel of Life, November 1998
- Called to Global Solidarity, November 1997
- A Catholic Framework for Economic Life, November 1996
- A Decade After Economic Justice for All, November 1995
- Sowing Weapons of War, June 1995
- Confronting a Culture of Violence, November 1994
- Communities of Salt and Light, November 1993
- The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace, November 1993
- When I call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women, September 1992
- A Matter of the Heart, November 1992
- Renewing the Earth, 1991
- Economic Justice for All, November 1986
- The Challenge of Peace, 1983
- Statement on Capital Punishment, November 1980
- Brothers and Sisters to Us, 1979
- Declaration on Conscientious Objection and Selective Conscientious Objection, October 1971
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