Core Principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church

1. The Intrinsic Dignity of the Human Person

The Social Doctrine of the Church (SDC) upholds the intrinsic dignity of every human person. This dignity is immutable because it does not depend on:

• Intelligence
• Health
• Usefulness
• Social status

Human dignity originates from the fact that every person is created in the image of God and possesses a spiritual nature. According to Church teaching, dignity belongs to the whole human person, understood as a unity of body and soul, reason and will. Therefore, every human being possesses dignity from conception until natural death, independently of personal circumstances or level of development.

2. Natural Freedom vs. Moral Freedom

The SDC distinguishes between two types of freedom:

• Natural Freedom: The human capacity to choose and act freely through reason and will. The Church considers this a fundamental attribute of the human person.
• Moral Freedom: The concept that individuals can determine what is good and evil without objective moral limits.

The Church does not fully endorse the latter interpretation, as true freedom must be directed toward truth and goodness. According to the SDC, freedom reaches perfection only when it is exercised in accordance with moral truth and human dignity.

3. The Principle of Solidarity

The principle of solidarity teaches that all human beings are interconnected and responsible for one another. It emphasizes:

• Cooperation
• Mutual responsibility
• Concern for the common good

This principle rejects selfish individualism. According to the SDC, solidarity derives from the social nature and equal dignity of all persons. This contradicts many foundations of the modern world, which are often based on individualism, relativism, and excessive competition.

4. Fundamental Attributes of the Human Person

According to the Social Doctrine of the Church, the human person possesses several essential attributes:

1. Dignity: Every human being is created in the image of God.
2. Rationality: The capacity to understand truth through reason.
3. Agency: The possession of freedom and responsibility to make moral decisions.
4. Unity: The integration of body and soul.
5. Social Nature: A natural orientation toward relationships and community life.