A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching (Concise Guide Series)

A Timely Resource for Understanding, Teaching, and Implementing Catholic Social Teaching As parishes and schools intensify efforts to promote Catholic social teaching, here is a welcome distillations of scoial principles presented in both papal encylicals and pastoral letters developed by American bishops. Following the structure of the U.S. bishops document Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, the book speaks to seven significant themes:

Life and the Dignity of the Human Person

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Rights and Responsibilities

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Solidarity

Care for God's Creation Each chapter includes reflection questions ideal for individual or group usage, and an appendix offers biographical information about popes who have issued social encyclicals, suggested homily themes and a Reconciliation Service for Justice and Peace. Sure to become an invaluable resource for all pastoral ministers, A CONCISE GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING is also suitable for parish adult study groups, and high school and college classes on Catholic social teaching. REVIEWS Father Kevin McKenna's Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is a real gem which offers both the Church professional and the person in the pew an insightful and understandable presentation of this rich treasure of the Church's heritage and practical suggestions for its implementation.
-- Howard J. Hubbard
Bishop of Albany A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is an invaluable resource for parish and community groups. It provides solid grounding in the Church's social teachings as the basis for initiatives undertaken in promoting the gospel of justice. It is "user-friendly" and practical.
-- Anne Curtis, RSM
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Fr. McKenna provides a useful introduction to the social writings of the popes and U.S. bishops by grouping these writings around Catholic social teaching's seven major themes. The pastoral tools included are readily adapted for various settings.
-- Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Ph.D.
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York Father McKenna has provided a thematic compendium of some of the marvelous insights present in Catholic social teaching. His summary of various Church documents will be helpful to supplement any discussion of the historical and political implications of "perplexing social issues" and to develop an appreciation for the Church's willingness to struggle with these issues over time.
-- Helen Marie Burns, RSM
Vice President, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas