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

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