PART I - Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: The US Bishops’ Reflection on Catholic Teaching and Political Life - What Does the Church Say About Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square?—Four Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

4343. As noted previously, the Catholic approach to faithful citizenship rests on moral principles found in Sacred Scripture and Catholic moral and social teaching as well as in the hearts of all people of good will. Recent papal teaching has identified four major principles of Catholic social teaching. We now present the central and enduring themes of the Catholic social tradition organized under these four principles that can provide a moral framework for decisions in public life.5