A rigorous and comprehensive review of Catholic social teaching, including excerpts of documents.

“In this creative volume, Bernard Brady acquaints the reader with core themes of modern Catholic social teaching in a manner that highlights its embeddedness in the lives, practices, and prayer of the people of God engaged in the ‘joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties’ of their contemporary world. A welcome contribution.”
—Christine Firer Hinze, Fordham University

This book provides a broad view of the rich tradition of Catholic reflection and action on social issues. In the words of Brady, the Catholic social tradition “calls on persons to take responsibility for themselves and for their neighbors. It aims to reach the hearts and the minds of persons. . . . It seeks personal conversion and social transformation.”

Accessible in style and designed for a one-semester course, it presents the principles of Catholic social thought, describes their historical development, and includes abridged excerpts of the relevant documents. Each chapter includes study/discussion questions and prayers from the Catholic tradition.