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 social principles presented in both papal encyclicals 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.