An introduction to Catholic social teaching, including the recent encyclicals of Benedict XVI, that focuses on the spirit of Catholic social thought and its application in our twenty-first century.

The first chapter describes the general development of Cathlic social thought and the following five chapters each deal with a specific theme: faithful citizenship, economic justice, human rights, war and peace and the consistent ethic of life, and care for the earth. Each chapter identifies key documents and explores their meaning and how they are applied today. Stories of key practitioners include figures ranging from Cesar chavez and Mother Teresa to the Berrigans, Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono an Joan Chittister.