Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Demonstrators holding signs demanding the right to vote and equal civil rights at the March on Washington

“The rights of workers, like all other rights, are based on the nature of the human person and on their transcendent dignity.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #301

All workers have inalienable rights, as the economy should serve the person; the person does not exist to serve the economy.

Discover a rich collection of resources rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, designed to illuminate the dignity of work and the rights of workers. This curated content equips educators, faith leaders, and advocates with tools to inspire action and reflection on justice in the workplace and economic systems.

Catholic Social Teaching Resources on the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

  • Prayers and Reflections: Ground your understanding of work and human dignity in spiritual practices and Gospel values.
  • Lesson Plans and Activities: Engaging, ready-to-use materials for teaching about labor rights and the moral implications of economic justice.
  • Multimedia Resources: Videos, articles, and visuals that bring the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to life for diverse audiences.
  • Advocacy Tools: Practical guides for promoting fair wages, safe conditions, and policies that prioritize workers’ rights.

Each resource is crafted to deepen your understanding of the Church’s commitment to justice, solidarity, and the common good. Whether you’re preparing for a classroom discussion, parish presentation, or personal study, these materials offer valuable insights into how the dignity of work is a cornerstone of human flourishing.

Fordlandia

Greg Grandin’s book provides a fascinating study of Henry Ford’s complex character, while documenting the unraveling of his utopian vision for the Amazon. This book discussion guide includes...

Triangle: Remembering the Fire

This three-page resource highlights the connection between the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 and the issue of labor rights as it has existed and still exists in America. It focuses on the HBO film...

Margin Call

Margin Call is set in 2008, as the real estate market begins to fall apart. This discussion guide for the film considers key themes, such as the idolatry of money, and connections to Catholic Social...

Social Insurance Programs: Promoting the Common Good

This five page backgrounder reviews key social insurance programs that protect human dignity and the common good and foster economic justice. Social Security, Medicare, and Pension plans are...

Prayer in Celebration of Justice in the World

The 1971 Catholic social teaching encyclical, Justice in the World, echoes the Scriptures: "Our relationship to our neighbor is bound up with our relationship to God" (34). It continues by pointing...
Prayer Service

Occupy Prayer Service

This two-page prayer service from Interfaith Worker Justice offers a way to join in solidarity with those who are bringing attention to the current economic crisis and the unjust practices that...

The Whistleblower

This film guide overviews the recently released drama The Whistleblower. The film tells the story of Nebraska police officer Kathy Bolkovac who uncovered human trafficking while working for a private...

Faith Communities Respond to Unemployment

Continued high rates of unemployment have spurred many congregations, including Catholic parishes, to organize support for the emotional and material needs of workers. Chicago-based Interfaith Worker...

People of God on the Move: Catholic Immigration in the U.S.

Since the 1840s, immigration to the U.S. was increasingly from Catholic countries, beginning with the Irish Famine, continuing with displaced persons from Eastern Europe after World War II and with...

The U.S. Church's Commitment to Workers

This two-page background piece on the Church's Commitment to Workers makes an ideal parish bulletin. It includes a brief summary of the Knights of Labor, Cardinal Gibbons intervention on the...
Prayer Service

Prayer for Labor Day

A one-page prayer in preparation for and celebration of Labor Day.  

Unions, Wisconsin and Catholic Social Teaching

The rights of workers and especially the right to unions and collective bargaining have been in the news during the first part of 2011.  In Wisconsin and other states, the rights of collective...