Catholic Social Doctrine and Economic Policy in Western Europe

The social doctrine of the Catholic Church is a system that is open and capable of responding to new socio-economic challenges and ways of overcoming them. The necessary function of the state is to balance the interests of employers and employees and to assist those who are not covered by social security. This research gives a historical interpretation of the Catholic social teaching in the economic, labor, and social sphere. It is based on scientific literature and theoretical sources, Catholic Church encyclicals. The study analyzes the impact of the Catholic social doctrine on social and economic policy in Western Europe. This research could be useful in promoting reforms that shape a new global economic order and in creating a good legal framework for the welfare state. It is concluded that the Catholic Church has identified certain principles that are necessary to promote public welfare, namely, dignity, participation, subsidiarity, solidarity.