Catholic Social Teaching Highlighted at CMA’s Conference
October 16, 2025
By Dr. Mary Keen Kirchoff
The Catholic Medical Association’s 94th Annual Educational Conference last month featured a joint panel of physicians and lawyers to discuss the Church’s social doctrine. This joint gathering marked a significant milestone in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among Catholic professionals.
The integration of legal and medical perspectives enriched the dialogue, underscoring the shared commitment to upholding human dignity within the fields of healthcare and law. The panel discussion provided a unique opportunity for attendees to explore how the principles of Catholic social doctrine can be applied in both medical and legal contexts to address contemporary ethical challenges
The first speaker on the panel was Dr. Frederick Fakharzadeh, chairman of the CMA committee on Catholic Social Teaching and Justice in Medicine. He is also the president of CAPP USA. CAPP USA is the U.S. affiliate of the Vatican-based foundation established by Pope St. John Paul II to promote the knowledge and practice of Catholic social teaching.
Dr Fakharzadeh summarized, the three primary principles of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity, which he believes are one of the best kept secrets of the Catholic faith!
Pope St. John Paul II said, “[T]he guiding principle…of all of the Church’s social doctrine, is a correct view of the human personand of his unique value.” Human dignity, rooted in a correct view of the human person, is the prime principle of Catholic social doctrine.
Solidarity, another of the three primary principles, is the fabric for authentic relationships. It is integral to Catholic social teaching’s view of social and political organization. Interdependence among human beings compels people to love one another for the common good. Solidarity is fostered through communities that allow its members to achieve their full potential by embracing each person’s rights, responsibilities, and dignity. Solidarity is central to attaining the common good.
Subsidiarity, the third of the primary principles of CST, lies at the center of a stable social order; without it there can be no authentic freedom and human dignity. Subsidiarity is a prescriptive principle that informs us on how and at what level decisions should be made.
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