By Stephen P. White, The Catholic Thing - Over the years, the Church has identified what she calls the four “permanent principles” of Catholic social teaching: The dignity of the human person, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good. If one understands these principles and how to apply them, then Catholic social teaching becomes a powerful framework for thinking through some of the thorniest problems of contemporary life. Begin with general principles and apply them to the particulars of public life. Sounds simple, right?