What foundational belief underpins Catholic social policy according to teaching?

• A. Respect and rights flow from social status and power.
• B. Only the strong deserve protection.
• C. Every person bears the image of God, deserving respect and rights.
• D. Policies should prioritize economic efficiency above human dignity.

Answer: (C)

Foundational belief: every person bears the image of God, so each person has inherent dignity and basic rights. Because dignity comes from being created in God’s likeness, rights are universal and not earned by status, power, or strength. Catholic social teaching then grounds policies in this intrinsic worth, aiming to protect life, support the vulnerable, and promote the common good for all. That’s why the statement about every person bearing God’s image and deserving respect and rights best fits this teaching. The other options tie value to external factors like social status, power, or economic usefulness, which contradict the insistence on universal human dignity at the heart of Catholic social policy.