ABSTRACT
Two of the authors recently published “Applying Catholic Social Teachings to Ethical Issues in Marketing” ( Klein and Laczniak 2009). The objective therein was to provide a perspective on ethical issues in marketing, consumption, and public policy that was novel in terms of its roots in the moral theology of the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, the authors maintain that these core ethical principles likely could be derived from moral philosophy, that is, have a corresponding root source in some secular rather than religious tradition, thereby enhancing the validity and appeal of application for all business managers. The major purpose in taking on that task was to show that Catholic Social Teaching (CST) could be seen as a useful “principles-based theory of business ethics” rather than a niche in sectarian moral theology.
