The Journal of Catholic Social Thought was founded in the Fall of 2003 by Robert DeFina, Christopher Janosik, Mark Sargent, and Barbara Wall n support of a call by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to "integrate and to share the riches of the Church's social teaching in Catholic education and formation at every level ."

It is published by the Office for Mission Effectiveness and the Villanova University School of Law, at Villanova University.   

The Journal for Catholic Social Thought will publish work from a variety of disciplines, including Theology, Philosophy, Law, the Social Sciences, and address both social and political theory.

The Journal will give preference to analysis of Catholic Social Thought and the dialogue with disciplines that inform Catholic Social Thought, as well as the ways in which Catholic Social Thought informs the dialogue on such issues as economic justice, the environment, human rights, and racial equality. 

While the Journal will focus on contributions arising out of the Judeo-Christian intellectual tradition, it welcomes submissions from any religious or political perspective which seeks to expand the dialogue on these important issues.

Articles that use empirical evidence to support or refute arguments and claims are welcome, although the Journal is not intended as an outlet for primarily empirical studies.