Catholic Social Teaching

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Catholic Social Teaching

• IS 220

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• Taken from Our Best Kept Secret by
• Henriot S.J., DeBerri, S.J., and Schultheis S.J.

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Some essay titles

• 1891 - The condition of labor
• 1931 - The reconstruction of the social order
• 1963 - Peace on earth
• 1967 - The development of peoples
• 1971 - Justice in the world
• 1981 - On human labor
• 1986 - Economic justice for all
• What are these??

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History and Origins

• Popes issue encyclicals on important issues
• They are not focused on religion, but are used
  widely
• The first encyclical was issued in 1891
• Since then there have been several
• They are designed as pastoral letters

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Some important ones

• The Condition of Labor Pope Leo XIII, 1891
• The Challenge of Peace Peace on Earth 1963
  Pope John XXIII
• Economic Justice for all CST and the U.S.
  Economy Progress of People 1967
• Justice in the World 1971 US Bishops
• On Human Labor 1971 Pope John Paul II
• On Human Work Pope John Paul II, 1981

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Why?

• Shows historical link to contemporary issues
• Shows use of documents in US and Developing World

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Evolving Social Message

• 1891 Rerum Novarum (The Condition of Labor)
  Pope Leo XIII
• 3 factors of economic life workers, property and
  state
• Just and equitable interrelationship of 3
• Known as Magna Carta of human and social order

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Evolving

• 1931 Pius XI Quadragesimo Anno The
  Reconstruction of the Social Order
• Written during the great depression
• Condemned capitalism and unregulated competition,
  but also Communism for promoting class struggle.
• Pointed out the positive role of government in
  promoting good of all people

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continued

• 1961 Pope John XXIII Mater et Magistra
  Christianity and Social Progress
• 1963 Pacem in Terris Peace on earth
• Both are social letters, guide to Christians and
  policy makers to address the gap between rich and
  poor nations, and threats to world peace
• Stressed right to work, and to just wage
• Confirmed UN Declaration of Human Rights

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Gathering of World Church

• 1962 Vatican Council sensitive to diversity
• World threatened by Nuclear War
• 1965 Gaudium et Spes The Church in the Modern
  World
• Reaffirmed church role in the structure of human
  community
• On religious freedom

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After Vatican II

• Church acknowledged despite its universality, it
  lacks immediate solutions to complex problems, or
  universally valid societal solutions
• 1967 Paul VI Populorum Progressio The
  Development of Peoples
• Response to world's poor and hungry
• Addressed dimensions of global injustice
• Appealed to rich and poor nations to work
  together in spirit of solidarity to establish
  order

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continued

• 1971 a Call to Action Paul VI
• Acknowledged difficulties in establishing social
  order encouraged Christian communities to
  analyze and develop local solutions be hearers
  and doers
• Bishops Synod called for action on behalf of
  justice and liberation from every oppression

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More

• 1975 evangelization and the modern world
• Work is incomplete without attention to
• Human rights, family life, peace, justice
• Liberation must be proclaimed
• 1979 John Paul II Redemptor Hominis
• Challenged disrespect of the environment and
  uncritical acceptance of technological advance

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more

• 1981 On Human Work John Paul II
• Priority of labor over capital is central to just
  society
• Criticized economism which would reduce humans
  to mere instruments of production
• Emphasized greater worldwide solidarity for
  justice
• Critique of liberal capitalism and warned against
  collectivist socialism

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more

• 1990 Redemptoris Missio John Paul II
• Take courageous action against corruption of
  political or economic power, in order to serve
  the poorest of the poor
• 1991 Centessimus Annus 100 years since 1st
  encyclical
• Emphasized justice as in Latin American Bishops
  letter (1979), 1981 African Bishops, and 1974
  Asian Bishops
• Stressed speaking out for justice
• Dialogue with the poor on justice and oppression

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more

• Peace, justice and politics
• 1979 US bishops on racism
• 1983 on peace
• 1986 on economic justice
• 1986 on mission
• All based on CST

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more

• 1979 racism is an evil that violates human
  dignity
• 1983 John XXIII controversial because it
  challenged Reagans defense policy of nuclear
  deterrence and SDI
• Emphasized just war theory, and non-violence
• Stirred public debate over defense policies

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more

• 1986 encyclical addressed unemployment, poverty,
  agriculture, and global interdependence
• Also option for the poor was restated by linking
  peace and justice plight of 3rd world
  development harmed by superpower influence

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Shifting Social Approach

• Problems and issues in 1891 were different from
  those in 1991
• Encyclicals reflect those shifting issues
• Assault on political apathy
• Commitment to humanization of life
• Commitment to world justice
• Preferential option for the poor

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Assault on political apathy

• Rejects private admonition (as in WWII)
• Labels politics as a vocation aimed at
  transformation of society

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Commitment to humanization of life

• Each persons labor continues Gods work
• Develop respect for autonomy for secular world

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Commitment to world justice

• Urged justice between all levels
• Most important for rich towards poor nations

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Preferential option for the poor

• See Gods face in those of suffering and wounded
• Identify with the poor
• Originated with Latin American Bishops
• Had influence on economic pastoral letter

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14 Major Lessons

1. Link religious and social dimensions of life
2. Dignity of the human person
3. Political and economic rights
4. Option for the poor
5. Link of love and justice
6. Promotion of the common good
7. Subsidiarity

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7 more

1. Political participation
2. Economic justice
3. Stewardship
4. Solidarity
5. Promotion of peace
6. Work
7. Liberation