Catholic Social Teaching A Key to Catholic Identity Presented by Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Developed by the Office of Justice and Peace.

Catholic Social Catholic Social TeachingTeachingCatholic Social Catholic Social TeachingTeachingA Key to Catholic IdentityA Key to Catholic IdentityA Key to Catholic IdentityA Key to Catholic Identity

Presented by Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Developed by the Office of Justice and PeaceArchdiocese of Los Angeles

with grateful appreciation to the Office for Social Justice, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and

Workshop OverviewWorkshop Overview

By the end of this workshop, you willBy the end of this workshop, you will

learn about:learn about: The distinction between charity and justiceThe distinction between charity and justice The Biblical foundations of social justice The Biblical foundations of social justice Social justice in the Catholic traditionSocial justice in the Catholic tradition Major Themes in Catholic Social TeachingMajor Themes in Catholic Social Teaching Where to find resources and the steps to take Where to find resources and the steps to take

to initiate a social justice ministry in your to initiate a social justice ministry in your parishparish

The ProblemThe Problem““Far too many Catholics are unfamiliar with the Far too many Catholics are unfamiliar with the basic content of Catholic social teaching. More basic content of Catholic social teaching. More fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately understand that the social mission of the Church understand that the social mission of the Church is an essential part of Catholic faith. is an essential part of Catholic faith.

This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics, This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics, since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to do more to share the social mission and message do more to share the social mission and message of our Church.”of our Church.”

Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and DirectionsSharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions

U.S. Bishops, 1998U.S. Bishops, 1998

Source: Poverty and FaithJustice: An Adult Education Program, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, USCCB

Catholic Social Catholic Social TeachingTeaching

Rooted in the BibleRooted in the Bible

Continually developed in Catholic TraditionContinually developed in Catholic Tradition

-- See, judge, act -- See, judge, act

“ “The hottest place in hell is reserved for those The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” conflict.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Community,State of Blessing

Become Owners

Forget thePoor

ForgetYahweh

Create Other Gods

SelfDestruction

Prophets:The Poor

Kill theProphets

Cry out forDeliverance

Restoration

Cycle of BaalCycle of Baal

From “Doing FaithJustice” by Fred Kammer, S.J.

Biblical themes of Biblical themes of justicejustice

Creation Creation Covenant relationship Covenant relationship CommunityCommunity Anawim -- "the widows, orphans and aliens”Anawim -- "the widows, orphans and aliens” The example of Jesus – reign of God, healingThe example of Jesus – reign of God, healing

In biblical faith, the doing of justice is the primary expectation of Yahweh.

Walter Brueggeman

Constitutive Elements of Constitutive Elements of ChurchChurch

Word — Word — Scripture, hearing the Good Scripture, hearing the Good News, religious education, etc.News, religious education, etc.

Worship – Worship – sacraments, worship, prayer sacraments, worship, prayer life, etc.life, etc.

World — World — social mission of the Church, social mission of the Church, action for social justice, etc.action for social justice, etc.

Modern Catholic Social TeachingModern Catholic Social Teaching

18911891 Rerum Novarum: The Condition of LaborRerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor Leo XIIILeo XIII

19311931 Quadragesimo Anno: After 40 YearsQuadragesimo Anno: After 40 Years Pius XIPius XI

19611961 Mater et Magistra: Christianity & Social ProgressMater et Magistra: Christianity & Social Progress John XXIIIJohn XXIII

19631963 Pacem in Terris: Peace on EarthPacem in Terris: Peace on Earth John XXIIIJohn XXIII

19651965 Gaudium et Spes: Church in the Modern WorldGaudium et Spes: Church in the Modern World Vatican IIVatican II

19671967 Populorum Progressio: Development of PeoplesPopulorum Progressio: Development of Peoples Paul VIPaul VI

19711971 Octogesima Adveniens: Call to ActionOctogesima Adveniens: Call to Action Paul VIPaul VI

19711971 Justice in the WorldJustice in the World Bishops’ SynodBishops’ Synod

19751975 Evangelii Nuntiandi: Evangelization in the Mod. WorldEvangelii Nuntiandi: Evangelization in the Mod. World Paul VIPaul VI

19811981 Laborem Exercens: On Human WorkLaborem Exercens: On Human Work John Paul IIJohn Paul II

19831983 Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise & Our ResponseChallenge of Peace: God’s Promise & Our Response US BishopsUS Bishops

19861986 Economic Justice For AllEconomic Justice For All US BishopsUS Bishops

19871987 Sollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social ConcernSollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social Concern John Paul IIJohn Paul II

19911991 Centesimus Annus: On the Hundredth AnniversaryCentesimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary John Paul IIJohn Paul II

Social ActionSocial ActionVatican II’s EcclesiologyVatican II’s Ecclesiology

The Church is a sign and a safeguard The Church is a sign and a safeguard of the dignity of the human person.of the dignity of the human person.

A religious organization whose purpose it is to A religious organization whose purpose it is to help bring about the reign of God in history.help bring about the reign of God in history.

The social mission is “constitutive” The social mission is “constitutive” not extra-curricular or optional.not extra-curricular or optional.

Vatican IIVatican II

““This split between the faith which many This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of counted among the more serious errors of our age. our age.

Long since, the Prophets of the Old Long since, the Prophets of the Old Testament fought vehemently against this Testament fought vehemently against this scandal and even more so did Jesus Christ scandal and even more so did Jesus Christ Himself in the New Testament threaten it Himself in the New Testament threaten it with grave punishments.” with grave punishments.”

Vatican II, Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World #43, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World #43, 19651965

Justice in the World, 1971 SynodJustice in the World, 1971 Synod

““Action on behalf of justice and Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church's mission for the words, of the Church's mission for the redemption of the human race and its redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive liberation from every oppressive situation.” (#6)situation.” (#6)

Individual IndividualCommutative (Contractual)

Dis

trib

utiv

e Contributive

SocietySociety

Major Themes from Major Themes from Catholic Social TeachingCatholic Social Teaching

1.1. Human dignityHuman dignity2.2. Community/Common GoodCommunity/Common Good3.3. Rights and dutiesRights and duties4.4. Option for the poorOption for the poor5.5. Participation Participation 6.6. Economic JusticeEconomic Justice7.7. Stewardship of CreationStewardship of Creation8.8. SolidaritySolidarity9.9. Promotion of PeacePromotion of Peace10.10. Role of GovernmentRole of Government

1. Human dignity1. Human dignity

The person is sacred, made in the image of The person is sacred, made in the image of God.God.

““The case for a consistent ethic of life—one which stands for The case for a consistent ethic of life—one which stands for the protection of the right to life and the promotion of the the protection of the right to life and the promotion of the rights which enhance life from womb to tomb—manifests the rights which enhance life from womb to tomb—manifests the positive potential of the Catholic moral and social tradition.” positive potential of the Catholic moral and social tradition.”

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, William Wade Lecture Series, St. Louis Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, William Wade Lecture Series, St. Louis University, 1984University, 1984

2. 2. Community / Common Community / Common Good Good The social nature of the human The social nature of the human personperson

““The fact that human beings are social by The fact that human beings are social by nature indicates that the betterment of the nature indicates that the betterment of the person and the improvement of society person and the improvement of society depend on each other.…humanity by its depend on each other.…humanity by its very nature stands completely in need of very nature stands completely in need of life in society.”life in society.”

Vatican II, Vatican II, The Church in the Modern World #25, 1965The Church in the Modern World #25, 1965

“Every man for himself,” said the elephant as he danced among the chickens.

Charles Dickens

3. Rights and duties3. Rights and duties

Civil/politicalCivil/political

Economic/socialEconomic/social

Every person has a right to the basic materialEvery person has a right to the basic material

necessities that are required to live a decent life.necessities that are required to live a decent life.

4. Option for the Poor4. Option for the Poor

Remember the “widows, orphans, and Remember the “widows, orphans, and aliens.”aliens.”

A necessary element of the common good.A necessary element of the common good.

“When I feed the poor, they call me a saint.

When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.”

Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil

5. Participation5. Participation

All people have a right to All people have a right to a minimum level of participation a minimum level of participation in the economic, political, and in the economic, political, and cultural life of society.cultural life of society.

6. Economic Justice6. Economic Justice

The economy must serve people, not the other The economy must serve people, not the other way around. People are more important than way around. People are more important than things; labor is more important than capital. things; labor is more important than capital.

All workers have a right to productive work, to All workers have a right to productive work, to decent wages, to safe working conditions; and decent wages, to safe working conditions; and they have a right to organize and join unions.they have a right to organize and join unions.

People have a right to economic initiative and People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limits. private property, but these rights have limits. No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life.when others lack the basic necessities of life.

7. Stewardship of 7. Stewardship of CreationCreation

The goods of the earth are gifts. The goods of the earth are gifts. We hold them in trust, as stewards.We hold them in trust, as stewards.

“God destined the earth and all it contains for all people and nations so that all created things would be shared fairly by all humankind under the guidance of justice tempered by charity.”

Vatican II, Church in the Modern World #69, 1965

8. The Virtue of Solidarity8. The Virtue of Solidarity

““Sacred Scripture continually speaks to Sacred Scripture continually speaks to us of an active commitment to our us of an active commitment to our neighbor and demands of us a shared neighbor and demands of us a shared responsibility for all humanity. This duty responsibility for all humanity. This duty is not limited to one’s own family, nation is not limited to one’s own family, nation or state, but extends progressively to or state, but extends progressively to all...so no one can consider himself or all...so no one can consider himself or herself extraneous or indifferent to the herself extraneous or indifferent to the lot of another member of the human lot of another member of the human family.”family.”

Pope John Paul II, Pope John Paul II, The Hundredth Year, 1991, #51.The Hundredth Year, 1991, #51.

9. Promotion of Peace9. Promotion of Peace

Peace is not just the absence of Peace is not just the absence of warwar

““If you want peace, work for If you want peace, work for justice.”justice.”

Pope Paul VI,Pope Paul VI, World Day of Peace Message, World Day of Peace Message, 19721972

10. Role of Government10. Role of Government

The state has a positive moral function.The state has a positive moral function.It is an instrument to promote human It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build dignity, protect human rights, and build

the common goodthe common good

SubsidiaritySubsidiarity As small as possibleAs small as possible As big as necessaryAs big as necessary

Society

Public Order

•Public Peace

•Basic Rights

•Public Morality

•Freedom

Common Good

Politics

State

Separation of Church and State

How the Church Engages inHow the Church Engages inPolitical Action Political Action

We do not take positions for or We do not take positions for or against particular parties or individual against particular parties or individual candidatescandidates

Catholic voters are expected to Catholic voters are expected to examine the positions of the examine the positions of the candidates on the full range of issuescandidates on the full range of issues

Moral principles vs. their applicationMoral principles vs. their application

ResourcesResourcesOffice of Justice and Peace Office of Justice and Peace

http://www.archdiocese.la/ministry/justice/peace/index.phphttp://www.archdiocese.la/ministry/justice/peace/index.php

Catholic Campaign for Human Development Catholic Campaign for Human Development www.povertyusa.orgwww.povertyusa.org

Catholic Relief ServicesCatholic Relief Serviceswww.catholicrelief.orgwww.catholicrelief.org

Justice for ImmigrantsJustice for Immigrantswww.justiceforimmigrants.orgwww.justiceforimmigrants.org

Faithful Citizenship Faithful Citizenship www.usccb.orgwww.usccb.org

JustFaith JustFaith www.justfaith.orgwww.justfaith.org

Pax Christi Pax Christi www.paxchristiusa.orgwww.paxchristiusa.org