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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 allWhat 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 Reagan’s 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 issues1. Assault on political apathy

2. Commitment to humanization of life

3. Commitment to world justice

4. 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 person’s labor continues God’s 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 God’s 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 person3. Political and economic rights4. Option for the poor5. Link of love and justice6. Promotion of the common good7. Subsidiarity

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7 more

8. Political participation

9. Economic justice

10.Stewardship

11.Solidarity

12.Promotion of peace

13.Work

14.Liberation