Catholic
Social
Teaching
An Introduction
Catholic Social
Teaching
What Is It?
• the Catholic Church’s best
kept secret. (Fr. Peter Henriot)
• Sometimes known as CSD or
Catholic Social Doctrine.
Catholic Social
Teaching
CST in the Early
th
20 Century
• Object of intense interest and
study in Europe and North
America.
• Inspires to think and act for social
change.
• Became an essential element in
changing the Church.
• Inspires Catholics to work for
societal change
Catholic Social
Teaching
Origin of CST
• Started as a circular letter.
• In mid 18th century,
encyclicals now became
official papal letters.
• NOW, it become the
Church’s institutional
response to the social
problems
• Ubi Primum, the 1st Social
Catholic Social
Teaching
Characteristic of
CST
In CST, there are values that
are constantly defended such
as human dignity, sanctity of
life, dignity of labor,
participation, etc.
Catholic Social
Teaching
But how each of these values
are defended, promoted and
enhanced in new situations
depends on the ever growing
knowledge of the world, human
society and what it means to be
human as history unfolds.
Catholic Social
Teaching
Sources of CST
Sacred Scripture is the very first
source of Catholic social teaching and
the first place we discover human
beings who believe in God becoming
aware of and responding to social
problems.
•
•
•
•
Old Testament
The 4 Gospels
The Acts of the Apostles
The Epistles
Catholic Social
Sacred Tradition of reflection,
Teaching
discussions and teachings about the
meaning of the social order, peace and
justice that paved the way for the
Church’s current social documents
• began with Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum
and goes back to the teachings and reflection
of the “Father of the Church”(Clement of
Alexandria, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom,
Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, Jerome
and the Scholastics of the medieval period of
which St. Thomas Aquinas belongs.
Catholic Social
Teaching
Reason: when it comes to its social
teachings, the Church consistently
used the careful rational analyses of
the social sciences dealing with
current social problems, but always
within the distinctive moral
perspective of Christian faith.
Catholic Social
Teaching
Human Experience has come to be
understood primarily as the process
through which the Church reads and
interprets “the signs of the times.”
Reading the signs of the times refers
to the process or intelligible method
for coming to a thorough
understanding of the situation. .
Catholic Social
Teaching
A BRIEF HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW OF THE
EVENTS leading to the
20th Century
Formulation of Catholic
Social Thought
ISSUES
Catholic Social
Teaching
•
•
•
•
•
1. The Commercial
Revolution and the
Fifteenth Sixteenth
Centuries
Trade Monopoly
by Italian cities
Establishment of commercial ties
Use of common currency (ducat and florins)
Use of compass
BUT trading, shipping and mining not only
created new wealth but also new social
problems.
• Missions to newly discovered nations
now motivated by greed.
• Slavery, stealing from IPs became
rampant.
Catholic Social
Teaching
2. The Intellectual
Revolution and the
Enlightenment
Monarchial rule
•
• Protestant Revolution
• Broke the unity of the Christian church.
• Abolished Papal lordship[
• Forstered nationalism
• Supports the rise of monarchy.
• Intellectual Revolution
• Discovery of new knowledge from
other countries
• Era of science and philosophy
Catholic Social
Teaching
2. The Intellectual Revolution
and the Enlightenment
• Monarchial rule
• Protestant Revolution
• Intellectual Revolution
• Enlightenment
Basic Concepts
• Reason is the unique guide to obtaining
wisdom.
• Inflexible laws guide the universe.
• Natural society is the best.
• There is no such thing as original sin.
Humanity is basically good.
Catholic Social
Teaching
3. The Industrial
Revolution
• Main characteristics of IR?
• Establishments of Banks
• Famous government: Britain
4. Adam Smith
• Published Nature and causes of the Wealth
of Nations.
• Agriculture – real source of wealth.
• State: prevent injustice and oppression,
promote advance education, protect public
health.
• Maintain necessary enterprise.
Catholic Social 5. The Marxist
Socialists
Teaching
• Karl Marx?
•
•
•
•
A Jew
Doctor of Philo
A Journalist
Friend of Friedrich Engels.
• Marx Theory
• Every fundamental historical
development, regardless of its character
on the surface, has been the result of
alterations in methods of producing and
exchanging goods.
• Dialectical materialism
• Class struggle
• Doctrine of surplus value
Catholic Social 6. The Christian
Socialists
Teaching
• Robert de Lamennais – Founder
• wanted the Christian religion to be an
aid in reforming society and bringing
about social justice.
• applied Jesus’ teachings to the
problems created by the Industrial
Revolution.
Catholic Social
Teaching
THE 19TH CENTURY
ORIGINS OF THE
SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS
AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS
ON SOCIAL ISSUES
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
A. Leo XIII: Rerum Novarum, 1891
 Of New Things; On Capital and Condition of
labour.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
A. Leo XIII: Rerum Novarum, 1891
 Of New Things; On Capital and Condition of
labour.
condemns the socialist solution to the poverty
of the workers
insists that the state should intervene when
necessary to protect the weak and reform unjust
institutions.
insists on a living wage for workers and their
families.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
A. Leo XIII: Rerum Novarum, 1891
 teaches that workers have the natural and Godgiven right to organize
insists that the state must protect the right of
people to create organizations because that
natural right of human beings to organize
themselves for their mutual profit is the very basis
of the state itself
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
B. Pius XI: Quadragesimo Anno, 1931
• “In the 40th Year”; On the Reconstruction of the
Social Order
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
B. Pius XI: Quadragesimo Anno, 1931
• “In the 40th Year”; On the Reconstruction of the
Social Order
• usually did a “re-reading” of Rerum Novarum
• insisted on the need for private property
• A just division of private property was always a
social goal
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
C. John XXIII: Mater et Magistra, 1961
• “Mother and Teacher of all Nations”; Christianity
and Social Progress
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
C. John XXIII: Mater et Magistra, 1961
• “Mother and Teacher of all Nations”; Christianity
and Social Progress
• A time of “Transition”
• used the word “socialization” which brings with it
many advantages with respect to consolidating
and increasing the qualities of the human person
and safeguarding his rights.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
C. John XXIII: Mater et Magistra, 1961
• companies must give workers more education and
a way to participate in establishing the work
process.
• pushed for workers to become owners of the
means of production by receiving a part of their
salary in the form of company stocks .
• insisted on the SEE-JUDGE-ACT method as a way for
young people to be balanced in their approach to
work and life issues
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
D. John XXIII: Pacem in Terris, 1963
• “Peace on Earth”; Rights and Obligations of
individuals and of the state, as well as the proper
relations between states.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
D. John XXIII: Pacem in Terris, 1963
• “Peace on Earth”; Rights and Obligations of
individuals and of the state, as well as the proper
relations between states
• Focus on human rights as basis for peace
• Calls for disarmament
• States need for world-wide institution to
promote and safeguard universal common good
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
E. John XXIII: Gaudium et Spes, 1965
• “Joy and Hope”; On the Church in the Modern
World
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
E. John XXIII: Gaudium et Spes, 1965
• “Joy and Hope”; On the Church in the Modern
World
• Human beings participate in God’s continuing
work of creation and contribute to carrying out
His plan.
• Condemns poverty
• Warns about threat of nuclear war
• Build structures to uphold justice and peace
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
F. Paul VI: Populorum Progressio, 1967
• “The Development of Peoples”; The need to
promote the Development of All.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
F. Paul VI: Populorum Progressio, 1967
• “The Development of Peoples”; The need to
promote the Development of All.
• Human Development – “the new name for
peace”
• Condemns situations contributing to global
underdevelopment and poverty
• Calls for new international organisations and
agreements to promote justice and peace
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
G. Paul VI: Humanae Vitae, 1968
• “Of Human Life”; On the Regulation of Birth
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
G. Paul VI: Humanae Vitae, 1968
• “Of Human Life”; On the Regulation of Birth
• God is the Author of Life, and the Lives He Creates
are Sacred
• Procreation is the Heart of Marriage.
• Openness to Procreation Affirms the Dignity of
Woman.
• This Does Not Mean It Is Always God’s Will for a
Couple to Conceive.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
G. Paul VI: Humanae Vitae, 1968
• Couples may take advantage of the infertile
periods provided by God to temporarily avoid
conception.
• Artificial Birth Control Is a Recipe for Cultural
Disaster.
• Change the Culture, Instead of Ignoring the Moral
Law That “Doesn’t Fit” Our Culture.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
H. Paul VI: Octogesima Adveniens, 1971
• 80th Year Anniversary: On Challenges of Post
Industrial society
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
H. Paul VI: Octogesima Adveniens, 1971
• 80th Year Anniversary: On Challenges of Post
Industrial society
• Despite the growth of urban areas, many
people are not able to satisfy their primary
needs, while non-essential needs are created.
•
The weak become victims of dehumanizing
living conditions.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
H. Paul VI: Octogesima Adveniens, 1971
• Calls on Christians to participate in social and
political reform as a way of discovering the truth
and living out the gospel.
• Christians must make a wise choice in
accordance with his/her faith and avoid the
danger of group selfishness and oppressive
totalitarianism.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
H. Paul VI: Octogesima Adveniens, 1971
• Christians have the task to inspire and help
evolve structures to meet the real needs of
today.
• Christian organizations have a responsibility
for collective action for transforming society.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
I. Paul VI: Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975
• “Evangelization in the Modern World”
• Issues: Rising atheistic secularism, consumerism, growing
consciousness of evil of oppression.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
I. Paul VI: Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975
• “Evangelization in the Modern World”
• Issues: Rising atheistic secularism, consumerism,
growing consciousness of evil of oppression.
• Teaches “evangelization” as the church deepest
identity.
•
•
•
•
She exists in order to evangelize.
She is born of the evangelization of Christ and the Apostles.
Christ is the evangelizer; he sends the church and the church
continues his mission by continually sending out men and women
into the world.
The church and her mission are inseparable from Christ and his
mission.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
I. Paul VI: Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975
• Evangelization must take into consideration the
people, their language, sign and symbol
• The Holy Father is entrusted with the preeminent ministry of
teaching the revealed truth
• The Bishops and priests as teachers of faith received through their
ordination the authority to teach the revealed truth
• The Religious by their lives are sign of total availability to God, the
church and the brethren
• The Laity on their part must exercise a special form of
evangelization, since they are involve in the daily social, political,
economic life, they are to help in spreading the good news more
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
J. John Paul II: Laborem Exercens, 1981
• “On Human Work”; a sustained Reflection on the
meaning of work.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
J. John Paul II: Laborem Exercens, 1981
• “On Human Work”; a sustained Reflection on the
meaning of work.
• Human beings are workers physically or
intellectually.
• Labor must have priority over capital
• Affirms dignity of work and of the worker: Persons
being more precious for what they are than what
they have.
• Affirms rights of labour and calls for workplace
justice
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
K. John Paul II: Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 1987
• “The Social Concern”; On the Social Concern of
the Church; Populorum Progressio update
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
K. John Paul II: Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 1987
• “The Social Concern”; On the Social Concern of
the Church; Populorum Progressio update
• “Option for the Poor”
• Develops notions of ‘solidarity’, ‘structures of sin’
and ‘social mortgage on property’
• Suggests resources for arms race be used to
alleviate human misery
• Nature must be considered in development
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
L. John Paul II: Centessimus Annus, 1991
• “One hundredth Year”; On the Centenary
Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
L. John Paul II: Centessimus Annus, 1991
• “One hundredth Year”; On the Centenary
Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
• Human labor is viewed only on the basis of its
economic purpose.
• Priority of labor over capital decisions based on
profits
• Many person work under unacceptable
employment conditions.
• Unemployment and underemployment on the rise.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
M. John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae, 1995
• “The Gospel of Life”; On the value and inviolability
of Human Life.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
M. John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae, 1995
• “The Gospel of Life”; On the value and inviolability
of Human Life.
• Condemnation of the ‘culture of death’ where
individual freedom is placed before the rights of
others to life.
• Presents positive images of the promotion of a
‘culture of life’ where human freedom finds its
authentic meaning.
• Culture of the family is the ‘sanctuary of life’.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
N. Benedict XVI: Caritas In Veritate, 2009
• “Love in Truth”; Integral Human Development in
Charity and Truth
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
N. Benedict XVI: Caritas In Veritate, 2009
• “Love in Truth”; Integral Human Development in
Charity and Truth
• Concerns: global poverty, injustice and the arms
race.
• Charity is a form of love that should support the
common good.
• Human dignity needs to be uplifted in multiple
ways.
• Development must respect life and overcome
oppressive poverty.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
N. Benedict XVI: Caritas In Veritate, 2009
• Economic development will improve civil society.
• Duties exist for the development of people and
the environment.
• Humanity needs to work together like a healthy,
functioning family unit.
• Technology should be used as a tool for good,
keeping people first.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
O. Francis: Evangelii Gaudium, 2013
• “The Joy of the Gospel”; On the Proclamation of
The Gospel in todays world.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
O. Francis: Evangelii Gaudium, 2013
• “The Joy of the Gospel”; On the Proclamation of
The Gospel in todays world.
• ‘Social dimension of Evangelization’.
• Everyone Needs to Proclaim the Good News
• Talks about social problems - characterised as the
‘crisis of communal commitment’
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
O. Francis: Evangelii Gaudium, 2013
• Challenges in the Market - the economy of
exclusion, inner city life, spiritual worldliness and
consumerism, among other things.
•
We Need Better Homilies and a More Evangelizing
Catechesis
•
Love of God Necessitates Love of Neighbor
•
We Need to Work for a Peace Based on the Common
Good of All
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
P. Francis: Laudato Si, 2015
• “Praise be to You”; On Care for our Common Home.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
P. Francis: Laudato Si, 2015
• “Praise be to You”; On Care for our Common Home.
• The spiritual perspective is now part of the
discussion on the environment.
• The poor are disproportionately affected by climate
change.
• Less is more.
• Catholic social teaching now includes teaching on
the environment.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
P. Francis: Laudato Si, 2015
• Everything is connected—including the economy.
•
Scientific research on the environment is to be
praised and used.
• Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen
environmental problems.
• A change of heart is required
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
Q. Francis: Amoris Laetitia, 2016
• “The Joy of Love”; On Love in the Family
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
Q. Francis: Amoris Laetitia, 2016
• “The Joy of Love”; On Love in the Family
• The church needs to understand families and
individuals in all their complexity.
• Divorced and remarried Catholics need to be more
fully integrated into the church.
• All members of the family need to be encouraged to
live good Christian lives.
THE 19TH CENTURY ORIGINS OF THE SOCIAL
ENCYCLICALS AND OTHER PAPAL
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL ISSUES
Q. Francis: Amoris Laetitia, 2016
• We should no longer talk about people “living in
sin.”
• Traditional teachings on marriage are affirmed, but
the church should not burden people with
unrealistic expectations
• Children must be educated in sex and sexuality.
• Gay men and women should be respected.
• All are welcome.
FIN