[PDF] Rerum Novarum

social justice “The Catholic Church’s Best Kept Secret”

promotes social justice Q: What exactly is “social justice” as defined through the lens of the Catholic Church? A: If I steal your wallet, that is an injustice inflicted by one individual upon another Social justice looks beyond the single individual to focus on the social nature of all human beings and their relation to society and the

CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE - Toronto Catholic District

5 Recently within Catholic Universities there has been an expansion based in evidence research using Catholic social justice teaching as a lens Both the University of St Michael’s College at U of T and King’s College at Western have introduced studies in the area of social justice (appendix D) As well OISE at U of T established program

What does the Catholic Church say about social justice? – MSI

Social Justice The moral principles God calls society to follow to ensure that essential human needs are met and that essential human rights are protected for all people Isaiah 58: 6-7 6 Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke?

Catholic Social Teaching Scripture Guide - Catholic Church in

Catholic Social Teaching Scripture Guide Introduction Catholic social teaching has been called the Church’s “best kept secret ” Yet, from the beginning of time, God’s call to justice has been clear The Law and the Prophets both pre-serve a deep tradition of social justice in ancient Israel Jesus himself proclaimed and embodied a society

Searches related to catholic social justice documents filetype:pdf

Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition

[PDF] Catholic Social Teaching Documents - St Edward the Confessor

The Catholic Church's teachings on social justice have been formed from a rich foundation of Scripture, papal writings and encyclicals as well as episcopal

[PDF] Rerum Novarum - USCCB

Major Catholic Social Teaching Documents Activity cut-outs On the Condition of Labor (Rerum Novarum) This groundbreaking social encyclical addresses

[PDF] Catholic Social Teaching FAQs - Catholic Charities of St Paul and

Viewed one way, Catholic social teaching (hereafter CST) encompasses all the ideas and you will find within these documents all different sorts of teachings

[PDF] REFLECTION ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

social justice issues in all parts of the world, and is found primarily in numerous Church documents which remind us as other moral teachings of the Catholic

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42684_10encyclicals_descriptions.pdf MajorCatholicSocialTeachingDocumentsActivitycutͲouts

OntheConditionofLabor(RerumNovarum)

Thisgroundbreakingsocialencyclicaladdresses

thedehumanizingconditionsinwhichmany workerslaborandaffirmsworkers'rightstojust wages,rest,andfairtreatment,toformunions, andtostrikeifnecessary.PopeLeoXIIIupholds individuals'righttoholdprivatepropertybutalso notestheroleofthe stateinfacilitating distributivejusticesothatworkerscanadequately supporttheirfamiliesand somedayownproperty oftheirown.Henotesthepoor"haveaclaimto specialconsideration"(no.37).

LeoXIIIcriticizesbothcapitalismforitstendency

towardgreed,concentrationofwealth,and mistreatmentofworkers,aswellassocialism,for whatheunderstoodasarejectionofprivate propertyandanunderͲemphasisonthedignityof eachindividualperson.PeaceonEarth(PaceminTerris)

Thiswasthefirstencyclicaltobewrittento"all

menofgoodwill,"insteadofjusttheworld's

Catholics.Init,PopeJohnXXIIIliftsupamoral

orderthatshouldprevailbetweenhumans; personsandstates;andstates;andintheworld community.Heemphasizesbasichumanrightsand responsibilities,callsforanendtothearmsrace basedontrustandrespectforhumanrights,and supportsthe creationofaworldauthorityto protecttheuniversalcommongood.Healsourges theEastandWesttoenterintodialogue,asking themtosetaside"falsephilosophy"inthe interest ofaddressingimportantsocialandeconomic questions.JohnXXIIInotesboththatthearmsrace impedesthedevelopmentofsocietiesandthat underͲdevelopmentandinjusticethreatenpeace.

HeendstheencyclicalwithaprayertothePrince

ofPeace.

OnChristianityandSocialProgress(Materet

Magistra)

PopeJohnXXIIIcommentsonchanges

inrecentdecadessuchascommunication advances,increasesinworkers'rightsandsocial programs,andthedeclineofcolonialism,orthe politicaloreconomiccontrol bystrongercountries ofweakerones.Henotestheworld'sglobal interdependenceandexpressesprofoundconcern aboutthearmsraceandthegrowinginequalities betweenrichandpoornations,notingthatgains inscienceandtechnologyshouldnotleadto economicdisparitybutshouldinsteadbenefitthe commongood.JohnXXIIIalsoexpressesconcern abouttheplightofsmallfarmersandruralareas, callsforgreaterparticipationofworkers in industryandnewformsofagriculturalsupport, andnotesthatrespectforculturemustbe emphasizedintheChurch'smissionaryactivities.

Interventionbygovernmentsisneededtoaddress

globalproblems,hesays,butshouldalsorespect theprincipleofsubsidiarity(allowingthepeople closesttoaproblemtohelpresolveitwithsocial supportasneeded).Finally,heproposesthat

Christiansshouldengageinaprocessof

observing,judging,andactingtoputtheChurch's socialdoctrineintopractice.TheChurchintheModernWorld(Gaudiumet Spes)

TheSecondVaticanCouncil

(attendedbybishops fromallcornersoftheworld)focuseson respondingto"thejoysandthehopes,thegrief andtheanguishofthepeopleofourtime," especiallythepoor(no.1).TheCouncildevelopsa theologicalbasisfortheChurch'sengagementin theworld,notinghowtheChurchmustinterpret thesignsofthetimes, bothpositive(growing wealth,unity,andcommunication)andnegative (hungeranddisease,war,thewealthgap,divisions basedonnation,class,andrace,etc.)inlightofthe

Gospel.TheCouncilemphasizestheChurch's

concernforhumandignity,thesolidarityofthe humancommunity,theimportantroleofhuman workandactivityintheworld,andthe engagementoftheChurchinsocietyandthe world.Thesecondpartfocusesonmarriageand family,culturaldiversity,socialandeconomiclife, politicallife,peaceandwar,international cooperation,andtheneedforintegralhuman development,whichispersonͲcentered and includesspiritualdevelopment. MajorCatholicSocialTeachingDocumentsActivitycutͲouts

OnReconstructingtheSocialOrder

(QuadragesimoAnno)

Thisencyclical,writtentocelebratethefortieth

anniversaryofRerumNovarum,reaffirmsthe

Church'sconcernforworkersanddefends

workers'rights,includingjustwages,and condemnstheincreasingdisparitiesbetweenthe eliteandsufferingworkers.PopePiusXInotesthe needforstate interventionbutalsointroducesthe ideaof"subsidiarity,"ortheideathatweshould helpthosepeopleclosesttoaproblemtoresolve itwithsocialsupportasneeded.Heproposes reconstructionofsocietyintonewsystemsthat wouldinvolveallgroupswithinsocietyworking togetherforthegoodof all.PiusXIupholdsthe righttoprivatepropertyandalsosaysthatgoods alsohaveasocialpurposeandmustservethe wholehumanrace.Hewarnsagainstexcessive individualismaswellascollectivism, communism,andvarioustypesofsocialismthat havedeveloped.JusticeintheWorld(Justiciain

Mundo)

TheSynodofbishopswhoauthoredthisdocument

includedmanybishopsfromAsia,AfricaandLatin

America.Sensitivetotheconcernsofthe

developingworld,itnoteda"tremendous paradox"facingtheworldcontrastingthe abundanceofresourceswiththedivisionsand "crisisofsolidarity"facingtheworld(no. 7). (Solidarityisrecognitionthatweareallonehuman family.)TheSynodcallsforstructuralchangeand "liberationfromeveryoppressivesituation"facing membersofthehumanfamily.Itnotesthefailure ofdevelopment,overspendingonarmaments, environmentaldamage,thedominationofthe economicsystembywealthynations,and thelack ofaccessbypoorcountriestothosethings necessarytofulfilltheir"right"todevelopment.

Callingforsolidaritywithdevelopingnations,the

SynodwritesthatactionbytheChurch"onbehalf

ofjusticeandparticipationinthetransformation oftheworldfullyappeartousasa"constitutive," or essential,dimensionofthepreachingofthe

Gospel"(no.6).

DeclarationonReligiousFreedom(Dignitatis

Humanae)

Addressedtoallpeople,thisdeclarationbythe

SecondVaticanCouncilaffirmsthateveryhuman

personhasarighttoreligiousfreedomand shouldnotbemadetoworshipagainsttheir conscience.Thefreedomofworshipisbasedin thedignityoftheperson, hisorherdutyandright toseekthetruthandactinaccordancewithhisor herconscience,andthefactthattruefaithisonly possibleinfreedom.Freedomofreligionshould beenshrinedinlawbyallgovernments.OnEvangelizationintheModernWorld(Evangelii

Nutiandi)

PopePaul

VIarticulatesa"newevangelization"

thatlinkssocialtransformationwiththe proclamationoftheGospel.Inlightofmanysocial challenges,hecallsforanevangelizationthat transformsbothindividualbelieversandsocial structures.Evangelizationisbothpersonaland social,PaulVIwrites,andincludesthe developmentandliberationof peoplesfrom oppressivestructuresthatcausefamine,disease, andpoverty;injusticesintradeandeconomic activities;andtheoppressionofculturaland politicalcolonialism( thecontrolbystronger countriesofweakerones) . MajorCatholicSocialTeachingDocumentsActivitycutͲouts

RedeemerofMan(RedemptorHominis)

PopeJohnPaulIIexamineshumandignityand

rightsinthelightofthemysteryofredemption.

Hequestionsconsumerattitudesandmaterialism

(valuingmaterialthingsmorethanrelationship withGodandothers)thathavebecomemore common.Healsoquestionstheadequacyof currenteconomic andpoliticalstructuresto addressinjustices,notingthedegradationofthe environmentandeconomicstructuresthatlead toinequality.JohnPaulIInotestheconnection betweenviolationsofhumanrightsandwarand theneedfortrueprogressbasedonrespectfor theserights.OnHumanWork(LaboremE

Writtenontheninetiethanniversaryofthevery

firstsocialencyclical,RerumNovarum,PopeJohn

PaulIIpresentsworkasafundamentaldimension

ofhumanexistencethroughwhichtheperson achievesfulfillmentasahumanbeing.He emphasizesthedignityoflaborandnotesthat throughwork,thehuman personcanshareinthe activityoftheCreator.JohnPaulIIremindsreaders thatlaborshouldbeprioritizedovercapital - that theworkershouldbevaluedmorethanprofit.For thisreason,wemustprotecttherightsofworkers toemployment,tojustwagesandtoorganize unions,amongothers.

TheHolyFatheralsocalls

for"newmovementsofsolidarityoftheworkers andwiththeworkers"(no.8).

TheGospelofLife(EvangeliumVitae)

PopeJohnPaulIIaffirmsthegiftoflifeandthe

needtoprotectitatallstages.Heproclaimsthe goodnewsofthevalueanddignityofeachhuman lifewhiledecryingthecultureofdeathandcalling forarenewedcultureoflife.Theencyclical addressesa widerangeofoldandnewthreatsto life,especiallyabortion,euthanasia, experimentationonhumanembryos,andthe deathpenalty.JohnPaulIIarguesthatwemust bepeopleoflifewhostand" foralllifeandforthe lifeofeveryone "(no.87).Thecultureofdeath,he says,iscausedbyanoveremphasisonindividual freedomsandalackofrecognitionofrelationship withothers.Thismentality,reflectedin materialism'semphasison"having"over"being," mustbereplacedbyoneofsolidarity(recognition thatweareallonefamily)and seeinglifeasa responsibility(no.23).Thepopenotesthatthe familyisthe"sanctuaryoflife"(no.59)and connectsrespectforlifewiththeneedforsocial andeconomicpoliciesthatsupportfamiliesand integralhumandevelopmentwhichpromotesthe dignityoftheperson(no.18,81).

OnSocialConcern(SollicitudoReiSocialis)

PopeJohnPaulIIcriticizesthe"warsofproxy"

foughtaspartoftheColdWarbytheEasternand

Westernblocsindevelopingcountriesasthey

competeforinfluence,comparingthepracticeto colonialism(or thepoliticaloreconomiccontrolby strongercountriesofweakerones.Thiswas commonlypracticeduntilthe1960sand70s) .He notesthatbesidestheEastͲWestdivisions,there arenowalsoNorthͲSouthdivisions,withtherichͲ poorgapcontinuallywidening.

BuildingonthenotionofdevelopmentinOnthe

DevelopmentofPeoples,whichwaswrittentwenty

yearsprior,JohnPaulIIemphasizestheneedfor authentichuman developmentwhichvaluesbeing overhavingandwhichemphasizesthespiritual aspectsoftheperson.Hecriticizes superdevelopmentandconsumerism(putting excessivevalueonmaterialthings)asfalseforms ofdevelopment.ThePopediscussesthe environment,notingthedignityofcreationand humanity'smisuseofit.

JohnPaulIInotes

the"structuresofsin"suchas thedesireforprofitandthirstofpowerthathelp createtheevilofpovertyandthreatstolife.He callsforsolidarity(ortherecognitionthatweare onehumanfamily)betweenrichandpoornations inordertoattaintruedevelopment andpeace. MajorCatholicSocialTeachingDocumentsActivitycutͲouts

OntheDevelopmentofPeoples(Populorum

Progressio)Inresponsetotheworseningsituation

ofthepooraroundtheworld,thePopePaulVI criticizesunjusteconomicstructuresthathaveled toinequalityandunderdevelopment,including theinequalitiesofthemarketsystem,theeffects ofcolonialism,economicdominationand exploitationof poorcountriesbyrichones,and theprioritizationofmilitaryspendingandthe armsraceoverdevelopment.PaulVIchallenges thenationsoftheworldtofocusonthe"integral humandevelopment"ofthepoorestnations.This typeofdevelopmentincludesmuchmorethan economicgrowth,requiringatruecommitment tosolidarity(theideathatweareonehuman family)andgenuinelyhumanvalues.EconomicJusticeforAll

Inthispastoralletter,theCatholicbishopsofthe

UnitedStatescallfora"newAmerican

experiment"forthecommongood(no.295)in ordertoaddresseconomicissuesrelatedto poverty,employment ,foodandagriculture,and developingnations.Thebishopsarguethat economicpoliciesshouldbeevaluatedbasedon howthepoorandvulnerablearefaring.Workers, owners,stockholders,investors,andconsumers shouldallbeseenaseconomicagents,andmust playaroleinensuringthatthepersonisat the centerofeconomicdecisions.Thebishopshighlight themoralimplicationsoftheU.S.andglobal economies,anddiscusstheneedforgovernment guidancetoensurethatthefreemarketbenefits, insteadofhurts,thepoor.

ACalltoAction(OctogesimaAdveniens)

Inanapostolicletterontheeightiethanniversary

ofRerumNovarumtothenͲpresidentofthe

PontificalCommissiononJusticeandPeace

MauriceRoy,thePopePaulVIurgeslocal

churchestodevelopresponsestothesocialand economicproblemsfacingtheircommunities.He remindsChristiansoftheirdutytoparticipatein workingforsocialandpoliticalreformtopromote socialjustice.PaulVIidentifiesnewsocietal problemsrelatedtourbanization,thesituationof workers,womenandyouth,discrimination,and attitudestowardsimmigrantsfrompoorcountries andnotesthat"preferentialrespect"shouldbe giventothepoor(no.23).PaulVIurgeschanges inpoliciesonissuesaffectingthepoorsuchas trade,debt,andeconomicpolicy,andwarns againstbasingprogressoneconomicgrowth alone.Henotestheneedforpolitical participationbythepoorandthecorrectuseof politicalpower andaffirmstheroleofindividuals andlocalChristiancommunitiesinsheddingthe lightoffaithoninjusticeasawayoflivingoutthe

Gospel.CharityinTruth(Caritasin

Veritate)

PopeBenedictXVIliftsuplove,orcharity,asthe

"extraordinaryforce"thatleadspeopletofaithͲ inspiredengagementintheworld(no.1).He identifiesjusticeasthe"primarywayofcharity"and notestheobligationof"everyChristian"to"takea standforthecommongood"andworkfor institutionalchange(nos.6Ͳ7).Inthefaceofaglobal economiccrisis,PopeBenedictXVIwritesaboutthe needfor"anewvisionforthefuture"(no.21)guided bylove,truth,andsolidarity.Thesevalues,hewrites, mustinformallaspectsofeconomiclife,suchas finance, trade,andglobalization,whichmustbe humanizedandreͲorientedtothecommongood.

Businessowners,investors,andconsumersallhavea

roletoplayinguaranteeingthatbusinessesoperate tobenefitthecommongood.BenedictXVIcriticizes modernsociety'sappealtorightswithout acknowledgingcorrespondingduties,andhe emphasizestheinternationalcommunity'sduty towardsolidaritywhichshouldberealizedinmany ways,suchasattentiontotheneedsofworkersand immigrantsanddevelopmentassistancetopoor countries,whichshouldbeimplementedinaway thatprioritizesrespectforlifeandtheauthentic humandevelopmentoftheperson.The

HolyFather

linksconcernforlifewiththedutytocarefor creation,emphasizingenvironmentalconcernmore thaninanypastencyclical. MajorCatholicSocialTeachingDocumentsActivitycutͲouts

GodisLove(DeusCaritasEst)

PopeBenedictXVIwritesthatthehuman

person'sabilitytoloveisrootedintheFather's loveforhumankindandtheperson'sidentityas createdintheimageofGod.God'slovemanifests itselfinChrist,whogivesofhimselffreelyforthe salvation ofhumankind.Thecalltoloveneighbor flowsfromGod'sloveforhumanity.BenedictXVI locatesloveforthepooratthecenterofCatholic life,notingthatthe"exerciseofcharity"isoneof theChurch'sthree"essentialactivities,alongwith theadministrationofthesacramentsandthe proclamationof theword"(no.22).TheHoly

FatherwritesthattheChurchmustformthe

consciencesofthelaitysothattheycanworkfor ajustorderingofsociety.Theirpoliticalactivity shouldbelivedas"socialcharity,"infusedwith thelightoffaithandlove(no.29).Onthe

HundredthYear(CentesimusAnnus)

PopeJohnPaulIIwritestorecognizethehundreth

anniversaryofRerumNovarum,alandmark documentaboutthedignityofworktherightsof workerswhichinfluencedmanyfuturedocuments.

ThePopeexaminesthefallofcommunism,

broughtaboutbythestrugglesofworkersand the inefficienteconomicsystemthatfailedtoprotect humanrights,privateproperty,andeconomic freedom.Atthesametime,JohnPaulIIpointsto theadvantagesandsometimeslimitationsofthe market,whichsometimesdonotadequately respondtohumanneedsandcanprioritizeprofit attheexpenseofthedignity ofthehumanperson.

JohnPaulIIalsorestatesthemesofPopeLeoXIII's

encyclicalandcallsforajustsocietybasedonthe rightsofworkers,economicinitiative,and participation.

TheChallengeofPeace

ThispastoralletterfromtheCatholicbishopsof

theUnitedStatesbeginswithadiscussionfrom scriptureandtraditionaboutwarandpeacethen offerstwoChristianresponsestowar:justwar andnonviolence.Thebishopsdescribenumerous conditionsthatmustbepresentinorderfor awar tobeconsideredjust.Theybishopscondemnthe useofnuclearweaponsagainstcivilian populations,thedeliberateinitiationofnuclear warfare,andthearmsrace,andnotethatnuclear deterrenceisonlytobeusedasasteptoward progressivedisarmament.Finally,thebishopscall forthe

Churchtobeinvolvedineffortsforpeace.

This resource is excerpted from the Caritas in Veritate youth resource for Catholics Confront Global Poverty, a joint

initiative of USCCB and Catholic Relief Services. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/globalpoverty