2.2: nature of social teachings of the church Flashcards
the nature of social teachings
(1) emphasis on the human person as imago dei
(2) celebrates humanity and our interconnectedness
(3) promotion of justice according to god’s plan
affirms that humanity is cental to god’s plan
mystery of incarnation and paschal mystery of christ
Church’s understanding of human dignity - is the conviction that the human person occupies a central role in the creation of God, and that the human person is the only creature that is created in the image and likeness of God, and is the only creature that has the capacity for God
The Human Person as the Image of God
Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel is Yahweh’s own initiative and gift which is even beyond what humanity deserves
Celebrating our Shared Humanity, Our Human Interconnectedness
an expression of Yahweh’s willingness to reach out to His people
covenant
the covenant is an expression of Yahweh’s
willingness to reach out to His people
God destined the earth and all it contains for all men and peoples so that all created things would be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of justice
CCC, 165
Toward a Just and Humane Society according to God’s Plan
The principle of the Universal Destination of Goods is an invitation to develop an economic vision inspired by moral values that permit people not to lose sight of the origin or purpose of these goods, so as to bring about fairness and solidarity
Toward a Just and Humane Society according to God’s Plan
“The distribution of created goods, which, as every discerning person knows, is labouring today under the gravest evils due to the huge disparity between the few exceedingly rich and the unnumbered property less, must be effectively called back to and brought into conformity with the norms of the common good, that is, social justice. This then prompts the Church to call for a more just distribution of the world’s wealth”
Pope Pius XI (CSDC 171)
most identifying value of the Church’s social teaching.
Love
it is what makes us uniquely Christians
love
In the Church’s perspective, love as a value is “the highest and universal criterion of the whole of social ethics.” what csdc
CSDC, 171
the highest and universal criterion of the whole of social ethics.
love
From the inner wellspring of love the values of truth, freedom, and justice are born and grow. Love is what makes us able to see the other as a friend, as another self, so that the needs and requirements of others seem as one’s own.”
what csdc
(CSDC, 205)
presupposes and transcends justice
love
T/F: Without justice, there is no love. Without justice, love does not survive
Truee
prerequisite of love
justice
However, a world with justice but without love is equally as bad or worse. Human relationships cannot be governed solely by the measure of justice. The prophet Malachi tells us that God requires more than doing justice. He requires us to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him
Malachi 3:3
extreme justice is the greatest injustice,” or an “extreme justice is an extreme wrong
Summum ius, summa iniuria
to take love, which is the form of the virtues, and to socialize it or institutionalize it into social and political charity. This task is the modern challenge of our time.
who?
St. Thomas mentions in his Summa Theologiae
Social charity makes us love the common good. It makes us effectively see the good of all people, considered not only as individuals or private persons but also in the social dimension that unites them.
(CSDC, 207)
Social and political charity is not exhausted in relationships between individuals, but extends to the network formed by communal relationships, which is precisely the social and political community; it intervenes in this context seeking the greatest good for the community in its entirety.
CSDC?
(CSDC, 208)
what is the three main ideas of separation
- the state has no official religion
- the state should not discriminate any religion
- church should not control or dominate any religious group, police, or armed unit of the state
In order to respect the autonomy of the Church, the State shall not
establish one religion as the religion of the State
shall not favor one religion over the other.
In order to respect the autonomy of the State, the Church prohibits
its ministers and priests to run for public office or, if they do, they should resign from their ministry as priests
Church “cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.”
Benedict CVI, Deus Caritas est)
The Church has the right and the duty “to teach her social doctrine, to exercise her role freely among men, and also to pass moral judgment in those matters which regard public order when the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls require it.”
(Gaudium et Spes, 76)
Both the Church and those who govern society are seeking to serve mankind (although under different titles), and they “will carry out this service with greater efficacy, for the good of all, the healthier and better is the cooperation between them.”
CSDC, 425
Due to current challenges and issues that exist in our contemporary society like massive poverty, inequality, discrimination, racism, gap between the rich and the poor and environmental degradation, the Church is called to be involved in responding and eradicating those social concerns in order to become effective herald of the Gospel.
Rationalizing the Church’s Involvement
Due to global concerns like war, hunger, poverty, global warming, climate change, apathy; and challenges brought about by secularism, materialism, neo- liberalism and globalization, the Church is called to be involved in responding to those issues.
Global Realities of the Church’s Involvement
The Church is also called to be involved in promoting justice, solidarity and the common good through active participation and cooperation in community development, promotion of human dignity, justice, peace, and environmental education.
Local Realities of the Church’s Involvement
