The Church and Social Justice

Introduction to the Catholic Social Teaching

What is Catholic Social
Teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching (also known as Catholic Social
Doctrine) sums up the teachings of the Church on
social justice issues.
It promotes a vision of a just society that is
grounded in the Bible and in the wisdom
gathered from experience by the Christian
community as it has responded to social justice
issues through history.
The Problem
Far too many Catholics are unfamiliar with the
basic content of Catholic social teaching. More
fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately
understand that the social mission of the Church
is an essential part of Catholic faith.
This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics,
since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that
is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to
do more to share the social mission and message
of our Church.

Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions

U.S. Bishops, 1998
A Key to Catholic Identity

The central message is simple:

Our faith is profoundly social. We
cannot be called truly Catholic unless
we hear and heed the Church's call to
serve those in need and work for justice
and peace.
Communities of Salt and Light, U.S. Bishops, 1993
 Vatican IIs Ecclesiology
The Church is a sign and a safeguard
of the dignity of the human person.

A religious organization whose purpose it is to

help bring about the reign of God in history.

The social mission is constitutive

not extra-curricular or optional.

The Church carries out its religious mission by engaging in

concrete struggles of society. To work for social justice and
human dignity, therefore, is a religious act.
Constitutive Elements of
Church

Scriptures (Word) -- hearing the Good News

Sacraments (Worship) -- worship, prayer life,

community celebration, etc.

Social Mission (World) -- action for social

justice
Scriptural Justice

According to Scripture, a just or

righteous person is first someone
who is in a right relationship with God
and second in right relationship with
other human beings.
 Image in shutterstock
Old Law

In the Old Testament, justice is primarily

about treating members of ones own
community fairly and equally.
 New Law

In the New Law of Christ, justice means

extending Gods compassion,
forgiveness, and mercy to all people,
even when that means sacrificing ones
own comfort and material wealth.
 The Four Cardinal Virtues

The four cardinal virtuesprudence, justice, temperance,

and fortitudeplay a pivotal role in our moral life.

All other human virtues can be grouped around the cardinal

virtues.

As we develop the cardinal virtues in our lives, we

become persons of moral charactermeaning we will do
the right thing, even under difficult circumstances.
 Justice as a Cardinal Virtue

As a cardinal virtue, justice is the

virtue concerned with the rights and
duties within relationships and
societies.

Justice guides us in giving both God and neighbor what is

Image in shutterstock
their due and in working for the common good.

Justice takes into account the needs of others as much as

our own needs.

Justice is about more than simple fairness; it asks us to

bring Gods compassionate and merciful love to those who
are most in need.
 Justice as a Cardinal Virtue

The virtue of justice recognizes that some people have

greater physical and spiritual needs than others and require
a greater sharing of material goods and spiritual support.

It takes determination and dedication to be a person

who lives the virtues of justice.
 Society

Individual Individual
Commutative (Contractual)
 Commutative Justice

Commutative justice is the fairness

that should exist when exchanging
goods and services among individuals
and institutions.

It requires that both parties receive

exactly what they agreed to; in this way
the human dignity of everyone involved
in the exchange is protected.
Image in shutterstock

It is the most fundamental form of justice

in societies; without it all other forms of
justice are impossible.
 Legal Justice
(Contributive Justice)

Legal justice is concerned with the responsibilities that

individuals have to society.

It is called legal justice because these responsibilities

are usually spelled out in laws or other legal documents.

Our country and community organizations cannot fulfill

their responsibilities unless we fulfill our obligations to
society.
 Distributive Justice

In 1986, the U.S. Catholic bishops provided this

explanation of distributive justice in Economic Justice
for All:

Distributive justice requires that the allocation of

income, wealth, and power in society be evaluated in
light of its effects on persons whose basic material
needs are unmet (70).
 Distributive Justice

Distributive justice is concerned with the

responsibilities that society has to its members.

It is called distributive because it calls for the just

distribution of the earths resources to all people.
 Distributive Justice

Thus the principle of distributive justice means,

for example, that it is a social sin for people to
go hungry in a country that can produce enough
food for all its citizens.
Social Justice

The Catechism of the Catholic

Church states:

Society ensures social justice when it provides the

conditions that allow associations or individuals to
obtain what is their due, according to their nature
and their vocation. Social justice is linked to the
common good and the exercise of authority
(1928).
 Social Justice

The primary responsibility for social justice rests with

the social institutions that make up society
governments, businesses, and other civic
organizations.

But it is individuals who make the decisions that

determine the policies and practices of these
organizations. They are the leaders, or authorities, of
these institutions.
 Social Justice

The Catechism says that

social justice is linked to
the exercise of authority
or leadership.

In many democratic countries,

citizens have a say in the countrys
decisions and policies.

Therefore we all share some

responsibility for ensuring social
justice.
 Society

Individual Individual
Commutative (Contractual)
 Social Justice

Thus the principle of social justice applies to

all of Gods people.
Flows primarily from the life and words of Jesus Christ

Catholic Social Justice

Rooted in teachings of the Hebrew prophets

Catholic Social Teaching

Deeply rooted in the Bible

Continually developed in Catholic Social

Teaching

-- Observe, judge, act

Three Elements

The social teachings are made up of

three different elements:

principles for reflection;

criteria for judgment;
guidelines for action.
SEE JUDGE - ACT
To define social justice, let us begin, by taking a
look at what social ministry is:

2 Main Aspects Social Ministry

1. Social service (also known as Parish Outreach)
2. Social action
Social Service is giving direct aid to someone in need. It
usually involves performing one or more of the corporal
works of mercy. That is, giving alms to the poor, feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick or imprisoned,
taking care of orphans and widows, welcoming aliens into
their homes, etc.
Another name for it is charity.
Social Action is correcting the structures that perpetuate
the need.
Another name for this is Social Justice.
Through the lens of social justice, we begin to take a look at
the problems and issues facing us in our own communities, the
nation and finally the world.
Very often when you are performing social service, you also
become involved in solving the problem which created the
need in the first place, and the two are closely related and often
blend together.
 Example:
Someone comes to your house, and tells you she has
no food, because she lost her job recently. You may
know of an employer looking to hire someone right
away for a job requiring little or no skills. You give
that person food, then place that person in touch
with the employer.
You then would have solved both problems for that
person.

(A) the immediate need of food through an act of charity

(social service)
(B) you would have corrected the problem which created
and perpetuated the need. (social justice)
 The Four Main Aspects of Social Justice

1. SOLIDARITY

2. EDUCATION

3.COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING

4. ADVOCACY
 SOLIDARITY
a firm and persevering determination to commit
oneself to the common good - JP II
Living as though other people and living
things matter. Examples of this would be:
FASTING in solidarity with the
hungry, the oppressed etc
LIVING SIMPLY. Do I really
need all those gadgets coming
out in the stores? Recycling
where you can; being a good
steward of all our natural
resources and of our planet that
God has given us.
PRAYING for the poor, the
homeless,for an end to child
labor and prostitution,etc.
 EDUCATION

We have the obligation to educate ourselves and

others about social justice. Read all you can about
the subject. Study all you can about all the social
issues facing us in the world today. Spread the
word about these issues. Examples : Global
Warming, the natural disasters, terrorisms, the
death penalty, oppressed and persecuted Christians
in different parts of the world, globalization,
foreign debts, etc. ...............everything!
 COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Get involved in the community! Join or start a feeding
program. Start a community crime-watch program if
one is needed. Start or join a group in your parish that
studies the issues of the community/world and decide
what can be done about the problems facing us. Join the
NAMFREL or PPCRV during elections. Organize the
community in consolidating the efforts of giving its
help to the poor. Join Habitat for Humanity, Gawad
Kalinga, etc

Just do it!
ADVOCACY
This is giving a voice to those who
have no voice, that is, the poor, the
sick, the unborn, the dying, the
disadvantaged, those imprisoned, the
homeless, the cultural minorities etc.
We are called to speak out! Write a
letter to the editor, make use of the
social media, join a march, call your
elected officials and let them know
how you feel.
Very often legislation gets passed to
the disadvantage of many, because the
elected official simply didn't know
how people feel about the subject.
This is because no one bothered to
call!
Catholic Social Justice Teaching
- The church doctrine (teaching) attempts
to understand how societies work
- It makes moral judgements about
economic and social matters in light of
revealed truth
Sharing Catholic Social Teaching
- Purpose is to make Catholics aware that the
Churchs teaching on social justice is an
essential part of our faith
-. The wheel of justice presents the principles of
Catholic social justice
Our ultimate destination is Gods kingdom
Along the way there are obstacles
The principles on the wheel need to
be applied to smooth out the road that
leads us to God
 Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Wheel of Justice

Subsidiarity Economic
Justice

8 9 Community
Stewardship and
7 1 2 Common
Good
Human
Dignity
6 3 Family &
Solidarity Community
5 Participation
4
Option for Rights &
the Poor Responsibilities
 Modern Catholic Social Teaching
1891 Rerum Novarum Leo XIII
1931 Quadragesimo Anno Pius XI
1961 Mater et Magistra John XXIII
1963 Pacem in Terris John XXIII
1965 Gaudium et Spes Vatican II
1967 Populorum Progessio Paul VI
1971 Octogessima Adveniens Paul VI
1971 Justicia in Mundo Synod of Bishops
1975 Evangeli Nuntiandi Paul VI
1981 Laborem Exercens John Paul II
1988 Solicitudo Rei Socialis John Paul II
1991 Centissimus Annus John Paul II
1995 Evangelium Vitae John Paul II
2009 Caritas in Veritate Benedict XVI
2013 Evangelii Gaudium Francis
2015 Laudato Si Francis
 The Principles of
Catholic Social Teaching
 Belief in the inherent dignity of the human
person is the foundation of all Catholic social
teaching
Grounded in the idea that persons are created
by God in Gods image and likeness
Thus, human life is sacred
Human dignity is the starting point for a moral
vision of society
 The Dignity of
Each Human Person
Every human being is created in the image and
likeness of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ.

Thus, each person is valuable and worthy

of respect.
 Common Good and
Community
Human beings are both sacred and social.
Dignity and rights are realized and protected in
relationships and in wider society.
How we organize economics, politics, law, and
policies in our societies directly affects human
dignity and the protection of human rights.
In a moral society, economics, politics, law, and
public policy protect human dignity.
 The Common Good
The common good is the social condition that
promotes the dignity of persons, allowing
them to reach their full potential and receive
the rights and privileges necessary for a happy
life.
 Participation
All persons have the right and the responsibility
to participate in the economic, political, and
cultural life of society.
Thus, each person contributes to the good of
the whole society to promote the common
good and well-being of all human beings.
 Rights and Responsibilities
Every person has a fundamental
right
to life
to freedom
to the necessities of life
to things necessary to live a full
and decent life, such as
education
employment
health care
ownership of property
Rights and Responsibilities
Subsequently, the right to life also means a
right to a society that makes possible:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Humane working conditions
The ability to raise and provide for a
family
Affordable and decent housing
Health care
Rights and Responsibilities
Rights and freedoms comes with duties and
responsibilities
to family
to help sustain and promote the rights of
others
to participate in forming and maintaining a
just society
to participate, as far as we are able, in work
to respect and promote the rights and
freedoms of others
Preferential Option for the Poor

The moral conscience of

a society can be
measured by how it
treats its most vulnerable
members. The poor are
the most urgent moral
claim on the conscience
of the nation.

Nations are called to develop and uphold

policies that protect the poor and vulnerable:
widows, the unborn, persons with
disabilities, the ill, the homeless and the
elderly.
Preferential Option for the Poor

Come, you
that are
blessed by my
Father, inherit
the kingdom
prepared for
you from the
foundation of
the world
for I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink
I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you
gave me clothing
I was
sick and
you took
care of me,
I was in
prison and
you visited
me.
Preferential Option for the Poor
The Catholic Church believes that Christs
presence in todays world is made known when
we reach out in love to those in need:
The poor and the sick
Those who hunger and thirst for
nourishment and for justice
The homeless and the elderly
Those who are imprisoned by abuse, drugs,
alcohol, or depression
Thus says the LORD:

Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the

oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when
you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.

If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the

afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Isaiah 58: 7,10

 Solidarity
Every human being belongs to the one family of
God. If we acknowledge human dignity, we are
our sisters and brothers keepers.

To be in solidarity in a
global and
interdependent world
means to respect and
promote personal,
social, economic, and
political rights
throughout the world
and for all people.
Stewardship of Gods Creation

All that is good in this world is a gift from God.

God calls us to be good and wise stewards of
these gifts.
We fulfill this responsibility when we treat the
environment and all forms of life with respect,
when we use these gifts in a way that sustains
their quality and existence for future
generations.
The Creator is present in the beauty of created things. He
calls us to share in His creation.
 Subsidiarity
Social organization and governments exist for the
good of the individual.
When governments assume their proper role,
higher level organizations only perform functions
that cannot be handled effectively and efficiently at
a lower level (by individuals or lower level
organizations.)
Those closest to the problem or task are first in line
to assume the task.
Gawad Kalinga: Local people working
together to help the poor and the
homeless.
 Economic Justice
The economy of a country and of the world must
serve all people.
All workers have the right to productive work, to a
safe working environment, and to a fair wage.
Catholic social teaching also supports the workers
right to form unions.
The right to property and profit is limited by the
right of all persons to the basic necessities of life.
Workers on Strike
 Equality of All
To each is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the common good.
- 1 Corinthians 12:7

The inherent dignity of all persons demands

the equality of all persons.
The many cultures, nationalities, and religions
that make up the mosaic of human life is Gods
gift of diversity and not a justification for
prejudice and discrimination.
Conclusion

The teaching of the Church on social concerns is

anything but a cerebral and theoretical
construction. This teaching is in part a
reflection of the action and commitment of
Christians in society. Between doctrine and
action, there exists a give-and-take and
constant enrichment. Just as action cut-off
from its doctrinal sources would be empirical,
so a teaching disconnected from practice would
be completely sterile.

Introduction to the Social Teaching of the Church.

Michel Schooyans. June 1992, Paris, France.
Conclusion

Vision without action is

only a dream; action
without a vision will soon
pass away.
- Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
St. Paul University, Quezon City, November 2004
 + Social Justice Prayer +
Almighty and eternal God, may your grace enkindle in all of
us a love for the many unfortunate people whom poverty and
misery reduce to a condition of life unworthy of human
beings.
Arouse in the hearts of those who call you Father a hunger
and thirst for social justice and for fraternal charity in deeds
and in truth.
Grant, O Lord, peace to souls, peace to families, peace to our
country and peace among nations.
Amen.

2000 eCatholic/2000
all rights reserved
Acknowledgment:

Office for Social Justice

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
http://www.osjspm.org
Social Justice A Basic Introduction
https://www.ecatholic2000.com/sj/socjust.shtml
St. Marys Press (Living in Christ Series, 2012)
Prepared by:

E.M. JAMILLA
UST Institute of Religion