Chapter 2

Roots of Catholic Social Teaching

When I feed the poor,

they call me a saint, but
when I ask why the poor
are hungry,
they
call
me
a
Roots of Catholic Social Teaching

Roots of Catholic Social Teaching

Scriptural Roots of Justice

Scriptural Roots of Justice

We've got some difficult days ahead. But

it doesn't matter with me now. Because
I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't
mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a
long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm
not concerned about that now. I just want
to do God's will. And He's allowed me to
go up to the mountain. And I've looked
over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not
get there with you. But I want you to know
tonight, that we, as a people will get to the
promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not
worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of
the Lord.
Excerpt from the final
speech byRoots
MartinofLuther
Scriptural
Justice
King Jr.

Justice in Sacred Tradition

Persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers

of lies, knowing not the reward of
righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to
righteous judgment, spending wakeful nights
not for good but for wickedness, from whom
meekness and patience is far, lovers of vanity,
following after reward, unmerciful to the poor,
not working for him who is oppressed with toil,
without knowledge of him who made them,
murderers of children, corrupters of God's
creatures, turning away the needy, oppressing
the distressed, advocates of the rich, unjust
Justice insinful;
Sacred
Tradition
judges of the poor, altogether
may
ye be

Conflicting opinions on CST fall into three basic camps:

1. Those who seem to believe that all CST is Catholic doctrine, from basic principles of
social justice down to their specific applications in the documents. They would argue,
for example, that Pope Paul VIs 1967 encyclical Populorum Progressio requires
Catholics to support government-to-government aid to developing nations (regardless
of conflicting opinions about whether such aid actually harms the recipients). This
group makes little distinction between the principles and their application.
Those who hold that the principles of CST constitute definitive Church teaching and

2.

require assent, but that the applications found in Church documents are strictly
prudential.
Those who hold that CST constitutes the combined institutional wisdom of a Church

3.

that has existed since the Roman Empire. This group would argue that, while Catholics
should follow CST, the principles are of relatively recent origin and therefore do not
constitute definitive doctrine.

Justice in Sacred Tradition

Catholic Social Teaching in the Modern World

Pope Leo
XIII
1810
1903

Catholic Social Teaching in the Modern World

Catholic Social Teaching in the Modern World