Part 2: The Social Teaching

of the Church
The Church, throughout her long
history, has fought for social justice
and promoting the common good.

The Old Law, in its entirety, is found in
the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and
Deuteronomy in the Bible.

In these laws, God showed how people
can live in loving communion with Him
and other people.

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The Old Law has five themes that focus on social justice that
Jesus elaborated on in His New Law:

Respect for Human Life

Respect for Private Property

Honesty in Business

Just Distribution of Wealth

Special Concern for the Vulnerable

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The Old Law calls for just punishment when someone does not
respect life, i.e. murder.

In the Israelites time, an eye for an eye was actually a less
severe type of punishment for a crime.

In the time of Ancient Israel, if someone was murdered, their family
would seek revenge not only by killing the murderer, but also the
murderers family.

By this law limiting vengeful practices, a greater respect was
placed on human life in such situations.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The Old Law teaches that private
property is a right given to all
people since private property was
essential to a persons survival.

The Israelites were not allowed to
take something essential to
survival from another person as
payment for a debt, such as a
grinding mill to make flour for
bread.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Honest is business was essential since people
paid for items in grain and precious metals,
which were weighed with a scale.

Merchants would often mess with scales so
buyers would have to pay more than they
needed to for items.

This theme teaches that people come before
money; the common good comes before
individual wealth gain.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Just distribution of wealth was important in the Old Law.

Every 7 years, debts were to be either fully or partially forgiven

Every 50 years, land was to be returned to the original owners and
leased out to a new family so more people had a chance to make a
living

This law reminds us that God is the ultimate owner of the
universe, not us, and that the wealthy are called to help the poor.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The last theme is implicit throughout the last four themes: that no
one is to take advantage of the vulnerable.

When orphans or travelers came to Israel and did not belong to a
tribe, they were seen as outsiders and were not supplied for with
food, shelter, or clothing.

God calls the Israelites to care for all people, within their tribe and
outside of it.

These themes teach that a just society revolves around respecting
our neighbor, no matter who that is, and making sure our
societies pursue the common good.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
A prophet is a person God chooses to speak His message of
salvation; people who spread the message of repentance to the
Israelites.

The prophets were the guardians of the Old Law.

The prophets called for the Israelites to:
Put their trust and faith in God alone
Repent for their sins
Be authentic in worship
Be a just people
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Isaiah condemned Israel for having empty religious observances
because they failed to act justly and did not care for the poor and
vulnerable. (1: 4 21)

Jeremiah told the kings of Judah that their kingdoms would come
to ruin if they did not care for the poor. (5: 1 19)

Hosea condemns those who use dishonest scales. (12: 7)

Amos condemns the ignorance of the rich who ignore the human
needs of the poor. (5: 7 17)

Micah condemns those who try to take other peoples land and
leaders who do evil to their people. (6: 8 16)
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Jesus said, I came so you may have life,
and have it in abundance.

This life in abundance comes from
following the Two Great Commandments
given by Christ:

To love your God with all your heart, mind,
soul, and strength

To love your neighbor as yourself
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church

The Kingdom of God is not just
found in Heaven, but here,
present in the Church, when
people act just and lovingly.

Jesus did not abolish the Old
Law, but rather used the Old Law
as the basis for His New Law.


Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Jesus taught that we must go beyond the teachings of the Old Law
to understand His New Law of Love.

The foundational principle of social justice which Jesus taught is:

1. We must see the image of God in every human being and therefore
love everyone the best we can

Christ sees Himself in us and we are to see Him in each other.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church

2. We must love our enemies, as difficult
as it sounds, just as Jesus did when He
was executed and asked His Father to
forgive those who crucified Him.

3. Jesus reminds us that all people have
human dignity and deserve justice,
especially the poor and outcasts of society.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church

4. Jesus taught that detachment from wealth was necessary for
entering the Kingdom of God.

Jews thought wealth was a sign of Gods favor or blessing.

No one can serve two masters.

5. Jesus teaches the goods of the Earth are not meant for only a
few people, but meant for all people to serve the common good.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
In the early Church, people shared
their wealth, assuring equality and
creating a just society.

Those who practice Corporal Works
of Mercy, or charitable actions that
respond to peoples physical needs,
i.e. feeding the hungry, receive eternal
life.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The beginning of the deaconate started with the appointment of
men to care for the widows of society.

Widows could not get jobs since women were looked down upon in
society.

The New Law of Christ makes it clear that we must help and
defend the poor and vulnerable if we want to be counted as one of
Christs followers.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
1. 10 Commandments 2. Prophets
3. Jesus Christ
4. Early Church (100
A.D.)
5. Church Today
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church

The Age of Enlightenment occurred in the 1800s, in which
people believed they could solve the worlds problems through
human reason and science alone.

This lead some people to not believing in the authority and
power of the Church and ignore its teachings.

New moral challenges came about, which went unanswered by
society at large.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The Church responded to these new
moral challenges through creating
Social Doctrines, or the teachings
on economic and social matters that
demand action in favor of those being
harmed.

The Popes of the time wrote on such
social matters in social encyclicals,
or letters of teaching on social justice,
human rights and peace.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical titled
Rerum Novarum, or On the Condition of
Labor.

Workers in Europe were being overworked,
treated harshly, and seen as dogs, not as
human beings.

The encyclical was a call to solve the
worlds problems not through human reason
alone, but through human reason and the
Divine Law.

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
The bishops of the United States, in 1917, created an organization
to help the country deal with social issues after World War I, such
as:

Minimum wage
Social security
Worker participation in management

Since the 1960s, the United States bishops have written pastoral
letters on such social issues like racism, deterrence, and economic
justice.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Brothers and Sisters to Us is a pastoral letter from 1970 that
spoke about how racism violates the basic truth that all human
beings have the same God given dignity.

The Challenge of Peace, written in 1983, spoke of
deterrence, or the ability to avoid nuclear war by way of a strong
counterattack when first attacked.

These pastoral letters are meant to help make society a safe place
that promotes the common good of all people.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Who/ what is a just person in context of Catholic social teaching?

In the Bible, it says God created human beings to be in a state of
justice, which meant:

1. People were in right relationship with God
2. People were in right relationship with one another

This shows that all justice flows from God and that we are all
called to participate in Gods justice.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
In the Old Law, justice is defined primarily as treating ones
community fairly and, i.e. equal punishment for a crime, fairness
is business, etc.

In the New Law of Christ, justice means showing compassion,
forgiveness, and mercy to all people (not just ones community).

Justice is a primary quality of the Kingdom of God and the Church
is called to be a witness to such justice.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Justice is cardinal virtue, or an essential habit to do good in
living a Christian life, helping us become moral persons.

Justice can be defined as concerned with rights and duties within
relationships (common good), especially making sure that the
poor and oppressed are taken care.

Justice takes into account the needs of others as much as our own
needs.
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
In the Middle Ages, St.
Thomas Aquinas and St.
Bonaventure wrote about
three types of justice:

Commutative Justice
Legal Justice
Distributive Justice

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Commutative justice calls for fairness in agreements and
contracts between individuals, such as an equal exchange of
goods, money, and services.

For example, when you order food: you use real money to pay for the
food, and the food is exactly what you ordered.

Commutative justice is the most fundamental form of justice in
society, for without it, all other forms of justice are impossible.

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Legal Justice is the social
responsibility that citizens owe their
country and society.

For example, paying taxes, voting, and
obeying just laws.

It is called legal because such
responsibilities are laws.

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Distributive Justice is the responsibility that society has to
protect human rights and ensuring the just distribution of goods,
especially to the poor.

For example, after Hurricane Sandy, people in flood areas all deserved
food, shelter, and safety, no matter who they were.

It is a social sin for people to go hungry in a country that
produces more than enough food for all people.

Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
We see these three types of justice throughout the Bible:

Jesus said about paying taxes, Give to Cesar what is Cesars and give to God what is
Gods.
Legal Justice

God promised to never destroy humanity again with Noah and Noah
promised to be faithful to God.
Commutative Justice


Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes to feed the people who gathered
to be with Him, making sure all were fed.
Distributive Justice
Part 2: The Social Teaching
of the Church
Social Justice is society providing the conditions that allow
associations and individuals to get what is due to them, according
to their nature and vocation.

Social justice rests with institutions that make up society, i.e.
governments and businesses; however, individuals make up the
government and businesses, so ALL people must work together.