Tuesday Conference

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Theology e-magazine

To make humanity united in worshipping God

Church on Social Questions

Our Heavenly Patron

Tuesday Conference r eaches you its 10th issue with

an article on the social teachings of the Church. This is an
introductory reading of the newly released Social Catechism of
the Church (DOCAT ). This document has 12 chapters and 328
questions. We have discussed here chapters 2, 4 & 6 and the rest
will followed in the coming issue. All the questions and quotes
expressed are given with its references.
What are the purpose of social doctrine? #23
1) To set froth the requirements of just social action as they
appear in the Gospel.
2) In the name of justice to denounce social, economic, or
political actions and structures whenever they contradict the
Gospel message.
For further reading and references, own your copy today itself!!!

It is no longer possible to claim that religion

should not be restricted to the private sphere

and that it exists only to prepare souls for
heaven. Pope Francis, EG, 182.

Charity is at the heart of the Churchs social doctrine.

Page - 02

Benedict VI, CiV, 2

2 Together We are Strong

Do all the
Good you can,
by all the
means you
can, in all the
ways you can,
in all the
places you
can, at all the
times you can,
to all the
people you
can , as long
as ever you
can.
-John Wesley

26. Why is the Church

interested not only in
the individual?
The
Church
was
accused of being interested
only in salvation of the
individual soul. God is
interested in the total
welfare of a person and
therefore, also in his development of community, in
which people participate in manifold ways.
29. Can Social justice be the final goal of the Church?
No. The Church would have reached all her desired goals
if there were a just society. Real peace is a gift from God.
28. How are social doctrine
and faith connected?

Not everyone who is

socially
or
politically
involved is a Christian. But
someone can hardly
call himself a Christian
if he is not socially
involved. The gospel
very emphatically leads
people
to
commit
themselves to love, justice,
freedom, and peace.

Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
We have not inherited this earth from our parents to do with it what we will. We
have borrowed it from our children and we must be careful to use it in their interests
as well as our own. Moses Henry Cass, Australian Politician.

Everyone praises justice but closes the door when she

Page - 03

A
community
is not the
sum of its
members
interests,
but the sum
of their self-

giving.
Antoine De

arrives. Swedish Proverb

30. Is the Gospel synonymous with development aid?
Development aid and the proclamation of the faith must go
hand in hand. If the Church were only to proclaim the faith while
ignoring the miserable living conditions of the people, she would
betray Jesus who accepted and healed men and women, body and
soul, in their personal and social needs. To separate the social
message of the Gospel from its faith message would be to divide
the Good News in half.
31. How deeply can the
Church
become
involved
in
social
questions?
It is not the Churchs
responsibility to replace
the State and politics. That

saint

is why she offers no technical solutions for individual social

problems. She herself does not make policies but, rather inspires

Exupery

policies that are in keeping with the Good News. The only one

(French

who should intervene concretely in politics, however, are

Writer)

Christian laymen who become involved in that field.

Being human means that no one can ever be used as a
means to an end. -Albert Schweitzer.
There needs to be a united
response to the question of migration.
We cannot allow the Mediterranean to
become a vast cemetery! The boats
landing daily on the shores of Europe
are filled with men and women who
need acceptance and assistance.
Pope Francis (at European Parliament
on Nov.25, 2014)

All real life is encounter. Martin Buber

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33. Does the Church not exceed her competence when she speaks out on
social questions?
When Church speaks out on social questions, she is not meddling in other
peoples business. Church does not want to gain power & external influence thereby.
It is her right and duty to speak out whenever injustice endangers social life.

4. The Four Principles of the Church Social Teaching (CST)

84. What are the Principles of the Catholic Social Teaching?
CST has four principles:
1. the principle of the dignity of the human person,
2. the principle of the common good,
3. the principle of subsidiarity,
4. the principle of solidarity.

86. Why must we act according to

these principles?
Being human means taking on
responsibility. No human being can
reasonably situate himself outside of social
life.
89. How should we deal with the
goods of the earth?
God created the world for all. Every
person has the right to what is vitally
necessary, which must not be withheld from
him. If some have more than enough but
others; lack the bare necessities of life, this
calls not only for charity but above all for
justice.
Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and
deprive them of life. The goods, we possess are not ours, but theirs.
St .John Chrysostom.

Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the

Page - 05

poor.- Pope Francis.

94. What does the common good mean for the poor?
The poor must be at the heart of the Church, or
else the Church betrays her mission. Standing up for
the marginalized people is a direct command of
Jesus: As you did it to one of these my brethren, you
did it to me.
95. What does the Principle of Subsidiarity mean?
Every societal task is always assigned in the first place
to the smallest possible group that can perform it. A
group at a higher level may assume responsibility
only if smaller association is not capable of resolving
the problem. If the smaller association needs help,
however, the higher level must help.
98. How can there be shared responsibility without harmful
dependency?
The participation of citizens is a cornerstone of
democracy and therefore important for Christians,
also.

Christians show

solidarity

by

seeking

to

participate in civil society and influence its fate.

105. What values are important in social doctrine?

3 values are fundamental:

Truth,
Freedom,
Justice.
Yet truly successful human coexistence requires in
addition love and mercy. And so Thomas Aquinas says:
Justice without mercy is cruelty; mercy without justice is
the mother of dissolution.

When I give food

to the poor, they
call me saint.
When Ask why
there are poor they
call me a
Communist.
Arch bp. Camara

The gospel is addressed first to the poor- Benedict VI

Justice without mercy is unloving; mercy without justice is

Page - 06

degrading. Friedrich Von Bodelschwingh (Lutheran theologian and

You do not

111. Why is mere Justice not enough?

Love is more than justice, for it is patient, and kind. (1 Cor

help people by

13:4). Mercy must be added to justice in order for society to be

doing for

truly human. Social justice is not enough for coexistence, much

them what

less mere legal justice, since no legislation can generate mutual

they could and

goodwill among men. Social Charity releases creative forces for

should do for

the common good. Nevertheless, justice is something that mercy

themselves.

cannot be: a basic moral requirement. One can only appeal for

Abraham
Lincoln

mercy; justice can be demanded.

Development is the new name for peace- Pope Paul VI

6. Human Work
136. Is there an obligation to work?
Human work is mans appropriate, grateful response to this gift.
151. What does the Churchs social teaching say about the issue of child
labour?
Under no circumstances should child labour be tolerated if it harms the
childs intellectual and physical development.

The exploitation and enslavement of children is an injustice that cries out to

heaven.

I cannot stand the pornography of poverty!Bob Geldof (Irish rock Musician)

Migrants do not break the law as often the laws break the migrants.
Hernando De Soto, Peruvian Economist

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152. How do we deal fairly with the phenomenon of migrant workers?

In todays world there are great imbalances between poor and rich countries
and regions. Therefore, many people today leave their homes to find jobs and wages
in densely populated areas or in other countries. These people are called migrant
workers. If a country decides to welcome migrant workers, then they must not be
treated as second class labourers.

In no case may migrant workers be exploited; in their work they must have the
same rights and receive the same wages as the local employees. Moreover they must
be respected as human beings who are not just labourers. In particular the right of
the migrant worker to bring their families after them must be respected.
A strike that exerts no economic pressure is not a strike but rather
collective begging- J. Peters, Chairman Germanys largest Trade Union.
156. What is the importance of Labour unions?
They can protect their common interests in solidarity with one another. The
right to found labour unions is a human right. No one should experience adverse
consequence because he is the member of a trade union.
157. Are employees allowed to strike?
The strike is an important method whereby unions can place the employer
under pressure in the negotiations. This method is legitimate, if it is applied
peacefully and merely to improve wages and working conditions. The Strike may
not be contrary to common good and necessary services must never be impaired by
strikes.
To Conclude our discussion, we quote: The ear th does not consist only
of railways and streets, but also of farmland, etc. there must be a balance between
the needs of the farmers and those who build roads. There must be justice among
those who use the land. Card. Peter Turkson. Let us translate the social message of
Jesus in our surroundings. Is it not a demand of faith?
Editor: Tony Maliyekal VC

Published from Vincentian Vidyabhavan, Aluva