UNIT ONE

1
UNIT ONE

• Catholic Social Teaching
• An Overview

2
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
- The gospel proclaims that human beings are
made in the image and likeness of God
- Made in a divine image, we are endowed with a
human soul with two great powers 1.)
Intellect 2.) Free will
3
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
1.) Human Intellect
Enables us to recognize and understand Gods
command to do good and avoid evil
4
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
2.) Free will
Enables us to choose good with the guidance of
our conscience and to obey Gods law of love
5
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
- Original sin has weakened us, inclining us to
commit evil by making bad judgments and choosing
lesser goods ____________________________________
____ Malnutrition is responsible for the
death of over five million children per year
Nearly three billion people, live on less
than 2.00 per day Over 46 million babies have
been aborted in the U.S. since Roe vs.
Wade
6
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
Catholic Social Teaching - The Church doctrine
(teaching) attempts to understand how
societies work - It makes moral judgments about
economic and social matters in light of
revealed truth
7
Catholic Social Teaching
The Catholic Faith Social Justice
Flows primarily from the life and words of Jesus
Christ
Rooted in teachings of the Hebrew prophets
8
- Aspects of Catholic Social Teaching
The Catholic Faith Social Justice

• 1.) It gives us principles for reflection
• 2.) It provides criteria for judgment
• 3.) It gives guidelines for action

9
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Sharing Catholic Social Teaching - Purpose is to
alert Catholics 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
10
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Wheel of Justice
Stewardship
Solidarity
9
8
Respect for Life
Work Workers
1
2
7
Human Dignity
6
Family Community Participation
3
Option for the Poor
5
4
Common Good
Rights Duties
11
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
1.) Principle of Dignity of the Human Person -
Every person deserves respect
- Our dignity does not come from what we do or
what we have, it comes from being Gods
special creation
12
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
2.) Principle of Respect for Human Life - Every
stage of a humans life is precious and worthy
of our respect and protection
3.) Principle of the Call to Family, Community,
Participation - People have a right and duty to
participate in society
seeking together the
common good and
well-being of all
13
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
4.) Principle of Rights and Responsibilities -
The essential, fundamental right is the right to
life - Every person has the right to the
necessities that make for human decency
Faith Food and Shelter Education Health
care
14
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
5.) Principle of the Common Good - Social
conditions that permit people to reach their
full human potential and to realize their human
dignity - Essential elements 1.) Respect for
the person 2.) Social well-being and
establishment of the
group 3.) Peace and security
15
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
6.) Principle of the Preferential Option Love
for the Poor and Vulnerable - Poor and
Vulnerable are our brothers and sisters - They
deserve respect, the protection of their rights,
and justice
7.) Principle of Dignity of Work Rights of
Workers - Economy must serve the people, not the
other way around - Workers rights
16
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
8.) Principle of Solidarity - We need to commit
ourselves to the common good - We must work for
peace and justice in the world marked by
violence and war
9.) Principle of Stewardship - We respect our
loving Creator by being good stewards of the
earth
17
How Christians View the Human Person

• Our view of how humans should act depends on how
  we see ourselves
• If we see ourselves created
• in Gods image, then we
• know we are called to
• reflect all the qualities of
• the Creator

18
How Christians View the Human Person

• Foundation of Catholic Social Teaching is that
  each of us is made in Gods image
• Each human being has tremendous dignity
• Each human being is a child of God
• We are special in Gods eyes
• We have rights and responsibilities
• We have a spiritual nature
• God made us for himself
• We possess freedom we must use it responsibly
• We are social beings
• We image God best when we love one another
• God made us co-creators with him
• We are wounded by sin and inclined to evil and
  error

19
How Christians View the Human Person

• - Jesus has much to reveal to us about who we
  are and how we should treat each other
• - We are saved through Jesus passion, death and
  resurrection
• We are to be compassionate
• like Jesus

20
Our Rights as Humans
a claim we can make on other people and on
society so we can live a full, human life.
Right
21
Our Rights as Humans

• Universal rights the rights are for every
  human being
• Inviolable rights these rights are untouchable
  because they come from God
• Inalienable rights these
• rights are inherent and
• beyond challenge

22
Our Rights as Humans

• Peace on Earth
• - Named the fundamental human rights
• Right to Life
• Moral and Cultural Rights
• Right to Worship God
• Right to Choose Freely Ones State of Life
• Economic Rights
• The Right of Meeting and Association
• The Right to Emigrate and Immigrate
• Political Rights