1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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 murderer’s family.
By this law limiting vengeful practices, a greater respect was placed on human life in such situations.

4. 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 person’s 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church

9. 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

10. 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 people’s land and leaders who do evil to their people. (6: 8 – 16)

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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 God’s 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.

16. 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 people’s physical needs, i.e. feeding the hungry, receive eternal life.

17. 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 Christ’s followers.

18. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church

19. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church
1. 10 Commandments
2. Prophets
3. Jesus Christ
5. Church Today
4. Early Church (100 A.D.)

20. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church
The Age of Enlightenment occurred in the 1800’s, in which people believed they could solve the world’s 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.

21. 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.

22. 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 world’s problems not through human reason alone, but through human reason and the Divine Law.

23. 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 1960’s, the United States bishops have written pastoral letters on such social issues like racism, deterrence, and economic justice.

24. 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.

25. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church

26. 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 God’s justice.

27. Part 2: The Social Teaching of the Church
In the Old Law, justice is defined primarily as treating one’s 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 one’s community).
Justice is a primary quality of the Kingdom of God and the Church is called to be a witness to such justice.

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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 Cesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”
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

34. 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.