Catholic Social Justice: An Overview

- 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 Your Catholic Faith & Social Justice

1.) Human Intellect Enables us to recognize and understand God’s command to do good and avoid evil

Your Catholic Faith & Social Justice 2.) Free will Enables us to choose good with the guidance of our conscience and to obey God’s law of love

Your 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

Your Catholic Faith & Social Justice Catholic Social Justice Teaching - The church doctrine (teaching) attempts to understand how societies work - It makes moral judgements about economic and social matters in light of revealed truth

Catholic Social Justice Flows primarily from the life and words of Jesus Christ Rooted in teachings of the Hebrew prophets Your Catholic Faith & Social Justice

- Aspects of Catholic Social Justice Teaching 1.) It gives us principles for reflection 2.) It provides criteria for judgment 3.) It gives guidelines for action Your Catholic Faith & Social Justice

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Sharing Catholic Social Teaching - Purpose is to alert Catholics that the Church’s 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 God’s 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

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

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Human Dignity Respect for Life Family Community Participation Rights & Duties Option for the Poor Work & Workers Solidarity Stewardship Wheel of Justice

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 1.) Principle of Dignity of the Human Person & Respect for Human Life Every person deserves respect Our dignity does not come from what we do or what we have, it comes from being God’s special creation

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching -Every stage of a human’s life is precious and worthy of our respect and protection -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

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 God’s image, then we know we are called to reflect all the qualities of the Creator

How Christians View the Human Person -Foundation of Catholic Social Teaching is that each of us is made in God’s image: Each human being has tremendous dignity Each human being is a child of God We are special in God’s 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

2.) Principle of the Call to Family, Community, & Participation -The human person is not only sacred, but social. -How we organize our society — socially, economically, legally and politically — directly affects human dignity and the ability of every human person to grow in community.

Marriage and family, the foundations for social life, should be strengthened and supported. Every person has a right to participate in society and a corresponding duty to work for the advancement of the common good and the well-being of all.

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 3.) 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

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 One’s State of Life Economic Rights The Right of Meeting and Association The Right to Emigrate and Immigrate Political Rights

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 4.) 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 5.) Principle of Dignity of Work; Rights of Workers - Economy must serve the people, not the other way around - Workers’ rights

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 6.) 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 7.) Principle of Stewardship - We respect our loving Creator by being good stewards of the earth

Vocabulary free will original sin dignity Social Justice doctrine Sharing Catholic Social Teaching common good rights Abba encyclical Peace on Earth