1. Catholic Social Teachings
Introduction to Unit 2
Catholic Social Teachings

2. What Are Social Teachings
Connection to Human flourishing
Social Teachings are not unique to Catholicism
Catholicism has a particular metaphysical outlook on Social Teachings
Greek Eudaemoic meaning conducive to happiness or well-being

3. Catholicism's Outlook
God
Return to God

4. Catholicism's Outlook God (Creator) Creation Humanity
Culture
Church/People of God

5. Human Flourishing
“Humans created in the image of God to become in God’s likeness” (Irenaeous of Lyons)
Divine-human companionship
Become children of God (John 1:12)
Endowed with reason, to act freely (Thomist influence)
Icon of Irenaeous of Lyons

6. Human Flourishing Challenged
Human is a creature (Finite)
Always in the process of becoming
God is completeness and perfection
Two natures: transcendence (spirit) and corporeal (flesh)
Sin to deny the transcendental

7. Church and her Teachings
Church has a role to teach how humans how to flourish
Must consider both corporeal and transcendental
Consider social-worldly-context
Politics, economics, social norms of the day important to consider

8. What is an Encyclical? From the Latin encyclicus meaning circular
Pastoral Letter by the Pope to the entire Church
Teach on matters of doctrine (teachings), morals or discipline, or offer commentaries on current issues

9. Encyclicals
Formal title is first few words of Official text (Usually the Latin version)
Encyclicals are not Ex Cathedra pronouncements
ie. Not infallible teachings
Are authoritative though
Second highest authoritative teaching
Highest authoritative are Apostolic Consitutions

10. Catholic Constitutions
Dei Verbum
Lumen Gentium
Gaudium et Spes
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Fidei Depositum

11. Context of Rerum Novarum

12. Promulgation May 1891 Pope Leo XIII
Response to problems in the 19th century

13. Industrial Boom Capitalism replacing feudalism Rapid Industrial growth
Technological innovations
Sources of income
Foreign Trade

14. Image features strike breakers descending one workers protesting.
Abominable Living Conditions
Labour Wars
Formation of Unions
Strike Breakers
Image features strike breakers descending one workers protesting.

15. Marxism Proletariat Working class becoming bigger
Rise up through a Revolution
Overthrow Bourgeoisie
No need for politics, only Proletariat will exist

16. Pope Pius IX Embraced technology as a young Pope
Views changed after 1848
Prisoner of Vatican
Vatican I:
Rejection of modernity
Pope becomes closed off from world

17. Pope Leo XIII Born Vincenzo Luigi Pecci Love of poetry
Studied law and Aquinas
Ambassador for Vatican
Elected Pope in 1878
Responded to worldly problems with Thomist theology