CHAPTER ONE Catholic Social Justice: An Overview

- The gospel proclaims that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God Human Dignity - 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 Equality We are all essentially equal because of our fundamental dignity made in God’s image.

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 50 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 MosesIsaiahJeremiah

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

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Come from: “Sharing Catholic Social Teaching” – 1998 U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Document - 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

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

The Principles Because people are created in God’s image and likeness every person is valuable and should be treated with dignity. 1. Human Dignity

The Principles 2. Respect for Life Every stage of a human’s life is precious and worthy of our respect and protection.

The Principles 3. Family, Community and Participation People have a right and duty to participate in society seeking together the common good and the well-being of all.

The Principles 4. Rights and Responsibilities Every person has the right to the basic necessit ies that promote human dignity. Faith Food and Shelter Education Health care With rights come responsibilities.

The Principles 5. 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

The Principles 6. Preferential Option and Love for the Poor and Vulnerable The poor and Vulnerable are our brothers and sisters. They deserve respect, the protection of their rights, and justice. Preferential means 1st priority.

The Principles 7. Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers Work must serve the needs of people, people should not be slaves to work. Workers’ have certain basic rights.

The Principles 8. Solidarity We are all brothers and sisters and therefore must take care of each others needs (according to our ability). We must especially work for peace and justice.

The Principles 9. Stewardship We respect God and return God’s love by being good stewards - taking care of God’s creation.

How Christians View the Human Person In God’s Image & Likeness CCC, 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 God made us for himself We have a spiritual nature We have rights and responsibilities 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

- 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 -We are most human when… we love. How Christians View the Human Person

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

 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

Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris), Pope John XXIII, 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

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