1. ‘See Judge Act’ as a Framework and Process of Theological Reflection
Doing Theology
‘See Judge Act’ as a Framework and Process of Theological Reflection

2. “See, Judge, Act” has a long pedigree in Catholic Social Teaching

3. Mater et Magistra

4. See, Judge, Act An Aussie approach
What exactly is happening?
What is this doing to people? (the consequences)
Why is this happening? (the causes)
JUDGE
What do you think about all this?
What do you think should be happening?
What does your faith say?
ACT
What exactly is it that you want to change? (long-term goal)
What action are you going to take now? (short-term goal)
Who can you involve in your action?
(Fr Hugh Sullivan YCW Chaplain)

5. Doing theology seeks to integrate faith and culture in making sense of life
Applying faith to life is good as far as it goes, but if one ignores culture there are problems, because the process will ignore the cultural biases (good and bad) we bring to the process.

6. Culture is a Source of Wisdom
Culture has its limits as it is a human construct
The culture of a secular society is a default frame of reference for those of us who live in it.
Our faith tradition also has certain limits because it is carried in communities which share the cultural limits of their people
The Holy Spirit is at work directly shaping faith traditions and, indirectly, shaping cultural traditions

7. Both Faith and Culture shape meaning
Faith can grow, and culture can be evangelised, as the faith community addresses human problems
This is where theological reflection comes in

8. Consolidated Method of Theological Reflection (D’Orsa & D’Orsa)
Draws on Richard Osmer (the idea of ‘moments’)
Patricia O’Connell Killen and John de Beer (‘the heart of the matter’)
Has See Judge Act (Cardijn) as its overall framework
Is true to the James and Evelyn Whiteheads’ original model in bringing human experience (life), faith and culture together.

9. Richard Osmer & Patricia O’Connell Killen

10. ‘Moments’ in Doing Theology
Step 1
The Descriptive Moment
Guiding question:
What is going on here?
Step 2
The Interpretive Moment
Guiding Question:
Why is it going on?
Step 3
The Evaluative Moment
Guiding Questions:
What should be going on?
What is the preferred future we want to achieve?

11. Moments in Doing Theology (cont)
Step 4
The Focusing Moment
Guiding Question:
What is the heart of the matter?
Step 5
The Response Moment
What actions/steps do we now need to take?
Step 6
The Review Moment
Guiding Question:
How effective has our response been?

12. A Composite Model See Judge Act What is the heart of the matter?
What is going on here?
Why is it going on?
Judge
What should be going on?
What is the heart of the matter?
What is the preferred future we want to achieve?
Act
What actions/steps do we now need to take?
How effective has our response been?

13. Some Caveats The Process can be used iteratively over several cycles
No guarantees that it will deliver for the group on the first round
Eventually, a negotiated outcome, or preferred future, can be achieved