1. The Church’s Social Documents

2. Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor
Pope Leo XIII
1891
The later documents almost always make reference to this encyclical. Some are released on anniversaries of its publishing date.
The particular concern of this document is the situation of the poor and working class in industrialized countries.

3. Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor
Responding to 3 major events:
French “Enlightenment” or Revolution
“Spirit of revolutionary change”
Industrial Revolution
Exploitation of labor (especially women and children) in Europe and North America particularly.
Marxism and Socialism
Removing private property for the state
Emphasizing the rights of workers to unionize, to receive a just wage, and to own private property.

4. Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor
The Encyclical's central theme is the just ordering of society, in view of which there is the obligation to identify criteria of judgment that will help to evaluate existing socio-political systems and to suggest lines of action for their appropriate transformation. (CDSC ¶89)
“But, if Christian precepts prevail, the respective classes will not only be united in the bonds of friendship, but also in those of brotherly love. For they will understand and feel that all men are children of the same common Father, who is God; that all have alike the same last end, which is God Himself, who alone can make either men or angels absolutely and perfectly happy; that each and all are redeemed and made sons of God, by Jesus Christ.” (RN ¶25)
“…help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.” –MLK Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail

5. Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor
“The contention, then, that the civil government should at its option intrude into and exercise intimate control over the family and the household is a great and pernicious error. True, if a family finds itself in exceeding distress, utterly deprived of the counsel of friends, and without any prospect of extricating itself, it is right that extreme necessity be met by public aid, since each family is a part of the commonwealth. In like manner, if within the precincts of the household there occur grave disturbance of mutual rights, public authority should intervene to force each party to yield to the other its proper due; for this is not to deprive citizens of their rights, but justly and properly to safeguard and strengthen them. But the rulers of the commonwealth must go no further; here, nature bids them stop.” (RN ¶14)
“We approach the subject with confidence, and in the exercise of the rights which manifestly appertain to Us, for no practical solution of this question will be found apart from the intervention of religion and of the Church. It is We who are the chief guardian of religion and the chief dispenser of what pertains to the Church; and by keeping silence we would seem to neglect the duty incumbent on us.” (RN ¶16)

6. Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor
It is the Church’s right and responsibility to speak out about the economic conditions so that the economic classes can be reconciled using Gospel principles.

7. ≠ Leprosy

8. Quadragesimo Anno: After 40 years
Pope Pius XI
On the anniversary of Rerum Novarum
1931 in a time of major economic depression
Evaluation of Rerum Novarum and its impact on society and the groups it addressed.
Clarification of the role of the Church in economics, property rights, capital and labor, uplifting of the poor, and social reform.
Description of the abuses of both capitalism and socialism and possible remedies.

9. Quadragesimo Anno Evaluation:
There had been an effort to help lower classes
Works of charity had been multiplied
Political leaders were more conscious of their obligations to promote social policy
Laws and programs for the poor were begun
Unions had flourished

10. Quadragesimo Anno Clarification:
The Church has a right and duty to speak on social and economic issues in as much as they affect moral issues.
Double danger of property rights: individualism and collectivism.
Right of ownership is not absolute.
Labor and capital need each other but there should be a just distribution of wealth to serve the common good.

11. Quadragesimo Anno Clarification:
In Western nations the situation of workers has improved but in other parts of the world it has declined, especially rural laborers.
Reiteration of the importance of a just wage
Reform the social order to follow the principle of subsidiarity.

12. Quadragesimo Anno Description:
Capitalism has led to a struggle for domination energized by greed.
Communism supports violence and the abolition of private ownership
Socialism condemns the resort to physical force and moderates the prohibition on private property.
No compromise between Christianity and socialism.
Love and charity based on Gospel principles must be used to reinforce justice.
Fascism
Most generally, “a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.” 
Unlike communism, fascism is opposed to state ownership of capital and economic equality is not a principle or goal. 
Communism Most generally, communism refers to community ownership of property, with the end goal being complete social equality via economic equality.
Socialism Most generally, socialism refers to state ownership of common property, or state ownership of the means of production

13. Mater et Magestra: Christianity and Social Progress
Pope St. John XXIII
1961
70 year anniversary
Reviews the previous 2 social encyclicals.
Revisits once again a lot of the principles stated before: private property, subsidiarity, just wages, etc.
Raises new issues to address
Rededicates the Church to applying CST.

14. Mater et Magestra: Christianity and Social Progress
New aspects of the social question:
Agriculture was a depressed sector leading to greater imbalances between agriculture and industry. Calls for improvement in the conditions of rural workers.
Aid to less developed areas: the responsibility for their development should be done locally (subsidiarity)
Differences between developing nations and industrial countries: aid should be offered without the intent to dominate.
Population Increase: population control should not be done in a way that violates human dignity
p. 184 in CST book

15. Mater et Magestra: Christianity and Social Progress

16. World Domination

17. African Independence
Sudan, Democratic Republic of 1 January 1956
Morocco 2, Kingdom of 2 March 1956
Tunisia, Republic of 20 March 1956
Ghana, Republic of 6 March 1957
Guinea, Republic of 2 October 1958
Cameroon 3, Republic of 1 January 1960
Senegal, Republic of 4 April 1960
Togo, Republic of 27 April 1960
Mali, Republic of 22 September 1960
Madagascar, Democratic Republic of 26 June 1960
Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of the 30 June 1960
Somalia, Democratic Republic of 1 July 1960
Benin, Republic of 1 August 1960
Niger, Republic of 3 August 1960
Burkina Faso, Popular Democratic Republic of August 1960
Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of (Ivory Coast) 7 August 1960
Chad, Republic of 11 August 1960
Central African Republic 13 August 1960
Congo (Brazzaville), Republic of the 15 August 1960
Gabon, Republic of 17 August 1960
Nigeria 4, Federal Republic of 1 October 1960
Mauritania, Islamic Republic of 28 November 1960
Sierra Leone, Republic of 27 April 1961
Tanzania, United Republic of 9 December 1961
Burundi, Republic of 1 July 1962
Rwanda, Republic of 1 July 1962
Algeria, Democratic and Popular Republic of 3 July 1962
Uganda, Republic of 9 October 1962
Kenya, Republic of 12 December 1963
Malawi, Republic of 6 July 1964
Zambia, Republic of 24 October 1964
Gambia, Republic of The 18 February 1965
Botswana, Republic of 30 September 1966
Lesotho, Kingdom of 4 October 1966
Mauritius, State of 12 March 1968
Swaziland, Kingdom of 6 September 1968
Equatorial Guinea, Republic of 12 October 1968

18. Gaudium et Spes: On the Church in the Modern World
Vatican II (under Pope Paul VI)
1965
The duty of the Church to scrutinize the “signs of the times” in light of the gospel
The Council elaborated the role of human dignity and the common good, addressed atheism, and expressed the need to apply faith to daily life.

19. Gaudium et Spes: On the Church in the Modern World
The major areas of concern, where the gospel needed to be applied most were:
Marriage and the Family
Families are the foundation of society
Divorce, excessive self-love, and worship of pleasure are all destructive to marriage.
Marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children.
From the moment of conception life must be protected
The Development of Culture
Culture must evolve so as to foster the development of the whole person.
The quest for heaven should inspire Christians to build a more human world on earth.

20. Gaudium et Spes: On the Church in the Modern World
Socio-Economic Life
Ongoing imbalance between wealth and poverty.
Politics
Public authorities should work for the common good.
Peace
Modern weapons put humanity in a crisis situation.
The international community should be built up.

21. Populorum Progressio: On the Development of Peoples
Paul VI
1967
Asks the question: What does the authentic development of nations look like?
Enlarges our understanding of the struggle between rich and poor classes (Leo XIII) to encompass the conflict between rich and poor nations.
First encyclical devoted entirely to the international development issue.
Highlighting the economic sources of war so that economic justice could be a basis for creating peace.

22. Populorum Progressio: On the Development of Peoples
Criticizes capitalism more than any of his predecessors.
Profit motive should not be driven by greed
Unrestricted right of private property
With situations of injustice, the temptation to resort to violence is great but also grave and should be avoided.
Too often revolutions have resulted in greater misery.

23. Humanae Vitae: On the Regulation of Birth
Paul VI
1968
4 Prophesies…

24. Octogesima Adveniens: A Call to Action
Paul VI
80 year anniversary
1971
Main issue: urbanization
Paul VI describes the role that local churches and individuals have in discerning and acting towards justice.

25. Octogesima Adveniens: A Call to Action
New social problems:
A new loneliness and the possibility of humans becoming slaves to their own creations.
Youth are finding dialogue increasingly difficult.
Women didn’t have an equal right to participate in social roles.
The “new poor” created by urbanization include the handicapped, elderly, and marginalized.
Lots of discrimination still exists.
The media has both a positive and negative potential.
People have a responsibility to protect the environment.

26. Octogesima Adveniens: A Call to Action
Paul VI returns to the dangers of Marxism and socialism.
Also the way that humans have become an object of science is described which is a problem because science lacks a total picture of humanity.

27. STOP
FIRST TEST: Documents 1-6

28. Test Corrections All corrections must be in complete sentences.
Matching
Octogesima Adveniens is the Latin name for _________.
Circle
________ was released in _____, on the _____ year anniversary of Rerum Novarum.
Fill in the blank
Multiple Choice

29. Laborem Excerns: On Human Work
St. John Paul II
1981
90 year anniversary of Rerum Novarum
Main issue: the right to work and the rights of workers (CST Principle #5)
Like the popes before, he is critical of both capitalism and socialism.
Emphasizes the priority of labor over capital and people over things.
Emigration Issue
Emigrate means to leave one's country to live in another.
Immigrate is to come into another country to live.

30. Laborem Excerns: On Human Work
Should people be able to move from one place to another and back again?
In order to do what?
What is “evil” about emigration?
What should be done to protect immigrants?
What is the temptation of the receiving countries that should be avoided, especially towards immigrants?
Why?
Immigrants

31. Laborem Excerns: On Human Work
Leviticus 19:33-34
Exodus 22:20
Deuteronomy 10:19
Matthew 22:39

32. Familiaris Consortio: On the Christian Family in the Modern World
JPII, 1981 (but not an anniversary document)
Unique role of mothers which should not be forfeited to working outside the home
Women should be allowed access to the workplace
Necessity to have present and loving fathers
Role of the elderly for passing on wisdom and history
Role of children to help sanctify their parents

33. Economic Justice for All USCCB
1986
A reflection on the good qualities of the American economy as well as an address to the new concerns and problems faced in America today.
As a “superpower” what type of economic injustices must be addressed at home and abroad?
Poverty rate, defense budget, unemployment, etc.
Arms race, foreign aid (giving without expectation), etc.

34. Economic Justice for All
“Economic arrangements … teach virtues—or vices—and day by day help mold our characters. They affect the quality of people's lives; at the extreme even determining whether people live or die. Serious economic choices go beyond purely technical issues to fundamental questions of value and human purpose.”
“The U.S. value system emphasizes economic freedom. It also recognizes that the market is limited by fundamental human rights. Some things are never to be bought or sold.”

35. Economic Justice for All
“The United States is the major supplier of food to other countries, a major source of arms sales to developing nations and a powerful influence in multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the United Nations. What Americans see as a growing interdependence is regarded by many in the less-developed countries as a pattern of domination and dependence.”
Over the past two decades the nation has come to tolerate an increasing level of unemployment.
Among the unemployed are a disproportionate number of blacks, Hispanics, young people, or women who are the sole support of their families.
The quality of the national discussion about our economic future will affect the poor most of all, in this country and throughout the world. The life and dignity of millions of men, women, and children hang in the balance.

36. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social Concern
JPII, 1987
20 year anniversary of Populorum Progressio (Paul VI)
Conducts a survey of his contemporary world in order to update the need for and direction of authentic international development.
In his evaluation of the world situation, JP II recognized that many of the hopes of Paul VI had gone unfulfilled.

37. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social Concern
What JP II saw:
Widened gap between the North (developed) and the South (developing).
Totalitarianism makes people objects.
Housing crisis
Underemployment and unemployment had grown
Global debt was aggravating underdevelopment
CST is equally critical of liberal capitalism and Marxist collectivism.

38. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social Concern
Authentic Development:
Problems with underdevelopment and super-development
Relationship of “having” and “being”.
It is the Church’s responsibility to concern itself with the problems of development.
Cooperation is necessary for this task to be accomplished.
Respect for the natural world.
Call to Conversion
Solidarity helps us to see the other as neighbor.
An intimate connection between development and liberation.

39. Communism and JPII
One historian who has studied the Communist regimes estimate at total of around 94 million deaths of people under the regimes.
65 million in the People's Republic of China
20 million in the Soviet Union
2 million in Cambodia
2 million in North Korea
1.7 million in Africa
1.5 million in Afghanistan
1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
1 million in Vietnam
150,000 in Latin America (mainly Cuba)
10,000 deaths "resulting from actions of the international Communist movement and Communist parties not in power."[4]
He claims that Communist regimes are responsible for a greater number of deaths than any other political ideal or movement, including Nazism. The statistics of victims includes executions, famine, deaths resulting from deportations, physical confinement, or through forced labor.

40. Communism and JPII

41. Centisimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
Written by JPII in 1991 (his 9th encyclical)
Recaps Rerum Novarum.
Especially emphasizes the historical situation of Eastern Europe and the fall of socialism in most of Eastern Europe, but before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Misses no opportunity to talk about human dignity.

42. Centisimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
Recap of Rerum Novarum:
There is no genuine solution to the “social question” apart from the Gospel.
There is a need for a just wage, the dignity of work to be recognized, and a right to private property.
The criticisms of socialism and liberalism are still relevant today.
Preferential option for the poor and vulnerable is reiterated.
Oh and don’t forget: human dignity

43. Centisimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
New things:
Fundamental error of socialism is a misunderstanding of the human person.
This error springs from atheism which then distorts both the order of law and human freedom.
This violence can be overcome by justice (the key to a truly peaceful society)
Awareness of human rights, due in a large part to the United Nations after 1945, has grown throughout the world.
However, the UN has yet to develop a good aid policy or system of conflict resolution.

44. Centisimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
The Year 1989: many oppressive regimes fell, though, throughout the 80’s regimes had begun to fall in 3rd World countries.
Beginning in Poland, the fall then spread to Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Romania.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Success of Civil Disobedience (non-violent)
In 1991 the Soviet Union was dissolved and 14 independent countries were formed.

45. Centisimus Annus: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
1989 showed that CST can be effective when embraced and put into actual practice.
Though Marxism had been collapsing, it did not therefore mean that all problems were solved.
Still need CST for authentic development.
Just because socialism is defeated it does not mean that capitalism is the best or even the only economic model. (Same with politics)

46. Caritas in Veritate: Charity in Truth
Written by Benedict XVI in 2009
Christian Realism: where faith and life meet
Fighting against relativism
“In the present social and cultural context, where there is a widespread tendency to relativize truth, practicing charity in truth helps people to understand that adhering to the values of Christianity is not merely useful but essential for building a good society and for true integral human development.”

47. Caritas in Veritate: Charity in Truth
“God is love” (1 Jn 4:8)
“Charity is love received and given”
“This truth should be loved and demonstrated.”
Where is it demonstrated? In society. (CST)
“Justice is the primary way of charity”
“We ask to what extent Paul VI's expectations have been fulfilled by the model of development adopted in recent decades.”

48. Caritas in Veritate: Charity in Truth
Solidarity: “first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone, and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State.”
JPII
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis

49. Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home
Pope Francis
2015
What does the Pope think of animals?
Didn’t Pope Francis say dogs are going to heaven?
No.
However…

50. Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home
118: There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology. (Go back to the beginning!) When the human person is considered as simply one being among others, the product of chance or physical determinism, then “our overall sense of responsibility wanes”.[96]
Human beings cannot be expected to feel responsibility for the world unless, at the same time, their unique capacities of knowledge, will, freedom and responsibility are recognized and valued.

51. Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home
Pope Francis: Time, my brothers and sisters, seems to be running out; we are not yet tearing one another apart, but we are tearing apart our common home. Today, the scientific community realizes what the poor have long told us: harm, perhaps irreversible harm, is being done to the ecosystem. The earth, entire peoples and individual persons are being brutally punished. And behind all this pain, death and destruction there is the stench of what Basil of Caesarea called “the dung of the devil”. An unfettered pursuit of money rules. The service of the common good is left behind. Once capital becomes an idol and guides people’s decisions, once greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society, it condemns and enslaves men and women, it destroys human fraternity, it sets people against one another and, as we clearly see, it even puts at risk our common home.

52. Works Cited
Catholic Social Teaching Our Best Kept Secret Peter J. Henriot
Edward P. DeBerri
Michael J. Schultheis