1. An Overview of Key Catholic Social Justice Documents Senior Theology 2010

2. Catholic Social Teaching The body of official Church documents written by Church leaders in response to various social, political, and economic issues papal encyclicals & conciliar documents Encyclical: an official letter written by the pope to the whole church Conciliar—of, related to, or generated by a council—ecumenical councils like Vatican II Pastoral—letters from local bishop/bishops

3. From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 7 Key Themes – Life & Dignity of the Human Person – Call to Family, Community, and Participation Common Good – Rights & Responsibilities – Option for the Poor and Vulnerable – The Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers – Solidarity – Care for God’s Creation (Stewardship)

4. 1891 Rerum Novarum On the Condition of Workers Pope Leo XIII Strongly affirms the belief that the human person has basic rights, especially right to food, clothing, shelter & living wage rejects socialism because it gave to the state the rights belonging to individual & family Affirms right to private property Criticized aspects of unbridled capitalism Supported the rights of workers to form unions & to strike Advocated fair wages & decent working conditions

5. 1931 Quadragesimo Anno The Reconstruction of the Social Order

6. Pius XI Revisits & reaffirms On the Condition of Workers upon its 40 th anniversary Introduces subsidiarity— As history abundantly proves, it is true that on account of changed conditions many things which were done by small associations in former times cannot be done now save by large associations. Still, that most weighty principle, which cannot be set aside or changed, remains fixed and unshaken in social philosophy: Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. For every social activity ought of its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social, and never destroy and absorb them. The supreme authority of the State ought, therefore, to let subordinate groups handle matters and concerns of lesser importance, which would otherwise dissipate its efforts greatly. Thereby the State will more freely, powerfully, and effectively do all those things that belong to it alone because it alone can do them: directing, watching, urging, restraining, as occasion requires and necessity demands. Therefore, those in power should be sure that the more perfectly a graduated order is kept among the various associations, in observance of the principle of "subsidiary function," the stronger social authority and effectiveness will be the happier and more prosperous the condition of the State.

7. 1961 Mater et Magistra On Christianity and Social Progress

8. Pope John XXIII Called Vatican Council 2 Open the windows of the Church

9. 1961 Mater et Magistra On Christianity and Social Progress Pope John XXIII Affirms Church as guardian of poor & oppressed Voices concern for workers,women, & newly independent nations Warns that spending on nuclear weapons & the widening gap between rich & poor nations threaten society All to work for the common good

10. 1963 Pacem in Terris Peace on Earth

11. Pope John XXIII Addressed to Catholics & all people Emphasizes the all people are “the children and friends of God” Identifies respect for people & a just social order as the basis for peace Spells out rights that all people possess

12. 1965 Gaudium et Spes The Church in the Modern World

13. Documents of Vatican II—what is the term? Notes growing interdependence of the international human family & importance of safeguarding every human’s basic rights Affirms that the Church should work with other elements in society to improve conditions for all people Discusses issues facing people living in the modern age—family, society, politics, economics, peace—and lays out a Christian response to them The Church is servant to all

14. 1967 Populorum Progressio On the Development of Peoples

15. Pope Paul VI First to have traveled outside Europe before becoming pope— South America & Africa Known as the Pilgrim Pope, for all his travels First pope to travel to 6 continents Demanded significant changes of attitude in rich of America & Europe in favor of poor in the Third World

16. 1967 Populorum Progressio On the Development of Peoples Economy of the world should serve mankind, not just a few Real peace in the world requires justice Rejects idea that revolution & force must be used to change economic conditions

17. 1971 Octogesima Adveniens A Call to Action

18. Paul VI Discusses discrimination Describes the duty of participation in social & political reform in order to live out the Gospel

19. 1971 Justice in the World

20. Synod of Bishops Justice is essential part of gospel & the mission of the Church Liberation theology?????

21. 1974 This Land is Home to Me

22. Describes conditions calling for justice in the Appalachian region

23. 1976 Society and the Aged

24. U.S. Bishops Affirms the human rights of people who are elderly

25. 1979 Brothers and Sisters to Us

26. Examines racism, declaring it to be a sin

27. Laborem Exercens On Human Work

28. Pope John Paul II 1981 Commemerates 90 th anniversary of Rerum Novarum Affirms the dignity of work: work expresses & increases human dignity Supports rights of workers and unions Work allows people to fulfill their vocation

29. 1983 The Challenge of Peace

30. Comprehensive examination of principles regarding war and peace Addresses major issues related to war in light of Christian principles Calls for end to the arms race, reduction of weapons, and a ban on nuclear testing; money for these things should go to the poor

31. 1986 Economic Justice for All

32. U.S. Bishops The U.S. economy should be judged in terms of what it does for people, especially people on the margins of society Reaffirms that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are strongly supported by Catholic teaching—moral issues because they are “all essential to human dignity”

33. 1991 Centesimus Annus On the One Hundredth Year

34. Pope John Paul II (JP2) Marks the 100 th anniversary of Rerum Novarum Written after fall of communism Called for relief of nations’ debts, living wages, Reaffirms the rights of profit & private property Critiques the abuses of consumerism

35. 1995 Evangelium Vitae The Gospel of Life

36. Pope John Paul II Defends the right to life Examines expressions of a “culture of death” – Euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment Proposes ways to promote a culture of life—a world of care

37. 2003 Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility

38. U.S. Bishops Called to participation and building up the common good Catholics should bring moral convictions to public life In an election, ask – How can we protect human life & dignity? – How can we pursue greater peace & justice?

39. 2005 Deus Caritas Est God is Love

40. Pope Benedict XVI Describes love, emphasizing God’s command to love Social justice always has love as its goal

41. 2009 Caritas in Veritate In Charity and Truth

42. Pope Benedict XVI Charity is at heart of Church’s social doctrine, but should not be without Truth, divorced from ethical living—otherwise “would be more or less interchangeable with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance.” 2 criteria govern moral action—justice & the common good Right to life, economic development, rights & duties, the environment, energy problem, the “human race is a single family” Subsidiarity, migration, technology—be careful of “today’s cultural struggle between the supremacy of technology & human moral responsibility”

43. Christ is Truth—infallible Confers a share of His infallibility on the Church in matters of faith & morals Pope is infallible when he proclaims a doctrine pertaining to faith and morals Body of bishops together can be infallible, together with pope, when proposing a doctrine for belief as being both divinely revealed & as the teaching of Christ