1. Catholic Social Teaching & Poverty

2. Justice Write down your definition?
What influenced you to have that definition?
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3. Poverty Pop Quiz In 2010, how many people were poor in the U.S.?
A million
B million
C million
D million

4. Poverty Pop Quiz
In 2010, what % of children were in poverty in the U.S.?
A. 10.4%
B. 15.3%
C. 22%
D. 26.2%

5. Poverty Pop Quiz
Extreme poverty is an area where at least what % of the population lives below the poverty line?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 30%
D. 40%

6. Bound by Faith of Baptism
Chapter 12 of the Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church
Responsibility of Christians to be committed to social transformation
Role for everyone, but esp. laity – Baptism

7. Evangelization Believe: Jesus Share: Community Transform: World
Being Church: evangelization occurs with & through community
Evanglization has a personal and social dimension involving human rights, peace, justice, development, and liberation. #29 Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI
Context of social ministry
Role of CST: framework of values for action

8. World Synod of Bishops Justice in the World
-Action on behalf of justice for the transformation of the world is a constitutive dimension of preaching the gospel
-Placed action for justice at the heart of the Church’s mission as central as celebrating the sacraments
-Justice education is central to the Church’s mission

9. Justice in the World See, Judge, Act
Social Sin: structural problems, not just individual ones
God as liberator & Jesus as preacher of justice for the poor
Theme for the CSC this year

10. Deus Caritas Est
Love of God and love of neighbor have become one: In the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God.

11. Call to Be Faithful - Transformation
Scripture: Faith as Wisdom
Sacrament: Faith as Experience
Social Justice: Faith as Witness

12. Biblical Justice Social Dimension of Scripture
Not one way to know the will of God
Gen. 1: sacredness, stewardship
Exodus: freedom for new covenant
Lk 4, Mt 25 & Prophets:
Justice is intrinsic to faith
Protection in social setting

13. Biblical Justice Does not make straight correlations
About making things right
>Right relationship
*God
*One another
*Earth
>Fidelity to the community

14. Getting Through the Lingo
Catholic Social Tradition
Catholic Social Thought
Catholic Social Teaching
Lots of Latin documents

15. Catholic Social Tradition
Brings in the whole history of people, places, events & movements following the call of Scripture
Church’s lived and intellectual tradition
People: Dorothy Day, Thea Bowman, John Ryan
Movements: Jocists, Catholic Worker

16. Catholic Social Thought
Patristic & Classical theologians:
Augustine & Thomas Aquinas
Continuing reflection:
- Liberation Theology, Eco-theology

17. Catholic Social Teaching
Official teaching statements
-From Popes 1891 Leo XIII Rerum Novarum to Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate
-From Bishops Conferences:
US: Challenge of Peace & Economic Justice for All
Philippines: Ecology
-Local Bishops:
IL: Racism Pastoral
Northwest U.S.: Columbia River & Environment Pastoral

18. Example of the Synthesis
Tradition: John XXIII & Vatican II
Thought: “Signs of the Times”
Activity of God’s Spirit as it is revealed in the social movements of an historical period
Teaching: Pacem in Terris
Women’s movement
Ending colonialism

19. Catholic Social Teaching
Values & Principles for Action
Dignity of the Human Person
Community & the Common Good
Rights & Responsibilities
Option for the Poor
Dignity of Work
Solidarity
Care for God’s Creation

20. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Dignity of the
Human Person
Call to Community
Participation
And
Responsibilities
Rights and
Dignity
of Work
Option for
the Poor
Care for
Creation
God’s
Solidarity
These principles form the basis for all Catholic
social teaching. The issues may
change, but the principles are immutable.

21. Dignity of the Human Person
This is the keystone of CST. We are all made in the image & likeness of God, hence all life is precious and sacred, from conception until natural death.
Dt 30:15-20 Choose life.
Ps 103:6-10 The Lord secures justice of all the oppressed.
Lk 24:49 Christ empowers us to continue his work.
Eph. 4:23-24 Put on a new self, created in God’s way.

22. Community & the Common Good
All humanity is called to be social and to model the relationship of God in the mystery of the Trinity. We recognize our humanity in relationship to others and are saved through community.
Lv 19:9-15 Treat your neighbor with justice and mercy.
Mi 6:8 Act justly and walk humbly with God.
Jn 13:34-35 Love one another.
Acts 4:32-35 Learn how to live true Christian community.

23. Rights & Responsibilities
We not only care about life, but also that people have quality of life so that their human dignity is respected. We are called to respect the rights of others.
Jer 22:16 To know the Lord is to act justly.
Am 5:21-24 God does not want empty religious exercises, but true conversion.
Mt 23:11 Be a servant.
Lk 6:46-49 Combine prayer with action.

24. Option for the Poor
The poor and anyone vulnerable or oppressed are also called to be invited as part of the community and to be given a voice. Those with the most need ought to be attended to first.
Ps 41:1-3 Show regard for the lowly and the poor.
Jer 22:3 Rescue the victim from the oppressor.
Rom 12:10-18 Exercise hospitality; make friends with the poor.
Lk 4:16-30 Jesus announces his mission to liberate people.

25. Dignity of Work
We are all called to live a vocation and to be co-creators with God using our talents. Everyone has a right to fair and decent work in which their humanity is respected.
Is 3:13-15 Do not grind the face of the poor.
Am 2:6-7 The unjust trample on the heads of ordinary people.
Lk 3:10-18 Justice in the workplace is an example of showing the Christian way.
Jas 5:1-6 Riches obtained unjustly bring misery.

26. Solidarity
We are all part of one human family–whatever our national, racial, religious, economic or ideological differences–and in an increasingly interconnected world, loving our neighbors has global dimensions.
Prv 21:13 Listen to the poor.
Is 32:16-17 Justice will bring peace.
Mt 25:31-46 Christ is identified with all people.
1 Cor. 12:24-26 If one suffers, all suffer.

27. Care for God’s Creation
From Genesis we learn all creation is holy and a gift from God which deserves our respect by being good stewards. We are co-creators with God.
Gen 2:15 Stewardship of the earth.
Dan 3:74-81 All the earth blesses God.
Mt 6:25-34 Learn to trust in God as does nature.
Rom 8:18-25 All creation awaits redemption.

28. Spes Salvi/Saved in Hope
All serious and upright human conduct is hope in action. #35
Hope, in fact, is a key word in Biblical faith – so much so that in several passages the words ‘faith’ and ‘hope’ seem interchangeable. #2
Love of God leads to participation in the justice and generosity of God toward others. #28

29. Caritas in Veritate/Charity in Truth
Latest social encyclical
Charity in truth is the principle driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. #1
The current economic and financial crises make the theme of progress more acute & urgent. #33

30. Practical Ways of Living a Just Life
Awareness: Justice Education
Direct Service & Advocacy: For Others
Empowerment: With Others

31. Faith in Action
Catholic Relief Services provides humanitarian relief and development assistance to the poor and marginalized in over 100 countries and territories around the world.
Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 8.5 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

32. Hope in Action
More than 5.5 million patients were admitted to Catholic hospitals during a one-year period.
Each year, one in six patients in the United States is cared for in a Catholic hospital, and Catholic health care facilities provide a wide range of community benefits to assist individuals and families. During the last fiscal year, Catholic hospitals across the United States contributed more than $5.7 billion* in services identified as community benefits.

33. Faith in Action
CCHD has provided nearly 8,000 grants to self-help organizations led by poor persons. 
NCEA is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries and in colleges and universities. There are 8,000 Catholic School across the United States.

34. Commitment What will you do? Who will work with you?
Who will you communicate with?
Two Seas

35. Minor in Catholic Social Tradition
15 credits: Interdisciplinary since mid-90’s
Core Class
2 Electives
Capstone
3 1-credit courses

36. Happy Thanksgiving Seminar Send-Off Mass is 5 pm on Nov.29th
Next class 7 pm on Dec. 4th