INTRO: DEVT OF SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH

Object of Social Doctrines

Critical reflection on the existing social structures

and collective action

Directed towards
Reform and establishment of new structures
Humanization of structures: Justice, freedom,
human rights and equality
DEVT OF CHURCHS UNDERSTANDING OF HER SOCIAL
MISSION
SOURCES OF CST: Early Historical Development
1. BIBLE: PRIMARY SOURCE OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL
ETHICS

E.g. Origin of the 10 Commandments

Experience of a community
The need for norms and guidelines to safeguard the
individual and the community
O.T. concept of the individual
o
Belongs to a community
o
Works for justice within that community
Manifested in the concern for the poor: Anawim
widows, strangers, and orphans

However, some biblical teachings raise significant

concerns for the contemporary society:
Slavery
Role of women in the society

The bible is an important source of social ethics but

deals with a specific teaching: MANS SALVATION

Hence: NOT primarily interested in methodological and

systematic approach towards social ethics
2. HUMAN EXPERIENCE (HISTORY)
A. First 1 Thousand Years
Movement towards a systematic understanding of
relationship between SECULAR AND SACRED
Separation between Church and State
The Gregorian Reform (ca 1050-1080)
o
Under
Gregory
VII,
the
Church
sought
independence from the State
o
The Papacy is regarded as having monarchial
power of its own.
o
Internally, the government of the church became
increasingly centralized and bureaucratic
B. Early Part of the 2nd Millenium
The origin of universities: More systematic and
scientific knowledge
Saint Thomas Aquinas: Systematic Theology
a. Man as a Person
o
An
individual
substance
endowed
with
knowledge, freedom, and voluntariness
b. Man is social
o
Exists in multiple layers of relationships:
family,
church,
state,
broader
human
communities
c. Man is political
o
Hence, the state is natural to man and is
basically good towards which man is called to
be happy and fulfilled
The understanding of justice in keeping with mans
social nature:
o
Between individuals (commutative/contractual)
o
Individuals and state (distributive)
o
State and individuals (contributive)
C. 18th and 19th Centuries: Growth of Enlightenment
Emphases (totally cut-off from relationship to
God and Gods law)
o
Individual
o
Human Reason
o
Human Freedom
Afflicted Catholic Social Teaching and social life

The Catholic Church is strongly opposed to

enlightenment
a.

Religious Liberalism
o
Catholicism saw connection between
Protestantism and Enlightenment
o
By extolling conscience and freedom of
individual believer
o
The individual was separated from the
important relationship with the Church
and her teachings
b. Philosophical Liberalism
o
Stressed freedom of individual and
power of human reason
o
Divorced from any relationship with
God
c. Political Liberalism
o
Stressed the role of individual citizens,
decisions made by the majority
o
Without consideration given to Gods
law
D. Second Half of 19th Century: The Rise of Industrial
Revolution
Gave rise to economic questions: Capitalism
and exploitation of workers
Economic Liberalism
o
Allowed the entrepreneur to do whatever
he/she wants in pursuit of profit
o
No concern for other involved in the
enterprise
E. Catholic Fascination with the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages epitomized the Christian
ideal:
a. The social person in an organic society
b. All Christians were united under one true
religion
c. Kings
and
rulers
recognized
their
obligation to God
d. Social solidarity marked the economic
organization of the society
o
No individual quest for wealth and
personal gain
F. Socialism
The modern socialist movement had its origin
largely in the working class movement of the
late 19th century
Condemned capitalism and private property
Karl Marx helped establish and define the
modern socialist movement
Socialism implied the abolition of:
o
Money, market, capital, and labor as a
COMMODITY
Property and the distribution of wealth are
subject to SOCIAL CONTROL
This control may be:
o
Direct:
exercised
through
popular
collectives such as WORKERS COUNCILS
o
Indirect: exercised on behalf of the people
by the STATE
In socialism, the community or worker owns
the means of production
o
Means of Production: Anything necessary
for labor to produce machines, tools, plant,
and equipment, land, raw materials, money,
power generation, and so on.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED CATHOLIC RESPONSE
TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL QUESTIONS:
1. Sacred scripture and tradition
2. Response to the needs of workers and poor people
3. Attitude towards enlightenment and socialism

4.

Catholic tendency to look on the middle ages as the

ideal life

5.

Revived interest in the philosophy and teachings of

Saint Thomas Aquinas