Roots of Catholic Social Teaching

from Tradition

Essential Question

Why would a Church

that is responsible for the “souls” of millions

enter the world of

economic uncertainty and political strife?

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Review: Three Sources of C.S.T. are . . . ? Old and New Testaments History / Tradition of the Church Life and Social Sciences

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Review Old Testament Roots of C.S.T. Laws –for benefit of the poor with special emphasis on

widows, orphans, and aliens Prophets – challenged corruption of political and

religious leadership and challenged the overall community to a higher moral standard.

Review New Testament Roots of C.S.T. Gospels – examples and teachings of Jesus Acts of the Apostles– the early Christian Community’s

“communism” Letters – Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

From c. 100 – 1891 A.D. There was no body of Catholic teaching that would

be labeled Social Justice. “Care for the poor” and “Do unto others” was about as

far as it went. During these centuries religious communities took

responsibility for Building hospitals and caring for the sick Founding schools and educating the people Helping immigrants find their way in a new home Feeding the hungry Caring for those displaced by war, famine, etc.

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Prior to the 20th Century It was not common for governments to create

and fund programs that were designed to help the poor.

At times, good monarchs may have worked to keep their poor subjects happy, but probably more out of a fear of rebellion than a sense justice.

The role of working for charity and justice was filled by individuals and religious communities and organizations (Catholic & Non-Catholic).

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Two Events of the Late Nineteenth Century forced the Church to Deal with Social Justice in a way it never had to in the past:

1. The Industrial Revolution

2. The Rise of Marxist-Communism

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

The Industrial Revolution Prior to Industrial Revolution, the world was

mostly an agrarian / rural based economy. Industrial Revolution created a manufacturing /

urban based economy, with new problems: Tension existed between capital (managers or

owners) and labor (the workers) over better wages and safer working conditions. Capital: willing to exploit the worker for

profit; Labor: willingness to commit acts of

violence for better wages & working conditions.

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

The Rise of Marxist Communism Given the exploitation of industrial

workers, Marxist Communism became an attractive philosophy to workers:

“Workers of the World Unite!” – Workers wanted to join unions, which had communist sympathies.

M.C. saw religion as “opium for the people” – they questioned the notion of enduring suffering with the hope that heaven’s reward will be great.

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

The Catholic Church now had ideological competition which it hadn’t had in the past.

These events came to a head in 1891, when Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical (a letter) addressing “these new things”. Rerum Novarum

“Of These New Things” “On the Condition of Labor”

Rerum Novarum (Translation: Of New Things)

Rerum Novarum (Translation: Of New Things) encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891 an open letter that addressed the condition of the working

classes encyclical is [commonly] entitled, "On the Condition of

Labor". It discusses the relationships and mutual duties between labor and

capital, as well as government and its citizens. Of primary concern was the need for some [relief] for "the misery

and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class.”

It supports the rights of labor to form unions, rejected communism and unrestricted capitalism, while affirming the right to private property.

(Read : Message, Impact & Class vs. Class)

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Rerum Novarum was the first social justice encyclical defining the Church’s position on a social issue: the relationship between capital and labor.

Statements to: Workers Employers Governments

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Rerum Novarum to Workers: you have the right to join unions and strike, but

you may not commit acts of violence against your employers.

(Read: On Rights and Responsibilities of Workers)

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Rerum Novarum to Employers: you are serving society by providing jobs and

necessary goods, but you need to pay your workers a just wage.

(Read: On Rights and Responsibilities of Employers)

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Rerum Novarum to Governments: you need to pass laws and build institutions

that protect workers and promote the common good.

(Read: On the Rights and Responsibilities of Government)

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Many of the positions in Rerum Novarum were supplemented by later encyclicals, in particular Pius XI’s Quadragesimo Anno / On the Fortieth Anniversary of “Rerum Novarum” (1931); John XXIII’s Mater et Magistra / Mother and Church (1961); and John Paul II’s Centesimus Annus / On the One Hundredth Anniversary of “Rerum Novarum (1991).

Leo XIII

Vatican Council II

John XXIIIJohn Paul II

Benedict XVI

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

Other C.S.T. documents written in the 20th Century were also written in response to what the Church perceives as injustice:

Work Economics War Environment Life issues

Roots of C.S.T. from Tradition

The “nine + two” themes of C.S.T. are themes that are taken from these documents and organized.

There’s no official list Some sources group them as 7 themes Other sources as 12 themes

Essential Question

Why would a Church

that is responsible for the “souls” of millions

enter the world of

economic uncertainty and political strife?