San Gabriel Regional Pastoral CouncilSocial Justice Committee

September 7, 2013

Presented by:Cambria SmithParish Life DirectorHoly Family Church, South Pasadenacsmith@holyfamily.org

Catholic Social Teaching:The Best Kept Secret

Agenda 9:00 Opening Prayer and Introductions (Pat Krommer) 9:15 Social Justice 101 (Cambria Smith)

10:45 Break 11:00 Speaker Panel 12:30 Lunch 1:00 Discussion on setting up a parish social

justice ministry 1:30 Some challenges to consider 1:45 Call to Action: what can you and your parish

do right now 2:20 Evaluation of the Day 2:25 Closing Blessing by Fr. Chris Ponnet

WHY ARE WE HERE?Educate Catholics about riches of

Catholic Social TeachingProvide different models of social

justice ministryExplore some of the practical

aspects of establishing a ministryALL IN THE HOPES THAT

More parishes will be equipped to create effective social justice

ministries!!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Babies in the River Story

What do you take away from this story?

What made the most impression on you?

Babies in the River Story

Homeless People in the River Story

Prisoners on Death Row in the River Story

Somebody in the River Story

Is there a difference in the three stories in the way you feel about the victims?

Is there a difference in how you would respond to the different victims?

If so, why?What do you think you might find if you

walked up river?How do you think Jesus might respond

to these three stories?

Jesus’ ResponseMatthew 25: 31-45The Judgment of the Nations

What does the Catholic Church say about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick, and visiting those in prison?

A lot!

Justice in the World, 1971 Synod of BishopsAction on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church's mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.

The Church has identified several major themes in Catholic Social Teaching…

FOUNDATIONAL CST DOCUMENTS

1891 Rerum Novarum Leo XIII1931 Quadragesimo Anno Pius XI1961 Mater et Magistra John XXIII1963 Pacem in Terris John XXIII1965 Gaudium et Spes Vatican II1967 Populorum Progressio Paul VI1971 Octogesima Adveniens Paul VI1971 Justicia in Mundo Synod of Bishops1981 Laborem Exercens John Paul II1987 Solicitudo Rei Socialis John Paul II1991 Centesimus Annus John Paul II1995 Evangelium Vitae John Paul II2005 Deus Caritas Est Benedict XVI2009 Caritas in Veritate Benedict XVI2013 Lumen Fidei Francis

DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Most important!

Made in image and likeness of God

Each person is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death (womb to tomb)

CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION

We are social beings“ A person is a person because of other people” (Zulu saying)

We realize our dignity and human potential in our families and communities

The family is the basic cell of society

OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

Basic Moral Test of SocietyHow are the poor and vulnerable doing?

The poor and the vulnerable have the first claim on our resources.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.

The right to life includes a right to food, shelter and clothing, employment, rest, health care, and education.

Every person has the right to raise a family and the duty to support them.

Human dignity demands religious and political freedom and the duty to exercise these rights for the common good of all persons.

DIGNITY OF WORK AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.

• Workers have rights to decent work, just wages, safe working conditions, unionization, disability protection, retirement security, and economic initiative.

• The economy exists for the human person; the human person does not exist for the economy.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND SUBSIDIARITY

The state has a positive moral function. It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build the common good. All people have a right and a responsibility to participate in political institutions so that government can achieve its proper goals. 

The principle of subsidiarity:As small as possibleAs big as necessary

PROMOTION OF PEACE

Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept. In the words of Pope John Paul II, "Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.” There is a close relationship in Catholic teaching between peace and justice. Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon right order among human beings.

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION

“We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.”

• The goods of the earth are gifts from God, • They are intended by God for the benefit of everyone• Humans are part of creation itself• Whatever we do to the earth we ultimately do to ourselves. • We must live in harmony with the rest of creation, and preserve it for future generations.

SOLIDARITY

We are one human family, whatever

our national, racial, economic and

ideological differences.• Universal common good• The fates of the peoples of

the earth are linked. • It requires richer nations to

aid poorer ones; • Commands respect for

different cultures• Demands justice in

international relationships, and

• Calls on all nations to live in peace with one another.

SOLIDARITY=

COMPASSION + JUSTICE

Tony Tolbert’s Storyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/

tony-tolbert-offers-his-l_n_2397283.html

In watching the video, what made the most impression on you?

What are some of the elements in this gesture of generosity that reflect the virtue of solidarity?

SOLIDARITY IN SERVICEKenosis (self-emptying) of the one servingThe one serving experiences the pain of

the otherBecomes vulnerable to the one servedA relationship based on equality and

mutualityStrengths and weaknesses are recognized

in both the served and the server“Work of the soul, not the ego”Is there anything else that we could add to

this list?

RESOURCESVatican websiteUSCCB websiteCalifornia Catholic Conference of Bishops

websiteArchdiocese of Los Angeles website and

Office of Life, Justice and PeaceOn line course on CST and Faithful

Citizenship at the ADLA websiteEducation for Justice websitePax Christi website

Agenda 9:00 Opening Prayer and Introductions (Pat Krommer) 9:15 Social Justice 101 (Cambria Smith)

10:45 Break 11:00 Speaker Panel 12:30 Lunch 1:00 Discussion on setting up a parish social

justice ministry 1:30 Some challenges to consider 1:45 Call to Action: what can you and your parish

do right now 2:20 Evaluation of the Day 2:25 Closing Blessing by Fr. Chris Ponnet

SETTING UP A PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY

Gather a small group of advocates to form a steering committee (3-5 people)

Solicit permission/support from the pastoral leader or group in charge of new ministries (Pastor, PLD, Director of Ministries, or Pastoral Council)

Recruit members of the Social Justice MinistryEducate them in CSTDetermine what you are going to do and what type

of SJM you are going to formCreate a Mission StatementPlan what you are going to do and implement itRecruit new leadership

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?