CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

The social doctrine of the Church developed in the 19th century when the Gospel encountered modern industrial society with its new structures for the production of consumer goods, its new concept of society, the state and authority, and its new forms of labor and ownership (CCC 2421). In short, it has developed in response to the evolution of modern economics, and the new conditions of work this has brought about (CFC 1160). It is a body of doctrine that the Church has developed, with the Holy Spirits guidance, to apply the Gospel of Christ to our life together as members of one human family. It describes the role that the Church takes finding solutions to the problems created by the major changes in the modern world. It has three aspects: 1. It gives principles for reflection. 2. It provides criteria for judgment. 3. It gives guidelines for action (CCC 243). It is based on: 1. Sacred Scriptures man come to know God and His will through the Word of God 2. Tradition the teachings and reflections of the Fathers of the Church like St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom
mine and thine those chilly words which introduce innumerable wars into the world should be eliminated... the poor would not envy the rich, because there would be no rich. Neither would the poor be despised by the rich, for there would be no poor. All things would be in common. (St. John Chrysostom)

3. Reason God created humans with this power, the basic norm for judging what is genuinely true and good for all peoples, and a source of harmony for all 4. Human Experience the process through which the Church reads and interprets the signs of the times (reading the signs of the times refers to the process or intelligible method for coming to a thorough understanding of the situation) Two Basic Characteristics of Catholic Social Teaching: 1. Permanent Since the teachings are based on the Gospel, they are timeless in their fundamental values, and offer a permanent complex ideal to be pursued in the ever changing historical conditions and ways. 2. Developing Deeper insight into permanent values develops in relation to the changing and circumstances in history and grounds in various new forms of Christian responses The aim is to interpret social realities according to the Christian teaching on man and his vocation for the guidance of all Christians in their dealings with society. It does not claim to solve the technical and structural problems in the society because the Church operates strictly on moral and religious level. The social mission of the Church is to proclaim justice and denounce injustice. Why is it important for you to learn the Catholic Social Teaching? Because you are the Lords presence in the world today- his loving hands, compassionate eyes, and voice that speaks out to the weak. He needs you and your wisdom to establish a just world.
3. Towards Christian Social Involvement (Nierra and Onal, 2001) 4. Catholic Social Teaching (Pennock, 2007) 5. Called to Grow in Christian Social Responsibility (Ducepec and Dango, 2007)

Sources: 1. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2. Catechism for Filipino Catholics Sociology 3 / Ms. Rhaine C. Alonzo

Sociology 3 / Ms. Rhaine C. Alonzo