PRIMER ON

CATHOLIC SOCIAL
TEACHINGS
Second Semester - Midterms
CLE 12
OPENING:

In this primer, we will be introduced

to Catholic Social Teachings, its
nature and development. We will see
how the Church has sketched a
Christian vision of social moral life and
offered moral principles, which are
proposed as valid for all who strive to
live a fully human life.
GOAL FOR THE DAY:

Define Catholic Social Teaching and

its characteristics, sources and
implications to man
 Many Filipino
Catholics are
complacent in
living out our faith
to the social
realities today.
 Jesus Christ
teaches the
people to “read
the signs of the
times” in the light
of faith and
moral actions.
We are to live out our faith in action
to solve the social problems today.
 The Church
responds to this
challenge by
offering effective
education in the
faith.
This effective
education in the
faith is none other
than the
 THE ROLE
OF THE
CHURCH
IN SOCIETY
 All leaders
and members
of the Church

has their role to

play in bringing
the Gospel to
daily human life.
 The leaders of the
Church are mainly
responsible for
evangelizing the
faithful.

They are the leaders to whom we, the

members of the Church, are called to
“listen.”
For our part, we are to concretely and
directly incorporate the Gospel values
into our specific relationships and
works.
 Church and
State Separation/
Relation
 Church and State
Separation means
that the Church and
the State are two
independent
institutions who has
their duties and
responsibilities to the
same society where
they exist and called
to serve for.
 Church and State
Separation also
means that there is
no state religion. All
members of the state
are free to choose
and practice their
own religion.
CST is one concrete
way the Church
fulfills its task of
integral
evangelization,
proclaiming that
Christ’s liberation
touches every
aspect of human
life.
 Through CST, the
Church proposes a
Christian ethical
vision that grounds
our effort to
respond to the
many issues raised
by living in society.
 This vision give us:

moral principles
that can help us
reflect on our social
problems;
This vision give us:

guidelines for moral

action; and
 This vision give us:

criteria for judging

our moral decisions
and evaluating
social systems.
THE BEST-KEPT
SECRET
Why?
The main reason
is that CST
teaches hard
truths which
demands moral
behaviors that are
challenging.
 The Church
continues to teach
CST because
through CST, the
Church…
 Connects the
Scripture, which
was written
thousands of years
ago, to our present
time;
Links our individual
moral choices to
our social life;
Caters to both our
spiritual and bodily
needs; and
 Stresses the urgent
call to express our
faith through deeds
of justice and love.
CST has two basic characteristics,
namely:
PERMANENT and DEVELOPING.
CST has four sources, namely:
SACRED SCRIPTURE,
REASON/NATURAL LAW,
CHURCH TRADITION, and
HUMAN EXPERIENCE
 The bible has
always been the
starting point of
Christian ethics.

From the inspired Word in Scripture,

the Church receives God’s Self-
disclosure.
 Natural law “is nothing
other than the light of
understanding infused in
us by God, whereby we
understand what we
must be done and what
must be avoided. God
gave this light to human
persons at creation.”
CHURCH TRADITION:
The rich heritage of
social teachings can be
credited to the many
valuable contributions of
moral philosophers,
theologians, and experts
over the ages.
 Human experience is the process
through which the Church reads and
interprets “the signs of the times.”
DIFFERENT SOCIAL DOCUMENTS OR
ENCYCLICALS OF THE CHURCH:

Papal documents (Papal Encyclicals)

Conciliar documents (Constitutions,
Conciliar Letters)
Local Conference Documents
(Episcopal letters, Pastoral letters)
HOW DO WE CONCRETIZE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF CST IN OUR LIFE?
• We integrate and use our faith and
human reason in all mind sets,
choices, and actions that we take.
 Activity: Documentary Viewing
(Paglilingkod-The Filipino Social
Worker in a world out of balance)
Answer the following Guide Questions:
1. Describe the work of a social worker and the
people they are helping.
2. State the common problems that social
workers encounter.
3. Identify their personal reasons for doing social
work.
4. How do the social workers concretize the
principles of CST in their field of work?
MEANINGFUL CLOSURE:

“Authentic faith always implies a

profound desire to change the world.
Here is the question we should ask
ourselves: Do we also have great
visions and dash? Are we also daring?
Do our dreams fly high?
- Pope Francis