GROUP III

Abregana, Harry
Arat, Jeanjette Marie
Navarro, Suzanne
Tac-an, Ronie Ryan
Tan, Jeffrey

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 Pope John Paul II
Birth Name: Karol Jozef Wojtyla
Birth Date: May 18, 1920
Died: April 2, 2005

Pope John Paul II was ordained in 1946, became the bishop of Ombi in 1958, became the archbishop of Krakow in
1964and was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1967. He made history in 1978 by becoming the first non-Italian
pope in more than 400 years.

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 Centesimus Annus (on the hundredth year) is an encyclical which was written by Pope John Paul II in 1991 on the hundredth
anniversary of Rerum Novarum. This speaks to look back at the text itself in order to discover anew the richness of the fundamental
principles which it formulated for dealing with the question of the condition of workers. It is also an invitation to look at the present
around at the new things which surround us. Finally, it is also an invitation to look to the future at a time when we can already glimpse
the third millennium of the Christian era. This is an occasion of great importance for the present history of the church. It is part of the
larger body of writings, known as Catholic Social Teaching, that trace their origin to Rerum Novarum and ultimately the New
Testament. It was one of the fourteen encyclicals issued by Pope John Paul II. This was written during the last days of the Cold War.
Centesimus annus specifically examines contemporaneous political and economic issues. It is partially a refutation of
Marxist/Communist ideology and a condemnation of the dictatorial regimes that practiced it. This was written to condemn the horrors
of the communist regimes throughout the world. The encyclical also expounds on issues of social and economic justice. This includes
the defense of private property rights and the right to form labor unions. It compares socialism to consumerism, identifying atheism as
the source of their common denial, the dignity of the human person. The reoccurring themes of social and economic justice were also
mentioned articulating the foundational beliefs in the social teaching of the Catholic Church. The Pope also calls on the State to be the
agent of justice for the poor and to protect the rights of all its citizens. This addressed the question of the States obligation to defend
human rights. Thus, it examines the role of the State and the economy from the perspective of Catholic moral theology. It may be said
that Centesimus annus path through history has been marked by other documents which paid tribute to it and applied it to the
circumstances of the day. This encyclical also meant to thank God the origin of every good endowment and every perfect gift. This
also seeks to show the fruitfulness of the principles which belong to the Churchs doctrinal patrimony, as such, involve the exercise of
teaching authority.

Pope John Paul affirms Pope Leo XIIIs teachings that there should be rights for the people who work. He also
emphasize into emerging economic arrangements. He strongly rejects the idea that socialism is the proper response to
current economic condition. The fundamental error of socialism is its misunderstanding of the human person as simply an
element. On the other hand, the State has a positive role to play in determining the juridical framework of economic
affairs. Aside from that, the state should adopt measures to help those who become unemployed and encourage proper
wage levels. The principal task of the State is to guarantee the security if individual freedom and private property. The
Pope also argues that communism failed not only because it neglected to regard the spiritual nature of humans. He also
introduced the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. Solidarity means empathizing with those around you for the
pursuit of the common good. Subsidiarity means a community of a higher order should not interfere in theinternal life of
a community of a lower order. This is always with a view to the common good. The encyclical also contain events during
the cold war. In some countries, the events resulted from an encounter between the Church and the workers movement.
This also illustrates the opportunities for human freedom to cooperate with the plan of God who acts in history. Peace
and prosperity are goods that belong to the whole human race and there must be a change in priorities and values on
which economic and political choices are made. Also, the mass media has a special role to play in fostering a sense of
general responsibility. Moreover, humans are considered as the way of the church. The Churchs purpose is the care and
responsibility not only for humankind, but also for each individual and receives the meaning of humankind from Divine
Revelation. Grace is needed for the demands of justice to be met. Lastly, the Pope calls for the Church to feel obliged in
denouncing poverty and injustice and enter into dialogue concerned with humankind.

Unlike Pope Leo XIII, Pope John Paul II writes to all humanity. The Popes greatest originality lies in going beyond the
questions of politics and economics to questions of morality and culture. He turns to the inadequacies of modern culture and morals.
For him, the heart if culture is the spiritual and moral of its people.The document points out to various events but more importantly the
long period of dictatorial and oppressive regimes. Thus expresses the importance of using moral, peaceful and visibility of the truth to
diminish dictatorship. Man has to eliminate whatever they may have which was negative to the society as a whole. This approach was
opposite of what the Marxists thought to be followed. The inefficiency of the economic system in different dimensions was also looked
down. It was made clear in the encyclical that no political society should ever be confused with the kingdom of God. People should be
watchful because industrial developments had a sense of possibly obtaining kingdom due to the wealth. The financial level that they
were place made them feel at a certain stage of perfection. People should better meet basic needs and constantly raise the level of the
common good of people. The Pope calls for a worldwide effort to bring about those basic conditions. This involves efforts involving the
sacrifice of income and power. Overall, this encyclical is an overview of how the events in the society particularly of 1989 had a
worldwide importance. The bottom-line of which are the negative and positive outcomes that the events brought upon the whole
human society. Before, our eyes, countries, and societies where frozen in the hopeless old ways. But trough this encyclical, people will
begin to moderate their behavior and become modern. The Popes writings will be a valuable tool for the coming transformation.

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 M A R X I S T M
C O L D N A
A W S O L I D A R I T Y R
T E O T E K
H U N D R E D T H H L A W E
O C K N E E D L T
L Y I R I G H T S
I C E N T E S I M U S G
C L M E
I U N I O N S
C O M M U N I S T G C
A F R E E D O M
P O L I T I C A L A I A
A P E A C E V N
J U S T I C E O E I S
L O N
S U B S I D I A R Y M E D I A

ACROSS DOWN

1. Partially refuted ideology 2. Used by man to fulfill himself

4. CA was written during the last days of the
_________ war.
6. empathizing and unity with those around you
9. CA is translated as _____________ year.
10.__________ is sovereign and not the arbitrary will
of individuals.
11. Rich class stands less in ______ of help unlike
the poor.
12. State should protect the ______ of all its citizens.
13. _______ Annus is the centenary of the encyclical
Rerum Novarum.
14. CA promotes the right to form private
associations and labor __________.
15. CA condemns the horrors of the _____regimes.
16. What should the State guarantee to every
individual?
20. CA examines contemporaneous _____ and
economic issues.
21. _____and prosperity are the goods that belong to
the whole human race.
22. Pope calls on the State to be the agent of _____.
23. A principle which is always with a view to the
common good
24. Mass _____ has a special role to play in fostering
a sense of great responsibility.
3. Pope John Paul II also defends private property,
______ and businesses.
4. CA also articulates the foundational beliefs of what
church?
5. By what means does man commits himself not
only for his own sake but also for others?
7. What is the source of common denial?
8. This _____ expounds on issues of social and
economic justice.
16. What is needed for the demands of justice to be
met?
18. From what revelation does the church receive
meaning of humankind?
19.HU_ _ _ _ is the way of the church
20. Pope John ____ II : Author of CA
21. Who has a claim towards special consideration?

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 Reflection__
Abregana, Harry

Centesimus Annus focuses on the practical materialism of market economies, their unbridled search
for profit, consumerism, and selfishness without solidarity. I definitely agree with the Pope as he says that it
is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone. Thus he calls for state intervention to
regulate market economies through a strong legal system that also takes into consideration of the ethical
and religious needs of the human person. As the word of God says, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Arat, Jeanjette Marie

This encyclical surely prompts a careful and perhaps painful rethinking of the conventional wisdom
about Catholic social teaching since this gives importance to economics, politics and culture. But among this
three which define social order, culture is considered as the greatest. And the heart of culture is the spiritual
and moral. Therefore, as human beings, we need to also take good care and preserve our culture since this is
where our origin and humanity flows. But how can we retain our culture? It is through nourishing our
spiritual and moral virtues.

Navarro, Suzanne

Centesimus Annus rediscover the richness of the fundamental principles in which Rerum Novarum
dealt with the condition of the workers and the economy as a whole. I was a bit perplexed upon noticing
that this social issue have never ceased though a century had passed. This gives me the idea that the dignity
of the worker and therefore the dignity of work should never be left aside. As we go towards our journey, it is
inevitable and in fact necessary for us to work so that we can help our family and other people as well. Every
individual has a natural right to procure what is required to live; and the poor can procure in no other way
by what they earn through their work. Thus, it was emphasized and always been reiterated that we people as
we work; we should be given just wages and a good working condition.

Tac-an, Ronie Ryan

Centesimus Annus is a watershed event in the modern religious thought about freedom. In its
concerns for workers rights, for families and voluntary associations, and for religious liberty and its
endorsement of democracy, the Pope develops classic themes of papal teaching about the modern economy
and the modern state. But Pope John Paul II also breaks crucial new ground of the challenges of a free
economy. This encyclical empathizes not only for the Catholics but addresses to all men. Through this
encyclical it came clear to me that freedom will be more secure if democracy is present in a country.

Tan, Jeffrey

This encyclical is a ringing endorsement of the market economy. The endorsement is however joined
to powerful challenges. Pope John Paul affirms a new capitalist. But the term he prefers is simply free
economy. Of course socialism is economically disastrous, but what he calls the evil of the system imposed
by the communist empire leads to deprivation of freedom. I believe that it is vital for every individual to
exercise our freedom. That way we can be productive and we can also do the things for the good and to help
uplift the lives of others.