Name: ____________________________________________

Section: _________________________ CN: _________

Finals
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION B
Learning Module 2

“The original source of all that is good is the very act of God, who
created both the earth and man and who gave the earth to man so
that he might have dominion over it by his work and enjoy its fruits
(Gn 1:28). God gave the earth to the whole human race for the
sustenance of all its members without excluding or favoring
anyone.”
- Centesimus Annus 31
Unit 3: Focusing on the Social Problems in the Philippines
Topic: Economic Justice
Duration: 6 Sessions
Learning Targets:
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Understand and have a substantial knowledge about Economic Justice. (D)
2. Realize that the deepest meaning and value of all creation is to praise God. (M)
3. Pray for the poor and pray for ourselves to be more dependent on God. (W)
4. Show service, integrity, and harmony in the life of the community and be socially responsible.
(CV)

This module is solely intended for educational purposes of SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL. No part of this
module should be reproduced, distributed, posted in online discussions, shared in social media sites
without the knowledge, approval, and consent of the designer.

-SJS Academic Team

“Take care to guard against old greed, for though one may be rich one’s life does
not consists of possessions… for where your treasure is, there also will your
heart be."

- Lk. 12:15, 34

We learned in the last chapter that at the

root of the issue of poverty is sin. Wealth is not
properly distributed. A few possess extraordinary
wealth, well many possess almost nothing
(Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 28 ). The worst thing is there
are some among the rich who gain their wealth at
the expense of the poor. This is economic injustice.
Figure 1. Greed and Capitalism.

Economic injustice is a serious concern of the

Church. The Church calls our attention to how we deal with material things personally and how our
resources are managed in our society.
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In this chapter, we will cover the Church’s teaching on economic goods, particularly with
respect to the right to private property in care for the environment.

How would you feel if you discovered that your friends accept you not for who you are but
for what you own? For sure, you would feel hurt.

They feel this way is indeed understandable because all of us believe that we are far more
important than material things. We know this and we all agree on this. Yet the problem is we hardly
see this applied in our everyday life. In the kind of society, we have today, it is easy for us to fall into
the trap of materialism and consumerism that tempt us to base our sense of security and identity
on our material possessions. Many of us tend to desire to acquire things even those we do not
actually need. Perhaps we have been led to feel that other people will accept us only if we are well-
off. Often this feeling is fueled by a sense of competition or the gaya-gaya syndrome.

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What is economics? What are the basics of economics?

The Search for Happiness

If you take a closer look at our life, we realized that we

do not do what we do because we ultimately want to be
happy. However, one big mistake we often make is to seek
happiness by endlessly trying to have more and earn more.
This is the attraction of materialism. We are not immune to
this culture. We, especially the young, always want to be sure

Figure 2. Mall on Sale

we are “in”. We desired the latest fashion in almost
everything: clothes, cell phones, bags, shoes, music, etc. we
clamor for more and more and always want to get ahead of others as if our identity and security depends
on possessing these things.

Well, material goods are important for our survival and dignity, the incessant pursuit forevermore
wealth and material possessions make our life meaningless. Such a lifestyle can be incredibly stressful.
With this lifestyle, we can sabotage even our own joy. Imagine the amount of time and resources we must
spend just to be able to keep abreast of the latest trends. Imagine the things we must give up or the
unnecessary anxiety we have to endure in order to be “in”. When will leave this way, our society is affected,
too. Our economy is pressured to produce more and more luxury goods, no matter what the cost. A lot of
energy and resources are wasted. Look around and see how our environment suffers and how people are
corrupted all because of the illusion that to have more is the key to genuine happiness.

The opposite of materialism and consumerism is the simplicity of lifestyle. It is a way of living that
focuses on the essentials -on what can make us really happy.

In our effort to satisfy our human needs, we realized that material satisfaction is not the highest of
human ideals. It is not what can give us a deep sense of fulfillment; only God can give that to us. Genuine
happiness is God's gift. It is an experience that Springs from the author's dependence on God and love for
fellow human persons.

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Satisfying Economic Needs

There is no such thing as purely economic needs. When a mother budgets the family income to
provide food for the family, her objective is not only to feed her family but also to fulfill her duty as a
mother and express her love for them. When a student tries to save a portion of his fare money in order
to shoulder a school expense, he shows not only his skill in handling money but also the value he gives to
education. Notice in these two examples that economic needs are not completely detached from non-
economic, spiritual needs or values. In fact, most human material needs emanate from much deeper
human needs like love, freedom, faith, and a sense of fulfillment.

So when we try to satisfy economic needs like food, employment, health, etc., we deal not only
“all of us experience firsthand the side effects of this blind
submission to pure consumerism: in the first place a crass
materialism, and at the same time radical dissatisfaction, because one
quickly learns -unless one is shielded from the flood of publicity and
the ceaseless and tempting offers so products -that the more one
possesses the more one wants, will deeper aspirations remain
unsatisfied and perhaps even stifled.”

- Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 28

with the physical but also the spiritual needs because we are embodied spirit.

To further understand this, take a look at how typical Filipino household tries to meet their
economic needs. Their values and priorities come out as they make economic choices.

In a Filipino family, when one member is sick, the whole family adjusts. The family budget, schedule,
and priorities will change to accommodate the needs of the sick member. “ang sakit ng kalingkingan,
ramdam ng buong katawan.” or if the father suddenly loses his job, the whole family will sacrifice. They will
tighten their belts and find means to help make ends meet. “Habang maiksi ang kumot, matutong
mamaluktot.”

We see here in a typical Filipino family that the effort to satisfy human economic needs requires not
just mathematics or budgeting skills. In truth, household management involves values and principles such
as care for every member of the family, sacrifice, responsibility, etc.

If we are to translate this to how our society operates, what values can we detect from the way goods
and services are produced and consumed? Can we confidently say that the Philippine government and we,
the citizens, follow the same principles of katapatan sa obligasyon, pagmamahal sa bawat isa,
pamamaluktot habang maiksi ang kunot, pagkakaisa, etc. With the way resources are distributed, are there
among us left behind? How do we regard the sick members of our community, the poor, the elders, the
children, is and triable minorities? These are the types of questions we ask when we look at how our
community runs.

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If we cannot say that our economy is run properly - capable of responding to the needs of all
members of society and motivated by correct moral values -then we can conclude that economic injustice
exists.

The Christian View of Material Goods

“we are personally embodied spirit; as embodied, we absolutely need

food, shelter, and clothing to survive. As personal spirits, we are
born, grow up, and mature within a family Ben community of
interpersonal relationships, creating for us a cultural, not mere
animal , life under God, our personnel, transcendent Creator-
Redeemer .”
 CFC 1145
Insofar as economics deals with human choices grounded on values, it is necessary to relate
economics with the Christian beliefs about material goods. Of course, these beliefs are based on the
scripture in the Church’s socio-economic principles.

I. Based on scripture

Given that the inspired scripture presents God's plan of Salvation as manifested in words in
deeds, material goods are viewed in terms of the actual history of God’s saving work for the
Salvation of humankind, culminating in the mission of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. This Christian
view of material things involves the following truths.

A. Created by God

As specified in the Genesis creation account, God created and is creating all things in this
world. Because all things are being created by God, it follows that they are:

1. Basically Good

“God looked at everything he had made and found it very good” (Gn 1:31). The New
Testament explicitly attests to this in 1 Timothy 4:4-5, which says: “everything created by
God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with Thanksgiving, for it is made
holy by the invocation Of God in prayer.” The beauty and integrity of creation are found in
the Interconnectedness of things and the inherent purpose of every creation. Everything that
God created has its own laws, order, values, stability, truth, and goodness, which are for the
human person to decipher, put to use, and perfect (Gaudium et Spes 36). Saint Ignatius said
that we can find God in all things.

2. God’s Gifts

One clear benefit we get from material things is their potential help in making us the
kind of persons God wants us to become. When used properly, these things can be
instruments to help us become holy. Our world will turn into the community of God intense

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it to be only if we look at material things -however useful or valuable -a secondary to God's

most sublime gift, which is his gift of self, his active presence among his people, his Kingdom
of love, justice, and peace. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things
will be given you besides” (Mt. 6:33).

B. Our Responsibility

When God created the world, he ordered human persons to exercise Dominion over all his
creation (Gn 1:28). we are thus commanded to act as stewards of God's creation. This can be
understood as follows:

1. Human Persons Over Material Things

Since we are commanded to take charge of God's creation, it is presupposing that

human persons are more important than temporal goods. Human dignity is superior to the
worth of material things. This hierarchy must be acknowledged by all, for the good of all. We
must recognize the fact that we are spiritual beings capable of recognizing our own goodness
and the goodness of those around us. material things, therefore, should never be held more
important than or equal to us.

2. No Absolute Control

Although we have Dominion over material goods, we do not have absolute control
over them. God is the sole creator and the ultimate owner of everything. We are simply God's
trustees. This means that the earth and all its riches must be treated according to God's will,
that is, the integrity of creation must be respected with complete trust in God.

C. Part of Jesus Christ's Salvific Mission

The Christian attitude toward material things is definitely tied to Christ's mission of
Salvation. He frees us from excessive attachment to material things. This freedom strikes at
the very root of our economic oppression. Jesus: (1) frees us from greed and self-seeking
attitudes; and (2) infuses us instead with respect for others, sensitivity to our surroundings,
and compassion in generous love for the needy (CFC 496). he did this by exposing the danger
of riches, giving us an alternative hierarchy of values, and bringing us the love of God -a love
that can purify our desires and move our hearts to correct the objective moral harm we
perpetrate out of our selfishness.

1. The Danger of Riches

Jesus showed us the power of riches to gain a hold on us. If you allow material wealth
to overwhelm us, it can hinder us from recognizing God's many gifts to us in his active
reign in our life. Jesus himself saw this danger when he was tempted by the devil in the
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desert and when he encountered a rich young man. The rich young man asks him how he
could gain eternal life but turned away sad when Jesus invited him to follow him as his
disciple.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to
get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is
only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which
ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and
mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man
said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great
wealth.”
-Mt 19:16-22

The story shows how one’s attachment to material possessions can be a big obstacle to freely
follow Christ. The rich young man in the story was so captivated by his material possessions that he
actually put them over his desire for eternal life, and any relations he might have with others. He
failed to get Christ’s admonition. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit
his life” ( Mk 8:36)?

2. A New Hierarchy of Values

Jesus clarifies our properties in life and sets a new hierarchy of values that should
ground our work, including our struggle to change the unjust structures in our society.
He strongly emphasized that “ No one can serve two maters… You cannot serve God and
mammon” ( Mt. 6:24). “The Kingdom of God must take precedence over all our self-
centered concerns of family, popularity and private possessions” ( CFC 1155). “ Jesus
showed that giving was better than taking, sharing more liberating than hoarding ( CFC
496). St. Paul emphasized this teaching when he reminded people to express their
generosity for the weak by keeping Jesus’ teaching that there is more happiness in giving
than receiving ( Acts 20:35).

II. Based on CST

Relying on the biblical understanding of the human person’s right relation to temporal
goods, the Church has developed socio-economic teachings that are relevant to our time. Three
such principles are the right to private property, the universal destination of all material goods,
and care for the environment.

1. The Right to Private Property

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In spite of the fact that the earth is rich with resources, it does not yield fruit unless
we work. Work is the concrete exercise of our intelligence and freedom to subdue the earth.
Because of this, we are entitled to make part of the earth our own. We have the right to own
property. This right allows us to meet our temporal needs.

The right to private property has a social dimension. It prohibits us from taking
anything or doing what we want with our property without regard for others. ST. Augustine
said, “ The superfluous things of the wealthy are the necessities of the poor. When
superfluous things are possessed, the property of others is possessed.” Those who give
something to the poor should not think that they’re doing so from what is their own” because
the riches of the earth are meant for all.

2. Universal Destination of Goods

The right to private property is subordinate to and derived from the principle of
universal destination of all goods. To legitimately use our private property, we must
recognize the social responsibility attached to owning it. Our private property must be used
for the common good because “ God destined the earth and all its contents for all people so
that all created things would be shared by all under the guidance of justice tempered with
charity” ( Gaudium es Spes 69). This stresses the fact that our private property is necessary
and good only in as far as it helps us develop as individuals and as members of the community
of all humans.

3. Care for the Environment

Remember that the earth belongs to God and we are His stewards. This stewardship
is actually for our own good. If we really care for human life, today and in the next
generations to come, we have to take care of our environment because the destruction of our
physical environment is the destruction of life. We have no right, therefore to exploit or
destroy God’s creation.

Doing Economics

1. Desired End

This refers to whatever goal or objective is sought by an individual or society. According to

the Church’s socio-economic principles, we must aim for objectives that are aligned with integral
human development. Economics is not the sole aspect of human development; economics involves
both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. Human economic needs must be met with
consideration for the total development of the human person. In light of this holistic objective,

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running a business cannot be for profit alone. The traditional approach of MINIMAX -minimum cost,
maximum profit- calls for a careful reinterpretation and management of resources so that profit is
considered along with the human, social, religious, cultural, and environmental aspects of a
business. Business owners have the right to make a profit, but profit is not the only thing there is in
a business. The right must be conditioned by the obligation to run the business responsibly and
morally.

The same principles apply to consumers. We should be responsible in our choices. We should
learn to control our insatiable desires. Just as producers are called to be honest in advertising and
managing their business in response to the real needs of consumers, so should we consumers be
responsible for the satisfaction of our real needs.

In this regard, the church has consistently breached simplicity of lifestyle in the procurement
and use of economic goods. Simple living is by no means glorification of poverty. Rather, it is a life
of freedom from the excessive pursuit of material things. it involves an honest to goodness
discernment of the real purpose of earthly goods. Clement of Alexandria helps us to think this line
when he asks “tell me, does a table knife refused to cut if it is not studded with silver or have a
handle of ivory?... what difference does it make if the washbasin be only of clay? Will it not hold
water anyway to wash hands?”

Furthermore, simplicity helps us check our inner tendency towards self-centeredness that is
consciously fostered by the culture of materialism and consumerism. It helps us remember that

(1) we are not the absolute owner of what we possess

(2) we are morally obliged to regard our possessions relative to the conditions of other people,
especially the poor, and

(3) it is only in the spirit of human solidarity and dependence on God that we can truly share the
gifts that we possess. By remembering these principles, we can arrive at what we call economic
justice.

2. Allocation of Resources

The process of making economic decisions includes appropriating resources. The

widespread poverty in our country clearly indicates that the wealth and resources of our country
are not properly distributed among our people. National revenues do not trickle down to those at
the bottom of the social-economic ladder. That is why there is the urgent need to infuse a greater
sense of social justice and care for our environment into our social-economic structures, in order to
implement a more equitable distribution of goods in sharing of our country's land, wealth, profits,
and human opportunities.

3. Alternative Uses

Economic decisions involve choosing among possible uses of the resources available.
According to the love “opportunity costs” in economics, the cost of using resources for a certain
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purpose is measured in relation to the alternative purpose that was given up. For example, your 10
pesos can be spent on either a bottle of soda or two packs of fruit juice. These two kinds of beverages
I assumed to give you about the same level of satisfaction in quenching your thirst. If you buy a
bottle of soda, you deny yourself the potential satisfaction of drinking 2 packs of fruit juice that can
be purchased for the same amount. With this law, we have a tool for judging the approximate value
of our choice. It helps us determine how responsible we are in making our decisions. we can
perceive whether the way we use our goods is wasteful or not, just or not, beneficial for the poor or
not. Our moral obligation is to constantly weigh our options and geared toward what can help us
foster economic justice.

If we were to summarize the Church’s teaching on how we should view

material things, St. Ignatius’ principle of “Finding God in all things” captures
what we have discussed so far in this chapter. What his reflection on this
principle? Who is St. Ignatius of Loyola?

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spanish San Ignacio de Loyola, baptized Iñigo, (born
1491, Loyola, Castile [Spain]—died July 31, 1556, Rome Italy; canonized March
Figure 5. St Ignatius of Loyola. 12, 1622; feast day July 31), Spanish theologian and mystic, one of the most
influential figures in the Roman catholic Counter reformation in the 16th
century, and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Paris in 1534.

THE FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION

From the Spiritual Exercises [23] of Ignatius of Loyola

CONTEMPORARY VERSION by David Fleming, SJ

The goal of our life is to live with God forever.

God, who loves us, gave us life.

Our own response of love allows God’s life to flow

into us without limit.

All the things in this world are gifts of God,

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presented to us so that we can know God more easily

and make a return of love more readily.

As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God

insofar as they help us develop as loving persons.

But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,

they displace God and so hinder our growth toward our goal.

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance

before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice

and are not bound by some obligation.

We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,

wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one.

For everything has the potential of calling forth in us

a deeper response to our life in God.

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:

I want and I choose what better leads to

God’s deepening his life in me.

A. Enumeration ( 10 points)
Directions: Enumerate what is being asked.

The Christian View of Material Goods

1. _________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________

Doing Economics

5. ________________________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________________________

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7. ________________________________________________________________________

Based on Catholic Social Teaching

8. ________________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________________________________
10. ________________________________________________________________________

B. Modified True or False. ( 10 points)

Directions: Write True if the statement is correct and False if otherwise. Change the underlined phrase if
it is false and write the correct answer. (2 points each)

_____________ 11-12. Economics is a social science concerned with the production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________ 13-14. Justice is the constant and firm will to give human persons their due. It empowers all
to respect the rights that are inherent in every human person and stipulated by society.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________ 15-16. Pope John Paul II wrote the encyclical letter entitled “Laudato Si”which tackled about
the destruction of the environment because of economic greed and injustice.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________ 17-18. Human beings have an absolute power over material things.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________ 19-20. Abundance of Resources is a state wherein the goods that can satisfy material needs
are not enough at the time they are actually needed.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

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CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE. With the extensive discussion about the preferential option for the poor,
incorporate your learnings by reflecting on the following questions. Write your answer in worksheet #2.
(15 points)

1-5. What is the Christian way of satisfying our economic needs? Explain.

6-10. Are you living a materialistic lifestyle? What things do you consider when buying a certain
commodity? Why so? Explain.

11-15. Because of economic injustice, some greedy people destroy the environment for personal gain. What
can you do to protect the environment from such people?

RUBRIC

(Answer the questions in not less than 5 sentences each.)

5 points Student was able to give an excellent answer which went beyond expectation.
4 points Student was able to comprehend and respond to the question and the answer is highly satisfactory.
3 points Student was able to comprehend and respond to the question well and the answer is clear.
2 points Student fairly grasped and fairly answered the question.
1 point Student had difficulty understanding the question and answer is not stated well.

Write down 5 enduring learnings/realizations you got from this topic. These may be in the form of a
statement or question.

REFERENCES:
Books
 Ducepec, D. and Dango, J. (2014). Called to Grow in Christian Social Responsibility. Sibs Publishing House,
Inc.
 Oscar, C. (2004). Catechism for Filipino Catholics. Manila: ECCCE.

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 Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of
Bishops.
 Oxford University Press. (2005). Catholic Bible: Revised Standard Version, Compact Edition (Compact ed.).
Oxford University Press.
Sites
 David, F. (n.d.). First Principle.
Https://Www.Bc.Edu/Content/Dam/Files/Offices/Ministry/Pdf/First%20Principle%20and%20Foundatio
n%20-March%202015%20%282%29.Pdf.
Images
 Book (clip art). (n.d.). https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2015/06/select-books-on-religion-and-climate-
change/ is-writing-chalk-on-a-blackboard-vector-17359097
 Greed (clip art). (n.d.). https://trofire.com/2020/08/19/capitalism-is-just-a-fancy-word-for-
unchecked-greed/
 Luxurious Cars ( image). (n.d.). https://carbuzz.com/news/new-aston-martin-valkyrie-prototype-
previews-1160-hp-hypercar
 Sale (image). (n.d.). https://www.sagisag.com/article/2117/news/dot-to-hold-month-long-
nationwide-mall-sale-in-march
 Filipino Mother ( image). (n.d.). https://www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/accelerating-
innovative-fintech
 St. Ignatius of Loyola (image). (n.d.). http://www.ststeve.com/2016/07/31/saint-ignatius-of-
loyola-3/

KEY TO CORRECTION

1-4 The Christian View of Material Goods

1. Based on Scripture
2. Created by God
3. Our Responsibility
4. Part of Jesus Christ’s Salvific Mission
5-7. Doing Economics
5. Desired End
6. Allocation of Resources
7. Alternative Uses
8-10. Based on Catholic Social Teaching
8. The right to private Property
9. Universal destination of Goods
10. Care for the environment

11-12. True
13-14. True
15-16. False, Pope Francis wrote the encyclical “Laudato Si”
17-18. False, Human beings have no absolute power over material things. We are stewards of God’s
creation.
19-20. False, Scarcity of Resources is a state wherein the goods that can satisfy material needs are not
enough at the time they are actually needed.

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