Gabatan, Heavenly T.

ReEd 4
(16087)
AB Political Science 2 MWF 8:30 AM – 9:30
AM

Answer the ff in your own words maximum of 5 sentences.

1. Why is the encyclical entitled Fratelli Tutti? What is the meaning of Fratelli
Tutti? What is the main issue or issues that Fratelli Tutti seek to address and
why?
 The encyclical is entitled Fratelli Tutti since it is an Italian phrase originated from
the Admonitions of St. Francis de Assisi in which it means “all brothers and
sisters”. The encyclical is a letter which is sent directly from our Holy Father in
Rome to Catholics all over the world and therefore it is addressed to all people of
good will. This is meant to call for love that transcends the barriers of geography
and distance and it declares that all those who love one’s brothers and sisters
are blessed. The spreading and occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic is the
main issue that Pope Francis highlighted in this encyclical as it unexpectedly
erupted and it exposed our false securities. Fraternity and social friendship were
stated in Fratelli Tutti as a new vision that is capable of healing the world in the
social, spiritual, economic, and ecological aspects that is evident in the present
problem, which is the COVID-19.
2. What is the message of Pope Francis in using the Parable of the Good
Samaritan in demonstrating the vision of the Church to give preferential option to
the poor?
 The Parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates on how we should “love our
neighbors as we love ourselves”. According to Pope Francis in his article Fratelli
Tutti, the parable can be reflected to what the world is experiencing now, which is
the pandemic. Being a Good Samaritan is what the society needs as it shows us
to do humanitarian acts in order to rebuild our wounded world. Race, age, social
status, color, what place he or she lives, and any differences don’t really matter
at all in order to become a Good Samaritan, for a Good Samaritan accompanies,
cares, and supports the frailest, the poor, and the vulnerable members of our
society. In the parable, the man was a Jew, and the Good Samaritan was the
only person who aided and helped the person in need and therefore there is no
boundaries or borders, prejudices and stereotypes in helping the poor, the weak,
and those in need.
3. How is human dignity disrespected in our modern society according to
Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti? What is wrong with a "throw away culture"?
 There might be human rights in our laws, but not all human rights are applicable
as there is still unequal treatment, especially to the poor, the oppressed, the
weak, and the innocent. According to Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti, the human
dignity is disrespected in our modern society as there is inequality in the
recognition and in the importance of the human rights. Human dignity should be
put back at the center if our society wants a future and it must respect the truth of
our human dignity and submit to that truth. On the other hand, the continuous
rise of “throw away culture” in accordance with our “throwaway world” shows that
it abandoned not only the material things but even human beings themselves,
and in the economic model, profit is the priority. Apparently, this is wrong
because it separates relationships within a family or even in a society or the
world and for this reason it is against Pope Francis’ fraternity and so with the
Church.

4. What are some flaws of our political system in addressing the Pandemic?
How should we instead address the Pandemic?
 The flaws of our political system are already present even before the occurrence
of the pandemic, for the reason that our political system has been wrongly
operated by our leaders for their personal and group interests. The incompetence
of our leaders is manifested in the world-wide problem that we are experiencing
now, which is the pandemic. There are projects that can be considered as
misplaced priorities as it does not help resolve the main problem and other major
problems that we are facing. During this pandemic, the people become poorer
and problematic because the workers turned out to be jobless, so there is no
source of income and no constant or stable funds given by the government. The
pandemic should be the focus that the government should look upon as it
continuously strikes to be a problem and therefore health protocols, funds for the
jobless, for the poor and victims of the calamities should be secured in order to
minimize the problems of the individuals and of the society.
5. What did Pope Francis warn us against digital world and our attitude in
pleasing God through worship and beliefs?
 Our technological advancements have gotten us to where we are today and have
made our work easier, faster and more convenient, but it separates us from the
real or natural world. Pope Francis professed and warned us that the digital world
is not the full way to fraternity and even to social friendship. Furthermore, he said
that our beliefs and worship in God is not sufficient to ensure that we live our
lives in accordance to what is pleasurable and acceptable to Him. Digital world,
specifically the internet, might be a gift from God for it opens and offers
magnificent opportunities for evangelization if it is used with competence and
clear awareness of its strengths and weaknesses. However, it is also designed to
exploit the weaknesses and bring out the worst in people and even digital
connectivity can have the effect of isolating us from our neighbors or those
closest to us.
6. What did Pope Francis say about war and death penalty in Fratelli Tutti?
 Both war and death penalty are extreme situations that have been said to be as
solutions in any dramatic circumstances, however these two are new elements of
destruction in the fabric of national and global society. War is the negation of all
rights; therefore, it invokes all sorts of allegedly humanitarian and it is even a
dramatic assault on the environment. On the other hand, death penalty is another
way of eliminating others but that individuals are asked not to take justice into
their own hands. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis denounced death penalty and
declared it inadmissible and in order to avoid war between nations and people,
we must need to work tirelessly. War and death penalty can no longer be
considered as a solution as it is unnecessary because it is risky, violent, many
will suffer, lives will be lost, and it can be also cause collateral damage.
7. What is ethical relativism? Explain why ethical relativism is not the criteria
on how to build friendship, fraternity and solidarity?
 Ethical relativism is a view that there is no absolute moral truth for what is right or
wrong is solely a matter of an individual’s personal opinion or it is relative to each
particular society. In ethics, its meaning would be relative to time, place,
circumstance, and the person/s involved. However, conflicts may arise in
applying different ethical standards across different locales and varying
situations. Furthermore, ethical relativism is not the criteria on how to build
friendship, fraternity, and solidarity because there are risks that come with it,
such that in moral values it is believed that it is left to those who are in power.
Although we have differences in ideas, beliefs, standards, and perspectives,
relativism may only be acceptable when we use it to arrive at a common
understanding of our differences and respect those differences while upholding
the set principles of morality.