THEOLOGY 3:

CHRISTIAN VISION OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIETY:

Historical Development of Catholic Social

Teachings (CST)
• What do you know about the current
conflict between Israel and Palestine?
What is conflict in the context of
World Development?
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
 JUSTICE

Justice is the virtue which inclines us to

give to God and to man what is due to
them.
Micah 6:8

“What is it the Lord requires

of us?
and to walk
Only to do and to love
humbly with
justice, mercy,
your God
 CHRIST’S ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SOCIETY

Christ as a
TEACHER
Christ’s teaching gives
emphasis on ‘persons’
over the law, and on the
virtues of justice and
charity over the legal
code. (Luke 10:25-37)
CHRIST’S ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SOCIETY

Christ preaches the KINGDOM

OF GOD

Calls people for metanoia

(conversion of heart)

Conversion which is non-

violent

Hopeful preparation for its

realization in the future.
 CHRIST’S ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SOCIETY

Christ as a LIBERATOR
Christ’s
Christ heals and
liberation is also
liberates people
at the same time
both from
a restoration
physical and
(personal and
spiritual illness.
communal).
Why does the Church intervene?
 Who suffers the most?

The
The poor
powerless

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN’S ABILITY TO INSTRUCT ONE ANOTHER ON
THE SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT

The early Christian community has endeavored to

follow the examples of Christ.

• Duty to give (Act 2:44-45; 20:35; Tim 6:17-19)

• It is not right for one to live in luxury while others
live in want. – Clement of Alexandria
• DEPOSITS OF PIETY according to Tertullian is used in
feeding the needy, in burying them, in support of
youths and maidens destitute of means and
deprived of their parents, in the care of the aged,
and the relief of the shipwrecked.
• Endeavor to establish unity and solidarity (Gal 3:28;
Col 3:11)
THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE CONTINUING CATHOLIC SOCIAL
TEACHING TRADITION

St. Thomas Aquinas on:

Even with the
institutionalization Distribution of Wealth – requires
JUSTICE which is a “habit whereby
of the Church within man renders to each one his due by
the Roman Empire, a constant and perpetual will.”
she remained to be
Just War – (three requirement)
an active agent for
• Legitimate Authority
social justice.
• Just Cause
• Right Intention
 THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

DARK Ages (Medieval Period)

VS Age of Enlightenment
Two things are easily identified
The Church during the Middle
with the age of enlightenment:
Ages according to enlightenment
• use of reason (as opposed to faith) thinkers values faith and
• autonomy (as opposed to obedience).
obedience which are instruments
of ignorance and oppression.
 THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

Enlightenment period brought about INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

changes in the society including the
Industrial Revolution and the two Roughly 1760 to 1850
ideologies of Capitalism and Socialism.
Started parochially in England

Introduction of New technology

Rise of factories and salaried workers

Mass production leads to surplus

Surplus that results to profit

Emergence of market

Gave birth to capitalism

LET’S WATCH!

On Industrial Revolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjK7PWmRRyg
THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

The Birth of Capitalism and the

Critique of Socialism
• Capitalists aimed towards profit.
• Markets are constructed for the
interest of those who have the
capital, who makes use of the same
capital in order to generate more
income or more profit, and thereby
further enlarging the initial
capitals.
 THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

TWO VALUES PROMOTED BY

CAPITALISM
1. Social Mobility –
capability to rise from 2. Self-Direction –one’s
one social status to a own future is one’s own
better one depending on responsibility.
the effort one exerts.

It also highlights the principle of

PRIVATE PROPERTY.
LET’S WATCH!

On Capitalism and Socialism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u4EFTwprM
 THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

However, there were those who were not convinced with the
capitalist ideology. An alternative ideology has flourished, SOCIALISM,
and it has several objections against the capitalist ideology:
Capitalism ignores,
The capitalist principles
tolerates and even
of self-direction and
perpetuates unjust
social mobility are Capitalism endorses the
situations of resource-
myths and are only true pathology of isolated
distribution: unequal
for the rich and able existence.
distribution of goods,
members of the
and the gap between
community.
rich and poor.
THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME

SOCIALISM PROMOTES TWO

ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPLES…

• COMMON OWNERSHIP to
replace and abolish the
concept of private property.
• Personal freedom must be
replaced by government
control that seeks for the
implementation of the
COMMON GOOD.
 THE MODERN SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH (1891 to present)

The first ever social encyclical was written because of the new
social conditions brought about by industrial revolution and
the two competing ideologies of Capitalism and Socialism.
THE MODERN SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH (1891 to present)

The term “social doctrine” goes back to Pope Pius

XI and designates the doctrinal “corpus”
concerning issues relevant to society.
(Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church, 87)

Church’s social concern did not only

begin with Rerum Novarum. “the
Church has never failed to show interest
in the society.” as evident in history.
“Rerum Novarum marks the beginning of a new path. Grafting itself onto
a tradition hundreds of years old, it signals a new beginning and a
singular development of the Church's teaching in the area of social
matters” (CSDC, 87).
INSTRUCTIONS:

Design a simple slogan that promotes

equality of life amongst people by virtue
of shared humanity.

NOTE:
This task is invitational; hence, not required for submission.
But you are highly encouraged and invited to do this meaningful activity not only for
academic reasons but also as your voluntary participation in promoting equality
among people.