THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS

The Method
GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER AND BEAUTY.

In the beginning- Chaos

Day 1- Day and Night Day 4- Sun, Moon, Stars

Day 2 – Sky and Seas Day 5- Birds and Fish

Day 3 – Waters and Day 6 – Animals, Humans

Dry Land
In the end- rest
WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER

No man is an island…
- John Donne

…life is like a big spiderweb…

- Frederick Buechner
 SOCIETY
• a group of persons bound together
organically by a principle of unity
that goes beyond each one of them.
(CCC 1880)

• Is made for the benefit of the people

and not the other way around
“ the social order and its development must
invariably work to the benefit of the human
person” (Gaudium et Spes 26)
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

• SOCIAL JUSTICE

to denounce injustice/
to proclaim JUSTICE.
.
 FACES OF CRISIS

poverty, injustices, war, calamities,

soaring prices of basic commodities,
transportation and fuel, maltreatment
and abuses, etc.

IS THIS A REAL CHRISTIAN

COMMUNITY?
 THE CHURCH DREAMS OF INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE:

FREE AND FREEING

ALIVE AND LIFE-GIVING
RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE
LOVING AND LOVABLE

CARING AND COMMUNITY MINDED

The Church dreams of people becoming persons
reflecting God’s image in themselves, their
actions, their beings.

The Church also dreams of a community that:

1. speaks and listens,

2. a community that discerns and decides together
in implementing their decisions,
3. prays and celebrate their joys and sorrows
together,
4. honestly looks at what they had done and failed.
THE METHOD
Of Catholic Social
Teaching
 judge

reflection/action
see process

act
SEE – Principles of Reflection

JUDGE – Criteria for Judgment

ACT – Direction for Action

1. SEE
-Seeing, hearing, and experiencing
the lived reality of individuals and
communities.

- Carefully and intentionally

examining the primary data of the
situation. What are the people in
this situation doing, feeling, and
saying? What is happening to them
and how do they respond?
 Reflection/Action Worksheet

1. See:
What do you know about this issue or what did you
observe?
What specific facts can you cite about this issue or
experience?
What did you learn or observe?
How do you feel in the face of this issue or experience?
How does it touch you personally?
2. Judge (the heart of the process)
a. Social Analysis - Obtaining a more
complete picture of the social situation by
exploring its historical and structural
relationships. In this step, we attempt to
make sense of the reality that was observed
in Step 1. Why are things this way? What are
the root causes?
2. Judge: a. Social Analysis

Why does this situation exist? What are the root causes?
Economic factors -- Who owns? Who controls? Who pays? Who gets?
Who gets left out? Why?
Political factors – Who decides? For whom do they decide?
How do decisions get made? Who is left out of the process? Why?
Social Factors – Who is left out? Who is included? Why?
Historic Factors – What past events influence the situation today?
Cultural Factors – What values are evident? What do people believe
in? Who influences what people believe?
2. Judge (the heart of the process)
b. Theological Reflection – Analyzing the
experience in the light of scripture and the
Catholic social tradition? How do biblical
values and the principles of Catholic social
teaching help us to see this reality in a
different way? How do they serve as a
measuring stick for this experience?
2. Judge b. Theological Reflection

What lessons or values from scripture can help us to

interpret this experience?
E.g. the prophets, the Beatitudes, the example of Jesus himself, and
the parables he told.

What key principles from Catholic Social Teaching apply

to this situation?
E.g. human dignity, the common good, human rights, the option for
the poor.
 3. Act
Planning and
carrying out
actions aimed at
transforming
the social
structures that
contribute to
suffering and
injustice.
 3. Act
Do you have enough information and analysis to act?

If not, what additional research is needed?

If you were to act to change this situation, what root

causes would you attack?

How would you transform the structures and

relationships that produce this situation?

How can you act to support the empowerment of those

who are poor or disadvantaged?
081107 prepared by: Joan Christi S. Trocio
 judge

reflection/action
observe process

act
 SEE
Featured photographs of Jesus Christ and the
Virgin Mary adorned with objects not related
to Christianity.
A crucifix was decorated with a piece of wood
in a shape of a phallic symbol.
One Christ the King figurine had rabbit ears
(mickey mouse).
 JUDGE
• Art?
• Art involves the use of imagination,
craftsmanship and originality.
• “It is not -- I repeat -- it is not art! It is an
immature and juvenile attempt at caricature”
– F.Sionil Jose (National Artist)
• On Religion
– sacrilegious and blasphemous
– “It is not only sick, it is also sickening.
Binabastos mo ‘yung pananampalataya ng iba,“ -
Archbishop O. Cruz.
 ACT
• Close down the controversial exhibit
showing defaced religious icons
• Pursue the charges because a
serious offense has been committed
and the CCP and the artist are
accountable under the law.
• Create a society that promotes
values and respect for one’s belief.