THE NATURE AND

DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SOCIAL
TEACHINGS OF
THE CHURCH
After an in-depth understanding of the social
issue, we must ask;

“What does my faith tell me to do?”

“ Wisdom is precisely this: to see the
world, to see situations, circumstances,
problems, everything through God’s
eyes.

- Pope Francis
SOME POINTS TO BEGIN WITH:

Social teachings of the Church (STC) is not

very popular
But considered, “Best kept secret of the
Church”
Only a small percentage of Catholics know
about it.
It demands radical following, change;
conversion
AS ASCRIBED:

That teaching (of the Church’s Magisterium)

which deals with the rights and duties of the
human person organized into society.
AS DEFINED:

STC is the entire teaching of the ecclesiastical

magisterium that helps realize the salvation
promised by Christ by applying revealed truth
and Christian moral principles to the social
order.
It applies the Gospel message to social reality.
➤ (Insert popeFrancis)
It enlightens man’s minds with truth, forms their
conscience and guides them in building up
earthly city according to the divine plan.
STC accomplishes the task by providing
“accurate formulation” of the product of years of
careful reflection on the complex realities of
human experience — through official documents
published and disseminated known as
encyclicals and pastoral letters.
STC is part of a much broader and older
tradition that goes back to the Old Testament
and draws upon everything in the life and
thought of the Church.
From what is STC founded on?

That Jesus wills the SALVATION of every human

person whose dignity is rooted as God’s image.
The salvation promised by Christ is
not simply about the saving of soul
from sin, but the whole human person.
 Christ’s
promised
salvation is
not only
spiritual,
but also
concrete!
“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor... to set at liberty.
those who are oppressed to proclaim the
year of the LORD’S FAVOR.

Luke 4:18
Salvation as concrete is integral in Christ’s proclamation of God’s kingdom

Food to the hungry; Sight to the blind; Liberty to the captives; Justice to oppressed
Salvation as concrete = Integral salvation

Kaginhawahan
Has roots in the Old Testament:

YHWH promised salvation

From: war, oppression, hunger, etc.
For: abundance, security, new heart, peace and
new paradise

(Cf. Is. 2:2-5; Amos 9:11-19; Exe. 36:22-32; Is. 11:5-9)

Reminders:

Salvation should not be too spiritualized.

We should not dichotomize our faith and our way of
life
➤ [insert 2 Francis quotes]
Therefore,

Social Teachings of the Church

Foundation: Integral (concrete) salvation

“ We believe that the Church is God’s sign and
instrument of salvation. As a consequence, the
Church has to proclaim the Gospel of salvation
to the political community. If only for the fact
that politics has such a decisive influence on
the total good of human beings.

CBCP, Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics

Puebla Document 480-483:

“ The first is liberation from all forms of bondage

from personal and social sin, and from everything
that tears apart the human and society... the second
element is liberation for the progressive growth in
being through communion with God and other
human beings: this reaches its culmination in the
perfect communion of heaven, where God is all in
all and weeping forever ceases.
SOURCES:

(1) Sacred Scripture

STC’s content derived from the revealed Word of

God
OT: solidarity, justice and righteousness
NT: life and mission of Christ
(2) Sacred Tradition

From Latin, “tradere” — to hand over, deliver

It is lived and is handed over by the life of the
community, Church
Living Tradition
(3) Natural Law

Moral principles that can be known through the use

of reason; as reason dictates
“The light of intellect infused within us by God”
It is universal; immutable
Ex. Human dignity, common good
Magisterium, its role:

Magisterium (Church’s teaching authority) is the

guardian and interpreter of all official teachings of
the Church. It is not above the Word of God, but
serves it and explains it faithfully.
STC IS FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING:
Papal Pronouncements/Proclamations
Apostolic Letters/Encyclicals
Code of the Canon Law
Pronouncements by Ecumenical Councils (Vatican II)
Pronouncements made by the Synod of Bishops
Three Categories of Content

Truth — STC contains truth, both moral and religious truth

that Christians have to know and believe
Principles — are what one has to do or put into practice
Values — are what Christians have to respect, defend and
cherish