Catholic Social Teaching
From Morality by Joseph Stoutzenberger
A Brief History
What is Catholic Social Teaching? Catholic Social Teaching is body of thought and work from the Catholic Church that addresses the social situations we face in our ever-changing world. It is a central and essential element of our faith.
Hebrew Scriptures:
The roots of Catholic Social Teaching are found in the Hebrew prophets who:
1. announce God’s special love for the poor and
2. called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice.
Early Christianity:
From its beginning, the Church has considered JUSTICE to be an integral dimension of Jesus’ message....in word and action.
Words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels ring out with cries on behalf of the poor and downtrodden members of society.
The actions of Jesus demonstrate his concern for people who are suffering or overlooked.
Numerous accounts from the 1st Century indicate that the early Christians saw the work of JUSTICE as a hallmark of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Middle Ages:
During the late Middle Ages, taking advantage of cheap labor and increased opportunities for trade, some people saw the possibility of amassing great wealth.
St. Francis of Assisi rejected the rich life into which he had been born. Instead, he chose voluntarily to live like the poorest of the poor.
Franciscan movement:
He gained many followers for his movement – women and men who felt drawn to live a simple life as the appropriate response to the call of the Gospels.
They radically lived out the gospel and the Christian principles of JUSTICE.
Industrialization:
Industrialization brought with it big city poverty.
Many holy men and women founded religious communities and Church organizations to care for the homeless beggars, widows, orphans, the unschooled, and the physically and mentally ill.
Rerum Novarum / On the Condition of Workers (1891):
Marks an important date for modern Catholic teaching on justice.
In Europe, “the poor” especially meant factory workers and their families.
To call attention to their needs, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical letter “Rerum Novarum” or “On the Condition of Workers”.
Pope Leo XIII made it clear that the Church intended to speak out on social & economic issues & to serve as an advocate for the poor, as Jesus himself was.
Rerum Novarum began a trend that continues today.
It stands as the 1st of many official Church statements addressing issues of JUSTICE.
Church leaders continue to speak out for justice today.
The Church considers herself to be a strong voice calling for justice in the world.
In response, Church members are challenged to think about how JUSTICE can be manifest in their living out the moral life.