Social Teachings of the Catholic Church

Paper Summary:

This paper, written from a religious Catholic perspective, describes the basic principles of Catholic social teachings and analyzes how these principles are applied to current social issues. Much of the paper is based on William J. Byron's work "Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching." The paper lists the ten fundamental social principles of Catholicism, which Byron also cited in his book. The paper includes numerous quotes from the Christian Bible which are intended to support various social outlooks.

From the Paper:

"The very essence of the meaning which gives definition to each of these categories is based on one very specific statement of Jesus Christ when he commands that his children are to "love their neighbor as they love themselves" which is the 'golden rule' and the statement in which Jesus Christ states that the greatest commandment of all is to "Love ye, one another..." (Holy Bible, New Testament) This specific category is critical in the social teachings of the Catholic Church and in fact stated is that "...the transformation of social relationships that responds to the demands of the Kingdom of God is not fixed within concrete boundaries once and for all." (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1979) An example brought to mind the account of Jesus healing on the Sabbath and assisting men with removing their oxen from a ditch on the Sabbath as well. While there are those in the crowd who taunt him about breaking the Jewish law of not laboring on the Sabbath Jesus relates to the crowd that certainly the needs of his fellow man stand higher than even the primary 'ten commandments of God, the Father. Therefore, the teaching is one of collaboration, flexible ministry in a growing and changing world. The church is effectively rendered helpless to 'go yet into the world..." and to "make ye disciples of all men..." which is called the "Great Commission" and commanded by Christ if they do not have genuine love for their fellow man because to go into that world at this time in the history of mankind is a prospect filled with the unknown in terms of both physical and spiritual safety. Therefore the church must remember to convey to followers that the only set and fixed law might be viewed as a simple reflection by humankind of the love which 'is' God. This task has been "entrusted to the Christian community..." and therein God's love either finds root and grows or falls by the way. This is called the 'Great Commission' within the Christian faith and is a process described as "...a quest for the seeds of truth and freedom sown in the vast field of humanity." (Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 11: AAS 71, 1979) The primary social teaching of the Christian faith and the Catholic Church social teachings are principles, which have as their basis very words of Christ who has revealed to humankind that the very essence or character of God is 'Love'. (1 John 4:8) as he brings his children to the understanding that "the fundamental law of human perfection, and consequently the transformation of the world is the new commandment of love." (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004) "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Byron, William J. (1998) Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching. America - The National Catholic Weekly Vol. 196 No. 3 29, January 29. Online available at: http://www.americamagazine.org/articles/catholicsocialteachingbryon.cfm.
• Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2004)) Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church- To Hi Holiness Pope John Paul II Master of Social Doctrine and Evangelical Witness to Justice and Peace. 2004. Libreria Editrice Vaticana ISBN 88-209-7716-8. Online available at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_c uria/p ontifical_councils/justpeace/docum ents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html#The%20Church,%20the%20Kingdom%20of%20God%20and% 20the%20renewal%20of%20social%20relations
• Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 11: AAS 71 (1979), 276: "The Fathers of the Church rightly saw in the various religions as it were so many reflections of the one truth, 'seeds of the Word', attesting that, though the routes taken may be different, there is but a single goal to which is directed the deepest aspiration of the human spirit" Cited in: Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2004)) Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church- To Hi Holiness Pope John Paul II Master of Social Doctrine and Evangelical Witness to Justice and Peace. 2004. Libreria Editrice Vaticana ISBN 88-209-7716-8.
• Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions (2006) Office of Social Development and World Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Washington D.C. Online available at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/socialteaching.htm

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