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Catholic Social Teaching Introduction. Philip Boyle, Ph.D. Vice President Mission & Ethics CHE Trinity Health. Catholic. Universal Ancient People of good will Counter- cultural. Social. Just Society Social Sin Social Justice. Teaching. Principles Practice Spirituality Develops.
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Catholic SocialTeachingIntroduction Philip Boyle, Ph.D. Vice President Mission & Ethics CHE Trinity Health
Catholic Universal Ancient People of good will Counter- cultural
Social Just Society Social Sin Social Justice
Teaching Principles Practice Spirituality Develops
Experience Tradition Signs of the Time
Tradition • Rooted in Scripture and lived experience • Dynamic and alive • Community reflection • Personal decision and action
Signs of the Time • Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16:4—“You know how to read the face of the sky, but you cannot read the signs of the times.” • Interpreting contemporary events in light of the gospel tradition • Changing healthcare landscape
Social Catholicism • Social mission of the Church • Emerges as a dimension of the proclaiming the Good News, the Gospel • “Two poles” • Direct service (= offer help) • Systemic social change (= remove need for help) • It focuses on the person in society • It calls for a response that will lead to transformative action. • Advancing human life in society • Protecting human rights and dignity • Building strong societies and social relationships • Addressed to “all people of good will”
Scriptural Foundations • Liberation & Creation • Covenant • Hesed (Loving Kindness/Mercy) • Reign of God • The Poor of God • Justice
Liberation & Creation • Slavery and bondage • Exodus 6: 1-13 • Movements of liberation • Call • Reluctance • Assurance • Sending .
Covenant • Giving of the Law • Rights and Responsibilities – beyond duty • Mutual Ratification • Fragile
Hesed • Mercy • Loving Kindness • Steadfast Love • Covenant Loyalty “…for wherever you go , I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge…” - Ruth 1:16
Anawim Dispossessed Outcast “Bent ones” Humble Not just materially poor Widows, orphans, aliens…but also tax collectors and sinners Special trust in God “Faithful Remnant” The Poor of God Widow of Nain (Luke 7: 11-17) “moved with pity for her…”
The Reign of God New Order • Love, peace, justice • Absolutely new; unexpected • Spoken of only in parables TikkunOIam • To heal and perfect the world • Repairing the world through social action “God’s dream for the universe.”
Justice in Scripture • Central Theme • Tzedek: Righteousness • Right relationships with God and neighbor; • Linked with steadfast love and fidelity • Based on love – not duty • No strict philosophical definition • No distinction between obligations of charity and obligations of justice • Not focused on individual rights but right relations • Biblical justice is not “blind” or impartial—focused on widow, orphan, poor & stranger
Justice “Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of preaching the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race, and its liberation from every oppressive situation.” - Justice in the World #6 (1971)
GratuitousnessCaritas • Biblical; God is love; agape • Theological: New; free without pay; unnecessarily excessive • Contrast view: Charity care • Applications
Dignity • Biblical: Imago dei • Theological: • Inestimable worth • In-alienable rights • Contrast views--autonomy • General application Human rights • Related values • Equality • Protection of human life
Common Good • Contrast view: Greek & Romans • Biblical: Acts 2; Matthew 25 Beatitudes • Theological: Social conditions that promote flourishing • Applications
Definition “Every day human interdependence grows more tightly drawn and spreads by degrees over the whole world. As a result the common good, that is, the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment, today takes on an increasingly universal complexion and consequently involves rights and duties with respect to the whole human race. Every social group must take account of the needs and legitimate aspiration of other groups, and even of the general welfare of the entire human family.”
Care for those who are poor • Biblical: Prophets • Theological: Preferential option for the poor • Contrast view: UN • Applications: ERD #3
Subsidiarity • Biblical: • Theological: Those closest to problem • Contrast view: Top down decision making • Applications: Magnet status
Participation • Biblical: Creation story • Theological: Theology of work • Contrast view • Applications
Association • Biblical • Theological: No person and island • Contrast view: Labor • Applications
Solidarity • Biblical • Theological: Radical interconnection • Contrast view: Sympathy • Applications
Stewardship • Biblical: Genesis creation • Theological: universal destination of goods • Contrast view: not only financial • Applications
Standing in the Tragic Gap” • Parker Palmer • http://www.couragerenewal.org/podcast