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World Church

World Church. Anguish in an Era of World Wars. Church lost secular power which enabled it to gain more moral and spiritual authority Church rededicated itself to its mission of embodying Jesus in the world through teaching, preaching and ministering Papacy gains moral stature

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World Church

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  1. World Church Anguish in an Era of World Wars

  2. Church lost secular power which enabled it to gain more moral and spiritual authority • Church rededicated itself to its mission of embodying Jesus in the world through teaching, preaching and ministering • Papacy gains moral stature • Pope becomes a spokesperson for Catholicism and moral advocates for the whole world

  3. Pope Pius X • Pastor • Warm, gentle man • Wanted to make the sacraments more available to Catholics • Wanted Mass and Eucharist to be close to laypeople • Lowered the Communion age to 7 • Encouraged frequent reception of communion

  4. Pope Pius X • Encouraged a movement called Catholic Action • Associations of laypersons doing charitable work • Catholics all over the world loved him

  5. A World Geared for War, A Church Geared for Peace • WWI began in 1914 • New type of war • Fought on land, sea and air • New technologies • Entangled nations outside of Europe as well

  6. A Pope as Advocate for Peace • Pope Benedict XV • Used diplomatic skills to try to end the war • Condemned the war as unjustified (ignored) • Gave away vast sums of money for relief • Depleted Vatican treasury

  7. The Aftermath of the War: A Time of Disillusionment • Germany surrendered in 1918 • Millions lost their lives • Harsh conditions placed on Germany with the Treaty of Versailles would plant the seeds for WWII

  8. Pope Benedict’s Suggestion • Warned the Allies not to humiliate Germany • “Remember that nations do not die; humbled and oppressed, they chafe under the yoke imposed on them, preparing a renewal of the combat, and passing down from generation to generation a mournful heritage of revenge.”

  9. Benedict’s wisdom was ignored • Germany’s economy broke down • People were starving • Citizens were humiliated • Anger boiled

  10. Reflection • Describe what most people think and feel while being humiliated. • How do they feel toward the person who is/has humiliated them? • How do they think and feel afterward?

  11. “Free Yourself from Religion” • Psychology-study of the mind • Sigmund Freud • contribution to psychology was huge • view of religion was biased and hostile • Religion was societies means to control people • Religious faith childish at best-harmful at worst

  12. Guilt: Freud condemned unhealthy guilt • When can guilt be unhealthy or harmful? • What would people be like if they never felt guilty about their harmful actions? • When is it a good thing to feel guilty? • Freud seemed to think there were far too many laws and rules that oppressed people. But can laws and rules be helpful in developing our identity and in keeping society a worthwhile place to live?

  13. “Win All You Can” • Capitalism: “Get all you can while the getting is good.” • Darwinism: “Survival of the fittest” had been distorted into social Darwinism

  14. Think: • What are some of the problems of uncontrolled capitalism? • What do workers deserve?

  15. A Vision of Justice from US Bishops • 1919 wrote Program of Social Reconstruction • Advocated • Wages • Insurance through entire life • Medical care

  16. Think • Do you think these standards are being met in the workplace today? • Should religious values enter into business decisions?

  17. Totalitarianism • A total all encompassing system that orders national unity through political ideology • All aspects of life are controlled by a single party • Control media and education

  18. Communism • In a classless workers state, religion was unnecessary • Justice for poor, oppressed workers • Happiness and justice were present in this life • No longer could practice Christian faith

  19. Fascism • Stressed the dominance of one group • Germany, Italy, Spain • Oppressed religion

  20. Pius XI • Condemned the errors of communism • Communism was unacceptable because it was totalitarian and atheistic • Response to Fascism in Italy was complicated • Lateran Treaty • Quadragesimo Anno: criticized the absolutist state • Diplomatic skills • Wrote a letter to German Catholics condemning Nazi brainwashing

  21. Write on loose leaf: • Should the pope criticize governments? Explain. • Your response should be in complete sentences and approximately 1/2 page to one full page in length.

  22. Cooperation of Christians • Remained silent • German Catholics endorsed Nazis • Trade unions • Schools taught party line • Nazi’s destroyed church organizations and the Catholic press

  23. World War II • 1939-1945 • Hitler turned sites outside of Germany • Japan joined Germany and Italy • U.S. joined in 1941 after Pearl Harbor

  24. Pope Pius XII • Feared that speaking out would endanger Catholics • Remained neutral • 400,000 Jews • Felt they couldn’t stop Hitler • Seen as a hero after war

  25. What are moral issues facing the world today? • What is the Christian response? • Are we doing enough?

  26. Catholic Resistance • Franz Jaegestaetter • Corrie ten Boom • Edith Stein • Maximilian Kolbe • Bishops and others spoke out • Nazis persecuted lower ranks

  27. End of the War • War ends in Europe • August 1945 US drops the atomic bomb • Japan surrendered

  28. The Cold War and Arms Race • USSR vs. US • Nuclear arms race: creating the biggest and most destructive • MAD kept the countries from using them on one another • 1965 Vatican II condemned the use of weapons of mass destruction

  29. Communist Persecution of the Church • In the USSR and Eastern Europe • Persecution of the Church increased • Pg. 296 strategies against the church • Write a paragraph reflection explaining how you see some of these same strategies used against the church today • In China • Mao stressed need for Chinese nationalism and destruction of all that was foreign and corrupt • Eventually Catholic worship would be permitted

  30. Pius XII • Confronted communism • Excommunicated Catholics involved in communist activity • Denounce persecution of the church • Encouraged efforts to resist

  31. On the Eve of Change • Pius XII • Two encyclicals • Scriptures: approved modern scientific and historical methods for interpreting the scriptures • Mystical Body of Christ: emphasizing the importance of all members of the church • Movement toward early Church liturgy

  32. Conclusions • Church had to constantly discern what the vision of Jesus would be in the midst of conflict

  33. Implications • The Cold War has ended, but the world is not free of danger. • Must resist evil like the Holocaust. We must also resist nuclear weapons and arms races. • Given the kinds of weapons available today, Catholics are required to ask, Can war ever be justified?

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