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The Call to a Perfect World. 10 February 2014. What is your description of a perfect world?. Remember…. The Garden of Eden had no sin, sickness, or death. Can we get back to a world like that? How?.
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The Call to a Perfect World 10 February 2014
Remember… • The Garden of Eden had no sin, sickness, or death. Can we get back to a world like that? How? • As Christians, we are called to live like Jesus lived—willing to go out of our way to help each other. • What examples do the Gospels give us of Jesus going out of His way to help the lowest in society?
Catholic Social Teaching • Who in the Church decides how we should interpret Scripture and how we should live out our faith? • Magisterium: “the living, teaching office of the Church” • Whose work does it carry on? • Is it perfect?
The Vatican:Encyclicals • On The Condition of Workers (Pope Leo XIII) 1891 • Strongly affirms the belief that the human person has basic rights, especially the rights to food, clothing, shelter, and a living wage • Rejects socialism • Affirms the right to private property
The Vatican:Encyclicals • Peace on Earth (Pope John XXIII) 1963 • Spells out rights that all people possess: • The right to respect • The freedom to express opinions and worship • The right to choose one’s state in life, to marry and have a family • The right to move within one’s own country and to emigrate to other countries Human Rights Protest, 1960
Themes of Catholic Social Teaching • The Principles • Life and Dignity of the Human Person • Every human being has enormous value, including elderly people nearing the end of life, unborn children, people on both sides of disputes in wars, and criminals • Call to Family, Community, and Participation • The good of each person is tied to the common good
The Principles continued… 3. Rights and Responsibilities • Every person has the right to have his or her basic needs met, which include food, shelter, employment, education, and equal opportunity • Whenever we list rights we also need to list responsibilities that make those rights a reality. • i.e. The right to adequate food creates the responsibility for a society and its members to see to it that no one starves.
The Principles continued… • Option for the Poor and Vulnerable • “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). • The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers • Work and economic activity are carried out for the common good, NOT only as a means to meet one’s needs
The Principles continued… • Solidarity • See the “other” as “neighbor.” Give a voice to those who are voiceless.
The Principles continued… • Care for God’s Creation • We are to be caretakers of ALL of God’s creation—not to use it for whatever we wish.