Module 1: Catholic Social Teaching-The Art of Living Together

advocate

a person who argues for or supports a cause or group

agape love

the kind of love that is spiritual and unselfish; the love God for human beings and human beings for God. A universal, unconditional love.

Catholic Social Teaching

The body of Catholic doctrine related to the contemporary social, political and economic order. This set of teachings emphasizes (1) the dignity of the human person as a member of society, (2) the social responsibility and widespread ownership of private property, (3) subsidiarity and solidarity as ways of promoting the common good, (4) each individual's right to active political participation, (5) the right to life-giving work and a just wage, (6) the right of people to migrate and immigrate for religious, political, social, and economic reasons, and (7) the right of all people, especially the poor and marginalized, to liberation from all forms of oppression.

Catholic Relief Services

the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community, based in the United States.

charity

a social service in which people respond to the symptoms of a problem. A charity action responds to immediate needs by providing necessary services like food, clothing, and shelter. It is directed at the effects or symptoms of injustice.

communism

a social, political and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of the communist society, which is a socioeconomic order structured on the common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and the state.

culture of love

an environment that promotes unity, inclusion and acceptance as the norm.

discern

to utilize a prayerful decision-making process in exploring your vocation, area of study, or many other life-altering choices.

empathy

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

fair trade

a movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries to get a fair price for their products so as to reduce poverty, provide for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices.

holy

Refers to the divine, that which has its sanctity directly from God or is connected with God; something that is sacred.

homogeneity

of the same or kind of nature, of uniform structure or composition throughout.

human dignity

the basic value of each individual as a person created in the image and likeness of God.

human rights

the basic freedoms and rights to which all people are entitled to protect human dignity and enable human development.

interdependent

from the Latin word meaning "among" or "between." In reference to the environment, this signifies that all beings are in a relationship with one another.

intolerance

unwillingness or refusal to respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one's own; refusal to respect persons of a different social group, especially of a minority group.

justice

represents social change, especially in institutions or political structures, and is directed at the root causes of social problems.

liberation theology

a movement in Christian theology, developed mainly by Latin American Roman Catholics, that emphasizes liberation from social, political and economic oppression.

marginalize

People labeled by society as outside the norm and therefore pushed to the edge or fringe of society, keeping them powerless.

Old Testament

The Christian name for those biblical writings that record God's Revelation to the Israelites, the Chosen People.

oppression

unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power.

prejudice

forming a favorable or unfavorable attitude or judgment about a person or group prior to knowing relevant facts.

root cause

a fundamental or primary reason for the presence of a problem, often refers to the source of a societal injustice.

sacred

something that is highly valued, special, holy.

safe migration

the governmental assurance that any displaced persons can travel safely and receive food, shelter, and aid.

Scripture

the collection of sacred writings accepted by Jews and Christians as the inspired Word of God.

"See, Judge, Act"

a decision-making method introduced in Catholic social teaching that is both practical and spiritual in nature.

social justice

the respect and defense of human dignity by ensuring that essential human needs are met and that essential human rights are protected for all people.

social structures

the institutionalized pattern of relationships in a particular society.

solidarity

union of one's heart and mind with those who are poor or powerless or who face an injustice.

Theology

The systemic study of God and all creation in relation to God, especially in light of Revelation as presented in Scripture and Tradition.

Tradition

The process of handing down the Gospel, New Testament Tradition, which began with the oral communication of the Gospels by the Apostles, was written down in Scripture and then interpreted, first by the Fathers of the Church and later by the Magisterium under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Trinity

The central mystery of the Christian faith that God exists as a communion of three distinct and interrelated Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pope Francis

Stated that even the weakest and most vulnerable are masterpieces of God's creation, and that love will always guide us, inviting us to respond to the God of love who saves us.

Ezekiel

Scolded the leaders of Israel regarding the treatment of the marginalized, stating they ruled them harshly.

Zechariah

Admonished society's leaders to judge with true justice, show kindness and compassion, and not oppress.

Dom Helder Camara

Archbishop from Brazil, founder of Latin America's liberation theology movement, deeply involved in causes of poverty, and challenged the church to not only work for the poor, but with them.

Pope Benedict XVI

Encouraged living as brothers and sisters, becoming 'one body' joined in a single existence, united in love of God and love of neighbor.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Former First Lady and human rights activist who chaired the U.N. human rights commission that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Deacon Steve Swope

A deacon in the Archdiocese of Atlanta who was inspired to take action after hearing the struggles of a Syrian refugee named Hiat.

Frederick Buechner

Stated that bringing justice to the world is overwhelming and that one person cannot fix every social injustice, but collectively we can make a powerful change.

Mother Teresa

Advocated for love without getting tired and emphasized that true faith requires action, stating that faith without works is dead.

7 principles of Catholic Social Teaching Centered around Human Dignity

Work and the Rights of Workers, Stewardship of God's Creation, Solidarity, Optional for the Poor and Vulnerable, Right to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities

Solidarity

unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.