Social Mission of the Church and Nature of Catholic Social Teaching

Flashcards covering the Social Mission of the Church (THY3-U2-L1) and the Nature of Catholic Social Teaching (THY3-U2-L2).

How does 1 Corinthians 12:27 define the Church?

It states, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

How does 1 Corinthians 3:16 describe believers?

It states, "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"

According to Micah 6:8, what three things does the Lord require of mortals?

To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

What command regarding justice is given in Isaiah 1:17?

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."

How does St. Thomas Aquinas define justice?

To give what is due (1) to God and (2) to others by a constant and perpetual will.

Which four vulnerable social groups constitute the "Quartet of Justice" in Zechariah 7:9–10?

The widow, the foreigner, the orphan, and the poor.

What are the four expressions of justice in the Judeo-Christian Tradition?

Sedekah, Mishpath, Hesed, and Dikaiosune.

What is the meaning and manifestation of the Hebrew word Sedekah?

It means "right relationship." It is manifested by Yahweh in His relationship with Israel and creation, and by Israel through obedience, reverence, and faithfulness to God.

Which terms and concepts are closely associated with Yahweh's sedekah?

Mercy, compassion, and salvation; it is identical with deliverance and salvation associated with a norm established by God.

What does the Hebrew word Mishpath depict?

It depicts the forensic nature of justice, occurring in the context of the failure or violation of right relationship, functioning as a court of law where the accused is punished and the victim is vindicated.

How does Yahweh act as an arbiter under mishpath?

Yahweh acts as a judge who punishes the wicked, rewards the righteous, and corrects wrongdoings to secure order and restore right relationship.

What is the meaning and translation of the Hebrew word Hesed?

It is translated as loving kindness, steadfast love, mercy, and compassion, serving as the expression of loving kindness in the Kingdom of Yahweh.

How is Yahweh's hesed demonstrated toward Israel?

Through His everlasting love, remaining faithful despite Israel's unfaithfulness (Hos. 2), and showing compassion and mercy for her sins (Isa. 54:8).

What does the Greek word Dikaiosune mean in the New Testament context?

It can be rendered as righteousness or justice, shedding light on the Kingdom of God as the manner by which God wants to be king and how the divine will is followed.

According to the Beatitudes action matrix, what action corresponds to "Blessed are the poor in spirit"?

Practice intellectual and spiritual humility.

According to the Beatitudes action matrix, what action corresponds to "Blessed are the meek"?

Restrain/Control power and desire for power.

According to the Beatitudes action matrix, what action corresponds to "Blessed are the peacemakers"?

Initiate reconciliation.

What are the three dimensions of the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church to society?

Kingly, Priestly, and Prophetic.

What is the definition of the Church's Priestly mission?

Our capacity to pray for one another and our ability to establish a deeper relationship with God through prayer and worship.

What is the definition of the Church's Kingly mission?

One's commitment to serve others through active participation in integral human development.

What key point did Pope Paul VI state in Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975, no. 76)?

"The witness of life has become more than ever an essential condition for real effectiveness in preaching."

What is Theandric Communion as defined in Redemptor Hominis (1979, no. 13)?

The state where Divine grace operates through human action and unites people with God.

What was the main assertion of Fr. Raymond Panikkar's 1964 book "The Unknown Christ of Hinduism"?

Christ is already spiritually present within the Hindu tradition and experience, acting as the hidden bridge between God and humanity.

What principle on religious freedom was promulgated in Vatican II's Dignitatis Humanae (1965)?

That the human person has a right to religious freedom and to be free from coercion in religious matters.

What does the Latin phrase "Duc in Altum" mean, and what spiritual directives does it embody?

It means "Put out into the Deep" (Lk. 5:4), directing believers to trust and obey God over human logic, to evangelize, and to venture into deeper prayer, contemplation, and personal transformation.

When and by whom was the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC) published?

It was published by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2004 at the request of Pope John Paul II.

What are the four fundamental values of social life outlined in the CSDC?

Truth, Freedom, Justice, and Love.

What is the foundational core principle of Catholic Social Teaching (CST)?

Human Dignity (every person is created in the image and likeness of God).

What action defines the CST principle of Subsidiarity?

Higher-level organizations must assist lower-level ones only when necessary, while recognizing that humanity is one family committed to love, justice, and peace (Solidarity).

What does the principle of Universal Destination of Goods (UDG) dictate?

All created things should be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of justice (CSDC, 165).

How did Pope Pius XI describe the issue of resource distribution in CSDC 171?

He stated it is laboring under grave evils due to the huge disparity between the few exceedingly rich and the unnumbered propertyless, calling for distribution to conform with social justice.

Which four Old Testament covenants enshrined humanity's interconnectedness?

The Adamic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, and Mosaic (Sinai) Covenant.

What unique scope characterized the Noahic Covenant (Gen. 9:9–11)?

God made the covenant not only with Noah and his descendants, but with all living creatures and the Earth itself for all generations.

When and where did Capitalism originate, and what four components define it?

Originated in the 14th–18th centuries in medieval Europe; defined by (1) private ownership, (2) ownership of the means of production, (3) market-driven resource allocation, and (4) capital accumulation.

When and where did Socialism and Communism originate, and what defines them?

Originated in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in France; defined as ideologies based on radical equality ruled by a sole locus of power, communal ownership, and the rule of the working class.

Who is known as the "Father of CST," and what encyclical did he publish in 1891?

Pope Leo XIII, who authored the historic encyclical Rerum Novarum ("Of New Things").

How did Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas view private property?

Aristotle held that private property aligns with human nature because people care more for what belongs to them individually; Aquinas stated that while God gave Earth to humanity in common, private property is a legitimate human addition to maintain social order and proper stewardship.

What does the Principle of Double Circumscription require for free-market businesses?

It requires that free-market enterprise must be governed by both Legal Laws (e.g., government regulations) and Moral Laws (e.g., protecting human dignity and the common good).

What is a person's rightful due according to Pope John Paul II in Love and Responsibility?

"A person's rightful due is to be treated as an object of love, not as an object for use."

How do love and justice relate as an ethical baseline versus true communion?

Justice is the prerequisite and ethical baseline for love, whereas love fulfills, completes, and transcends justice to establish true communion.

What is the consequence of love without justice according to Paul Tillich?

Love without justice becomes sentimentality, discarding accountability and perpetuating patterns of abuse and wrongdoing.

What is the consequence of justice without love?

Justice without love degenerates into mere structural order, cold rigidity, or extreme legalism ("Summum ius, summa iniuria").

What is Cicero's famous maxim regarding extreme legalism?

"Summum ius, summa iniuria" ("Law applied to its extreme is the greatest injustice").

What is St. Thomas Aquinas's concept of Social Charity?

Social charity (caritas) is the ultimate virtue that forms, animates, and directs all social life, making us love the common good.

What does Article II, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution specify?

The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

According to Article VI, Section 29 of the Philippine Constitution, when may public funds be used for religious dignitaries?

When a priest, preacher, minister, or dignitary is assigned to the armed forces, penal institutions, government orphanages, or leprosariums.