Theology iii term ii exam

Essay Question - How would you explain social justice/Catholic Social Teaching to someone who has not taken this class? How are love and Catholic social teaching related?

• race metaphor

• everyone deserves to start at the same point

• catholic social teaching calls us to do this

• doing this makes us happy and love

• circle of love

Social justice = everyone is at the same starting point. CST commands us to be loving to all (treat others the way you want to be treated). Everyone deserves to be loved. Love motivates us to support each other and advocate for justice. Social justice becomes a call to action

Think of a race, where everyone starts at the same point and it’s up to the individual person to do well. That’s essentially what social justice is. Everyone, no matter who they are, deserves to start at the same point and have all the opportunities everyone else has. Catholic social teaching is what calls us to create this world of love. Creating this makes us love more, which makes us want to create this more. It’s a circle of love that will eventually make everyone, no matter who they are, love each other.

Social Change

addresses long-term needs & works to change institutions

Social Service

addresses short-term needs and works to alleviate the symptoms of injustice

Justice

giving to others what is their due

Commutative Justice

fairness in exchanges

Distributive Justice

just distribution of goods

Legal Justice

citizens’ obligations to society

Social Justice

applying the Gospel to guarantee the rights of individuals

Natural Law

God’s plan written into every heart

Dignity

the state of being worthy, honored,,or esteemed.

Consistent Life Ethic

respect for life from conception to natural death

Right

a claim we can make on others so we can live a full, human life

Common Good

the sum of the spiritual, material, and societal conditions needed to achieve full

Solidarity

sharing spiritual and material goods

Subsidiarity

A higher unit of society should not do what a lower unit of society can do as well or better.

Preferential Option for the Poor

gives priority to the needs of the vulnerable when making financial and policy decisions

Social Sin

a structure that perpetuates sin

Prejudice

an unsubstantiated or preformed judgment about an individual/group

Antilocution

speaking against a person/group

Avoidance

ignoring or staying away from a group of people based on hatred of that group

Discrimination

harmful actions or omissions based on group

Physical Attack

violence against members of a group of people based on hatred of that group

Extermination

killing individuals/groups

Poverty

lack of enough physical and spiritual things to meet a person’s needs

Poverty of the Soul

rejecting God and seeking fulfillment elsewhere

Poverty of the Spirit

total reliance on God alone

Peace

the tranquility of order

Just War Tradition

a set of criteria that regulates the force that can be used to right wrongs on a global scale

war is only permissable when it’s in self-defense.

Work

sustained effort with the intent to produce or accomplish something

Objective dimension of work

product or outcome of work

Subjective dimension of work

the human person and his/her involvement in work

Just wage

at a minimum, a wage high enough to meet food, clothing, and shelter needs and to provide for transportation, education ,and some form of recreation

Ownership

possessing something and being free to use and dispose of it

Stewardship

taking responsibility for something on behalf of someone else.

Universal destination of goods

that all of Earth’s resources are meant for all people

Sacramentality

the universe is a way to connect with God

The three traits of the natural law precepts

universal, unchanging, permanent

Universal

applies to all people

Unchanging

will not adapt, even if the world changes

Permanent

will never be removed

• The relationship between members of the Body of Christ

Christ is the head, we are the body

• What theological reality does the human community reflect?

holy trinity

• The three traits of (human) rights

Universal, Inviolable, Inalienable

Universal

extended to everyone

Inviolable

never can be dishonored

Inalienable

cannot be taken/given away

How should we exercise our rights?

Every right should be exercised responsibly, and these rights derive from human dignity.

What obligations do authority figures have?

they have an obligation to reflect the authority of God, and lead in a way that serves the common good and respects the fundamental rights of all people.

What kinds of laws must citizens obey and disobey?:

Citizens must obey just law, and disobey unjust laws

The value of creation and its care

Creation is good because God created it

Ownership

possessing something and being free to use and dispose of it

Stewardship

taking responsibility for something on behalf of someone else. (Borrowing)

* The value of and right to work

Subjective dimension of work is more important than the Objective dimension of work. Human dignity demands that workers have rights and pay must cover all expenses, like transportation, food, rent, etc.

Wealth and the economy

Jesus did not condemn wealth, but he condemned its misuse, and The economy should protect human life, defend human rights, and safeguard the common good

Can we do evil to achieve a good goal?

No, one cannot commit an evil act so that good may come of it.

Are we permitted to kill in self-defense?

Yes

Killing in self-defense can be permissible…

War, Individual Self-Defense