Theology Midterm

I. Catholic Social Teaching (CST)

Catholic Social Teaching (CST): The Church’s application of the Gospel and moral law to social, economic, and political life.

  • Core Principles of CST:

    • Human dignity

    • Common good

    • Solidarity

    • Subsidiarity

    • Preferential option for the poor

  • CST & Politics:

    • CST offers moral principles, not party platforms

    • Catholics may disagree on policies

    • The Church does not endorse political parties

II. Human Dignity & the Image of God

  • Human Dignity: The inherent worth of every human person, from conception to natural death.

  • Image and Likeness of God:

    • Humans possess reason and free will

    • Humans are capable of love and relationship

    • Humans are ordered toward God

  • Connection to Dignity:

    • Because humans reflect God, dignity is inalienable

    • Dignity does not depend on age, ability, or status

  • Recognizable Without Religion?

    • Yes, through natural law

    • Religion deepens understanding but is not required to recognize dignity

III. Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death

  • Culture of Death (John Paul II):

    • Denial of intrinsic human worth

    • Abortion and euthanasia

    • Treating people as disposable

    • Radical individualism

  • Culture of Life:

    • Protection of life at every stage

    • Care for the vulnerable

    • Recognition of human dignity

IV. Work, Labor, & the Economy

  • Is Work Evil? No. Work is part of God’s original plan.

  • Scriptural Origin of Work: Genesis: Man is commanded to cultivate the earth before the Fall

  • Purpose of Work:

    • Provide for material needs

    • Develop the human person

    • Serve the common good

  • Work as Redemptive/Sanctifying:

    • Work offered to God can sanctify the worker

    • Unites human effort with God’s plan

  • Just Wage: A wage sufficient to support the worker and family with dignity

    • Considered a human right

V. Property, Economy, & Goods

  • Private Property:

    • A natural human right

    • Not absolute

  • Universal Destination of Goods:

    • Earth’s goods are intended for all people

    • Private ownership must serve the common good

  • Moral Economy:

    • Economic life must be governed by moral law

    • People > profit

VI. Capitalism & Communism

  • Capitalism

    • Not intrinsically evil

    • Acceptable when regulated morally

    • Must respect human dignity and workers’ rights

  • Communism

    • Definition: An economic system that abolishes private property and centralizes control in the state.

    • Intent:

      • Achieve equality

      • Eliminate class struggle

    • History:

      • Communal ideals are ancient

      • Karl Marx systematized communism

    • Problems:

      • Denies spiritual dimension of man

      • Leads to totalitarianism

      • Resulted in mass loss of life

VII. Family, Society, & Solidarity

  • Basic Unit of Society: The family

  • State’s Duty to the Family:

    • Protect and support it

    • Not replace it

  • Virtuous Families:

    • Form moral citizens

    • Strengthen society

  • Solidarity:

    • Commitment to the good of all

    • Special concern for the vulnerable

VIII. State, Law, & Authority

  • Source of State Authority:

    • Ultimately from God

    • Expressed through human nature

  • Purpose of Authority:

    • Promote justice

    • Protect the common good

  • Civil Law:

    • Not morally neutral

    • Can be unjust

  • Unjust Laws:

    • Contradict moral law

    • Violate human dignity

  • Why Not Prohibit All Evil? Would destroy freedom and social order

IX. Freedom

  • Freedom: The ability to choose the good.

  • Root of Freedom: Reason and free will

  • Purpose of Freedom: To love God and neighbor

  • Abuse of Freedom: Choosing evil or rejecting truth

  • Limiting Freedom: Moral when necessary to protect others and the common good

X. Church & State

  • Relationship: Distinct but cooperative

  • Biblical Root: “Render unto Caesar…”

  • Separation:

    • Institutional separation

    • Moral values still inform public life

  • Neutrality Toward Religion: Impossible—laws reflect moral beliefs

  • Overlap of Concerns:

    • Human dignity

    • Justice

    • Peace

    • Common good

XI. United States & Religion

  • First Amendment (1791):

    • Prevents national church establishment

    • Does not mandate strict separation

  • Last State Church Dissolved: 1833 (Massachusetts)

  • Application to States: 20th century (1940s)

XII. Creation & Stewardship

  • Genesis Teaching:

    • Creation is good

    • Man is steward, not owner

  • Man’s Place in Creation:

    • More valuable than the rest of creation

    • Not free to exploit it

  • Creation as Sacramental: Creation reveals God

  • Old Testament Care for Creation:

    • Sabbath laws

    • Rest for land and animals

XIII. Education & History

  • Church & Education: Strongly supported learning

  • Dark Ages: Monasteries preserved education

  • Carolingian Renaissance: Revival of learning under Charlemagne

  • Cathedral and monastic schools

  • Universities: Born in Middle Ages

  • Renaissance: Revival of classical learning

    • Supported by the Church

XIV. Human Rights & Slavery

  • Human Rights:

    • Belong to humans by nature

    • Inalienable

  • Origin of Rights: Rooted in human dignity and God

  • Old Testament & Slavery: Restrained and regulated it

  • Church Decrees:

    • Pope Eugene IV (1435): Condemned slavery

    • Pope Paul III (1537): Declared indigenous peoples fully human

XV. Education & Newman

  • Education as a Right: A natural human right

  • Newman’s Critiques:

    • Utilitarianism: Education only for usefulness

    • Fragmentation: Knowledge without unity

    • Rationalism: Reason without faith

    • Secularism: Exclusion of God from education