The Social Justice Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church
Encyclical - a letter from the pope usually addresses to his “brother bishops”
conclave - a meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope
What makes the pope a pope?
The pope is the bishop of Rome
Major Encyclicals and Documents of Catholic Social Teaching
Rerum Novarum (encyclical)
Written by Pope Leo XIII in 1899
English Translation - Of the new things
Working Title - On the Condition of the Working Class
Purpose:
Lays out the rights and responsibilities of capitol and labor
Describes the role of government in a just society
Condemns atheistic communism
Upholds the right to private property
Quadragesimo Anno (encyclical)
Written by Pope Prius XI in 1931 on the 40th anniversary of Rerum Nevarum
English Translation - in the 40th year
Working title - On Reconstructing the Social Order
Purpose:
Condemns the effects of greed and concentrated political and economic power and proposes that social organization be based on the principle of subsidiarity
subsidiarity - dealing with issues at the lowest possible value
Mater te Magistra (encyclical)
Written by Pope John XXIII in 1961
Working title / english translation - Mother and Teacher
Purpose:
Identifies the widening gap between the rich and poor nations as a global concern of justice
Raises concern about the arms race
Calls upon Christians to work for a more just world
Pacem in Terris (encyclical)
Written by Pope John XXIII in 1963
written to the people
Working Title/english translation- Peace on Earth
Purpose:
Focuses on human rights as the basis for peace
Calls for disarmament
States the need for a worldwide institution to promote and safeguard the universal common ground
Gaudium et Spes (apostolic constitution)
Written by the Second Vatican Council in 1965
Second Vatican Council
Created in 1962 by Pope John XXIII
English Translation - Joy and Hope
Working Title - The Church in the Modern World
Purpose:
Clear recognition that the church is immersed in the modern world
condemns poverty
warns about the threat of nuclear war
Christians must work to build structures that uphold justice and peace
Populorum Progessio (encyclical)
Written by Pope Paul VI in 1967
Title - On the Development of Peoples
Purpose:
Focuses on the human development
“Development is the new name for peace”
Condemns the situation that gives rise to global poverty and inequality
Calls for new international organizations and agreements that promote justice and peace
Humanae Vitale (encyclical, not about social justice)
Written by Pope Paul VI on July 25th, 1968
English Translation - On Human Life
Working Title - On the Regulation of birth
Purpose:
The transmissions of human life is a most serious rile in which married people collaborative freely and responsibly with God the Creator
Against birth control
the sexual act must retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life
Every action specifically intended to prevent procreation is forbidden, except in medically necessary circumstances
The church is concerned with safeguarding the holiness of marriage in order to guide married life to full human and Christian Perfection
Evangeli Nuntiandi (apostolic exhortation)
Exhortation - urging to do something
Written by Pope Paul VI in 1975
English Translation - Proclaiming the Gospel
Working Title - Evangelization in the Modern World
Purpose:
Links the work of doing justice with evangelization
The gospel is about liberation from all oppressive structures
respect for cultures
Laborum Exercens (encyclical)
Written by Pope John Paul II on September 14, 1981
English Translation - The Value of Work
Working title - On Human Work
Purpose:
Affirms the dignity of work and the dignity of the worker
Affirms the rights of labor
Calls for workplace justice
Centesimi Annus (encyclical)
Written by Pope John Paul II in 1991 on the 100th anniversary of Rerum Nevarum
English Translation - On the Hundreth Year
Working title - One Hundred Years
Purpose:
Reaffirms the principles of Catholic Social Teaching over one hundred years
Celebrates Rerum Novarum
Identifies the failures of both socialist and market economies
Deus Caritas Est (encyclical)
Written by Pope Benedict XVI on December 25th, 2005
English Translation/working title - God is Love
Lumen Fidei (encyclical)
Written by Pope Francis on June 29th, 2013
Francis’ first encyclical
English translation/working title - God is Love
Laudato Si (encyclical)
Written by Pope Francis on May 24th, 2015
written to the people
English translation - Praise be to you
Working title - On Car for Our Common Home
The Content of Catholic Social Teaching
Leo XIII (1878) was concerned for the plight of the working class in the late nineteenth century Europe and for the role of government
Pius XI (1922-1963)
proposed the principle of subsidiarity as the basis for social organization
John XXII (1958-1963)
concerned with the conditions for world peace, confronting the arms race, international relations, racism, and development aid
Paul VI (1963-1978)
concerned with development and justice trade issues, structural injustice, development aid, and working for justice
John Paul II (1978-2005)
focused on the changing nature of work and worker’s conditions, the gap between North and South, the option for the poor, the universal destination of the world’s goods, and the structures of sin.
had the longest papacy
Francis (2013-present)
Concerned with the environment
Key Principles
1. The Dignity of the Human Person
Human beings are created in the image of God and, therefore, are endowed with dignity
This inherent dignity carries with it certain basic rights and responsibilities which are exercised within a social framework
2. The Common Good
While dignity of the human person is affirmed, individuals live in common with others and the rights of individuals must be balanced with the wider common good of all
3. Solidarity
Human beings are social by nature and do not exist merely as individuals
When considering the human community, it must be remembered that it consists of individual and social elements
4. Subsidiarity (dealing with issues at the most local level possible
Society is based on organizations or communities of people ranging from small groups or families to national and international institutions
As a rule of social organization, subsidiarity affirms the right of individuals and social groups to make their own decisions and accomplish what they can by their own initiative and industry
A higher level community should not interfere in the life of a community at its lower level of social organization
5. The Purpose of Social Order
The social order must uphold the dignity of the human person
6. The Purpose of Government
The purpose of government is the promotion of the common good
7. Participation
Individuals and groups must be enabled to participate in society
8. The Universal purpose of Goods
The worlds goods are meant for all
Although the church upholds the right to private property, this is subordinate to the rights of common use and the overall common good
Eminent Domain
There is a social mortgage on private property
9. The Option for the Poor
Refers to seeing the world through the eyes of the poor and standing with the poor in solidarity
This should lead to action for justice with and on behalf of those who are poor and marginalized
10. The Care of Creation (environement)
The earth is God’s gift and all species have a rightful place in it
Humans share this habitat with other kind and have a special duty to be stewards are trustees of the earth
The Just War Theory
The Just War Theory is a doctrine that attempts to ensure the at war is morally justifiable
A war must meet a series of criteria to be considered a “just war”
History and Theological Development
Pre-Christian
In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, criteria for a just war are established:
Proportionality - relatively equal in power between both powers
just means to fight in the war
just cause - a defensive war is almost always a just war
fair treatment of captives and wounded
Ancient Rome
A “just cause” was necessary
repelling an invasion
retaliation for a breach of treaty
Christian
generally pacifists in the early church
Saint Augustine is regarded as the originator of the Just War Theory in its classic form
“We do not seek peace in war, but go to war so that we may have peace”
Thomas Aquinas later adapted Augustine’s ideas into the criteria that have become the basis for the JWT
Augustine’s Original Conditions
A war may be waged justly under three conditions
1) The legitimate authority who has the duty of preserving the common good must declare the war
2) A just cause for war must exist
3) The warring parties must have the right intention
Some scholars suggest that Augustine included a fourth condition for a just war, that peace achieved by the war must out weigh the evil caused by the war
The Catholic Church came to distinguish between two types of justice concerning war:
“Jus ad bellum”
“the right to go to war”
the morality of going to war
“Jus in bello”
“right conduct in war”
moral conduct of war
It is possible to fight a just war unjustly
If we apply Augustine’s criteria to types of war:
Jus ad Bellum
1) Just authority - a just war must be initiated by a political authority within a political system that allows distinctions of justice
2) Just Cause - Some wrong has been committed by one nation for which war is the proper redress by another, e.g. unprovoked aggression
3) Just Intention - This sets a limit to the extent of war. A juts war is limited to the pursuit and securing of the just cause
4) Last Resort - war is morally permissible only when no other means of achieving the Just Cause are possible
Jus in Bello
1) Proportionality - the degree of allowable force used in war must be measurable against the force required to correct the Just Cause and limited by Just Intention
2) Discrimination - Innocent, nonmilitary people should never be the target of attack
3) Responsibility - A country is not responsible for unexpected side effects of its military activity as long as the following conditions are met
a) Intention to produce good consequences
b) The bad effects were not intended
c) The good of the war must outweigh the damage done by it
No Intrinsically unethical means
“Following orders” is not a defense
Over time a third consideration has been added: Jus post Bello (justice after war)
Status quo ante bellum - “the way things were before the war”
Punishment for war crimes
Compensation of victims
Peace treaties
Just war theory provides the basis for exercising “ethical restraint”
Other Perspectives
Thomas Moore
In Utopia, allowed for war only as a defensive measure
Acknowledged that he knew of no war in history, in the present; or in the foreseeable future was just
Modern Warfare
Benedict XV (1914-1922)
Opposed war in any form is “historically out molded and theologically inadequate”
“The Gospel has not one law of charity for individuals and another for states and nations, for these are but collections of individuals.”
John XXII (1958-1963)
“Therefore in this age of ours, which provides itself on its atomic power, it is irrational to think that war is a proper way to obtain justice for violated rights”
Pacem in Terris
The Second Vatican Council
Modern weapons “can inflict immense and indiscriminate havoc which goes far beyond the bounds of legitimate defense.”
Total warfare is most definitely condemned
Gaudium et Spes
However not all warfare is condemned
The council justified “the right of a nation to defend itself by a discriminate and proportional use of force as a last resort”
1) War is to be used only after all efforts for peaced have failed
2) Government leaders have the duty to protect their peoples interests - the common good
3) A right intention rules out form being used for political or military objectives
4) Not all is fair
5) Indiscriminate killing of the innocent is prohibited
Middle Ages
religious perspective on life
life centered around God
Protestant Reformation
Enlightenment
Reason
Centered around human kind
Industrial Rev.
Technology/Science
Planned obsolescence- things that are made to break over a period of time so that the manufacturers can make money
Study Set on Catholic Social Teaching and Just War Theory
Key Terms:
Encyclical: A letter from the pope addressing his bishops.
Conclave: Meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope.
Subsidiarity: Principle that issues should be dealt with at the most local level possible.
Major Encyclicals:
Rerum Novarum (1891): Rights and responsibilities of capital and labor; condemns communism; upholds private property.
Quadragesimo Anno (1931): Critiques greed and suggests social organization based on subsidiarity.
Mater et Magistra (1961): Addresses the gap between rich and poor nations; promotes justice.
Pacem in Terris (1963): Emphasizes human rights as essential for peace.
Evangeli Nuntiandi (1975): Connects justice work with evangelization.
Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
Dignity of the Human Person: Fundamental dignity inherent in every human being.
Common Good: Individual rights must be balanced with the welfare of the community.
Solidarity: Humans exist not just as individuals but as part of a community.
Option for the Poor: Focus on justice for the marginalized.
Care of Creation: Emphasize the responsibility humans have for the earth.
Just War Theory:
Jus ad Bellum: Right to go to war.
Just authority, just cause, just intention, last resort.
Jus in Bello: Right conduct in war.
Proportionality, discrimination, responsibility.
Jus post Bello: Justice after war.
Restitution, treaties, compensation for victims.
Summary:
This study set covers essential terms, major encyclicals, core principles of Catholic Social Teaching, and the Just War Theory, providing a concise overview suitable for exam preparation or group study.