The Catholic Worker Movement & Origins of CST
In 1933, during the Great Depression, Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker newspaper and movement with Peter Maurin.
The movement confronted the appeal of communism by demonstrating the Church's concern for the poor and workers.
It is recognized for hospitality houses, advocating labor rights, nonviolence, and protesting injustice, serving as an example of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) in action.
What is Catholic Social Teaching (CST)?
CST is the Church's teaching, articulated by popes and bishops, that examines human society through the lens of the Gospel and Church Tradition.
Its purpose is to guide Christians in transforming society to protect human dignity and ensure essential human needs and rights for all.
Social justice: The defense of human dignity by ensuring essential human needs are met and human rights are protected.
CST is rooted in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, interpreted by the Church's magisterium.
CST's Response to Modern Challenges
CST emerged during the 18^{th} and 19^{th} centuries, coinciding with the Age of Enlightenment, which emphasized human reason and led to new economic and political systems.
These systems included:
Capitalism: ext{An economic system based on private ownership of goods and distribution of goods mainly through competition in a free market.}
Socialism: ext{An economic system in which there is no private ownership of goods, and the creation and distribution of goods and services are determined by the whole community or by the government.}
Communism: ext{An economic and governmental system where goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed.}
The Church developed CST as a bridge to apply timeless Gospel truths to these new and complex social realities, addressing modern issues like poverty, labor rights, and social injustice.
It calls Christians to participate in transforming society, often challenging existing norms, and is integral to the Church's mission of redemption.
The Church primarily makes Christ present through the celebration of the liturgy, extending this saving presence into the world through social action.
For Review
What is Catholic social teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the Church's teaching, based on the Gospel and Tradition, that guides Christians in transforming society to protect human dignity, meet essential needs, and ensure human rights for all. It is issued by popes and bishops to instruct Christians in carrying out Jesus' mission in the world.Which economic and political system was the Catholic Worker newspaper and movement a reaction to?
The Catholic Worker newspaper and movement was primarily a reaction to the appeal of communism among the poor during the Great Depression, while also addressing broader issues related to emerging systems like capitalism and socialism from the Age of Enlightenment.In what way does the Catholic Church make Christ most present?
The Catholic Church makes Christ most present primarily through the celebration of the liturgy (Sacraments), and then extends this saving presence into the world through its mission of social action and transformation.Why did the Catholic Church develop Catholic social teaching if Scripture already contains a guide to action for justice?
The Catholic Church developed CST because, while Scripture offers timeless truths, CST specifically applies these truths to the new and complex social situations of the modern world (e.g., capitalism, socialism, communism, industrialization) that were not directly addressed by ancient contexts. It serves as a bridge for guiding contemporary action for justice.