A God of Life, A Civilization of Love:

Catholic Social Teaching

Marianist LIFE ConferenceMid-LIFE – February 2007

Fr. Daniel Groody, csc

A G O D O F L I F E

nalysis of Social Realitynalysis of Social Reality

A G O D O F L I F E

An Economic Snapshot of the World

A G O D O F L I F E

A G O D O F L I F E

A G O D O F L I F E

ratuity of God

A G O D O F L I F E

rdering of Society Towards Common Good

A G O D O F L I F E

ignity of Human Person

A G O D O F L I F E

ption for the Poor

A G O D O F L I F E

reedom as Rights and Responsibilities

A G O D O F L I F E

Individual IndividualCommutative (Contractual) Justice

Dis

trib

utiv

e Ju

stic

e Contributive Justice

(Rig

hts)

(Duties)

(Procedures)

Common Good

Social Justice as Right Relationships:

A Philosophical Framework

Human

Dignity

A G O D O F L I F E

ife as a Sacred Gift

A G O D O F L I F E

nvolvement of All in Creation of a New Social Order

A G O D O F L I F E

amily of Blood and

Family of Humankind

A G O D O F L I F E

nvironment and Ecological Stewardship

A G O D O F L I F E

Summary

A Foundational Challenge: The Shipwrecked People of Today

A Foundational Premise: A God of Life

A Foundational Mission: A Civilization of Love

A G O D O F L I F E

The Gospel of Life a Civilization of Love

…Upheld by (Christ’s) strength, the Church has always been in the front line in providing charitable help…These deeds strengthen the bases of the "civilization of love and life", without which the life of individuals and of society itself loses its most genuinely human quality. Even if they go unnoticed and remain hidden to most people, faith assures us that the Father "who sees in secret" (Mt 6:6) not only will reward these actions but already here and now makes them produce lasting fruit for the good of all….

Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae

A G O D O F L I F E

Documents of the Universal Church

Year Document Author Context Key Concept

1891 Rerum Novarum On the Condition of Labor

Pope Leo XIII

A new working class after the industrial revolution

Human Dignity

1931 Quadragesimo Anno the Reconstruction of the social order

Pope Pius XI

After the Great Depression; Rise of dictatorship in Europe

Subsidarity

1961 Mater et Magistra Christainity and Social Progress

Pope John XXIII

Growing technological development alongside terrible poverty in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Internationalization

A G O D O F L I F E

1963

Pacem in TerrisPeace in Earth

Pope John XXIII

The Cold War; building of the Berlin wall, Cuban Missile Crisis

Human Rights

1965

Gaudium et Spes The Church in the Modern World

Vatican II Cold War and the Arms race

Signs of the Times

196

7 Populorum ProgressioThe Development of Peoples

Pope Paul VI

Vietnam War, African nations fighting for independence

Development

1971

Octogesima AdveniensA Call to Action

Pope Paul VI

Worldwide recession; new political reform movements

Political Action

1971

Justitia in MundoJustice in the World

Synod of Bishops

Political turmoil around the world

Justice

1975

Evangelii NuntiandiEvangilization in the Modern World

Pope Paul VI

Problem of atheism, consumerism, secularism, hedonism, indifference

Evangelization

A G O D O F L I F E

1981 Laborem ExercensOn Human Work

Pope John Paul II

Rise in power in Multi-national corporation; Unemployment and exploitation of workers

Work

1987 Sollicitudo Rei SocialisOn Social Concern

Pope John Paul II

Increasingly heavy debt in underdeveloped countries; unemployment

Underdevelopment, Structural

sin

1990 Redemptoris MissioThe Missionary Activity of the Church

Pope John Paul II

Meaninglessness and Confusion; rethinking of mission in contemporary world

Mission

1991 Centesium AnnusThe Centenary

Pope John Paul II

The needs of the poor are still not met

A New World Order

1992 The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Need for systemic understanding of the basic teachings of the Church

Human Communion