“Service & Justice in the Elementary Classroom”

Faith Formation Day 2014

Welcome and Introduction

Amy Edwards, parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna

Learned Catholic Social Teaching at age 38 Immersing myself with diversity inspired more

compassionate living and advocacy

Overview

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching (“CST”)

Small group activity: Explaining CST to 1st - 5th grade children

Our call to respond with Charity and Justice Small group activity: Love in action Share resources for learning and teaching

Catholic Social Teaching

Why is CST important?

Far too many Catholics are unfamiliar with the basic content of Catholic social teaching. More fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately understand that the social mission of the Church is an essential part of Catholic faith.

This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics, since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to do more to share the social mission and message of our Church.

Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions - U.S. Bishops, 1998

Introduction to CST: History

Grounded in Hebrew scriptures when prophets called people to live lives of justice, compassion and peace

Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and who write oppressive decrees,

Depriving the needy of judgment and robbing my people’s poor of their rights.

-Isaiah 10:1-2

You have already been told what is right And what Yahweh wants of you.

Only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, And to walk humbly with your God.

-Micah 6:8

Introduction to CST: History

Jesus’s call for justice and solidarity and his compassion for those who suffered became a worldwide religion*

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared

me; in prison and you visited me. …Amen I say to you , whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine,

you did for me.

-Matthew 25:34-36, 40

Introduction to CST: History

Popes, bishops, and councils produced a body of social teachings in response to rapidly changing social, political, and economic conditions

1891 Rerum Novarum (On the Condition of Workers), Leo XIII 1931 On Reconstructing the Social Order, Pius XI 1961 On Christianity and Social Progress, John XXIII 1963 Peace on Earth, John XXIII 1965 Church in the Modern World, Vatican II 1967 On the Development of Peoples, Paul VI 1971 A Call to Action, Paul VI 1971 Justice in the World, Synod of Bishops 1979 Redeemer of Humanity, John Paul II 1981 On Human Work, John Paul II 1988 On Social Concern, John Paul II 1991 The One Hundredth Anniversary, John Paul II 1995 The Gospel of Life, John Paul II 2009 Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), Pope Benedict XVI

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

1. Life & Dignity of the Human Person …human life is sacred and that the dignity of the

human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society…

In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia.

…Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means.

…the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

2. Call to Family, Community and Participation The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society – in economics and

politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow within their communities.

Marriage and the family are central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined.

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

3. Rights and Responsibilities …human dignity can be protected and a healthy

community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.

…every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.

Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities – to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

The basic moral test of any society is how its most vulnerable members fare.

In a country marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

5. The Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers The economy must serve people, not the other way

around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form

of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the

basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

6. Solidarity We are one human family whatever our national, racial,

ethnic, economic, or ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they

may be, and loving our neighbor has global dimensions ... At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of

justice and peace. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers, and our love for all

our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Catholic Social Teaching: 7 tenants

7. Care for God’s Creation We show our respect for the Creator by our

stewardship of creation. “Care for the earth” is not just an Earth Day slogan, it

is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living

our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral

and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

How do I communicate CST to a child?

Small group activity

Small group activity

Gather with a small group of 4 people near one of the poster papers …

Think of age-appropriate words and visuals to define your table’s CST tenant

Use markers, pens, sticky notes to write and draw

Select 1 person to share your table’s ideas

Our call to respond with love

Two essential responses to the Church’s social teaching

What are appropriate CST responses?

Small group activity

Small group activity

Use the poster paper for your small group’s CST tenant

Write down possible ways children in your classroom can respond with Social Justice and Charitable Works

Resources for teaching CST

Some things to consider when adapting CST for young children… ◦ Physical: love to learn through physical activity

◦ Intellectual: simple, concrete language

◦ Moral: tend to make moral decisions based on the approval or disapproval of authority figures. Try involving parents when engaging children in social issues.

Resources for teaching CST

Example lesson plans to help children become familiar through ongoing experiences ◦ K-2: Use arts & crafts to create “My Catholic Social Teaching” book. Read stories related to each tenant ◦ 3-5: Classroom posters of each tenant where children can read them in each class. Discuss what they mean. Ask for examples in practice or violated. Relate current events. Talk about how to apply at home and in class.

Share some of your examples

Resources for teaching CST

Numerous resources are available online

Summary

Familiarity with Catholic Social Teaching in the language of adults and for children

Comfort with justice and charity as responses to put love in action

Ideas and resources to incorporate CST into your elementary classroom

More information

USCCB Catholic Social Teaching with reflection questions

Superhero of Justice Two Feet of Love in Action Resources for teaching elementary

students about Catholic Social Teaching What Does the Church Teach About Social

Justice? newsletter