November 8,

2019
AGUILAR, JEANNE LAVIN
SEM3 – B

1. Catholic Social Teaching Themes

Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal,
conciliar, and episcopal documents. In the midst of social challenges of this present society,
the Church’s social teachings serve as wisdom and pillar to building a just and humane
society. In such reflections, the following are several highlighted key themes that are at the
heart of our Catholic social tradition

a. Principle of Participation

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

b. Rights and Duties

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

c. Works and Workers

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.

d. Preferential Option for the Poor

In a society separated by 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.

e. Solidarity and Subsidiarity

 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers
demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

f. Dignity of the Human Person

We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than
things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances
the life and dignity of the human person

g. Common Good

The common good is reached when we work together to improve the wellbeing of
people in our society and the wider world.

h. Stewardship (care for creation)

If the world is made to furnish each individual with the means of livelihood and the
instruments for growth and progress, all people have therefore the right to find in the
world what is necessary for them.
2. The four kinds of justice:
a. Social Justice – everyone has a right to a fair say in society
b. Commutative Justice – based on the principle of equality
c. Distributive Justice – guarantees the common welfare by sharing what God has created
d. Legal Justice – the obligations of the government to its citizens and society

3. What are the 7-corporal works of Mercy & 7 spiritual works of mercy

To feed the hungry To instruct the ignorant

To give water to the thirsty To counsel the doubtful
To give shelter to the homeless To admonish the sinner
To visit the sick To bear wrongs patiently
To visit the imprisoned To forgive offenses willingly
To shelter the homeless To comfort the afflicted
To bury the dead To pray for the living and the dead