THY 3
FINALS
UNIT III – THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH’S SOCIAL TEACHING AND ITS KEY
PRINCIPLE
L1:
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS (CST)
STUDY
PLANET POOR VS PLANET RICH
There are two "planets" on Earth: one for the rich and one for the poor.
o Income inequality has created two distinct worlds with vastly different living
conditions.
COVID-19 is more dangerous on Planet Poor due to overcrowded and unsanitary
conditions.
o Inequality exacerbates the impact of pandemics, making it harder for the poor
to access healthcare and practice social distancing.
Brazil illustrates income inequality with favelas beside rich neighborhoods.
o Favelas are slums next to affluent areas, highlighting stark disparities in living
conditions.
San Francisco shows homelessness coexisting with extreme wealth.
o Wealthy and homeless populations in the same city rarely interact,
emphasizing the stark contrast.
In Mumbai, luxury hotels stand on former slums.
o The land's transformation highlights how income inequality persists, even
within luxury destinations.
South Africa displays severe inequality between blacks and whites.
o Villas and slums coexist, revealing vast disparities in living standards and
access to resources.
Despite differences, people on both planets share common humanity and values.
o People, regardless of wealth, have similar desires and the capacity for
generosity.
Demonstrated by experiences in Kenya, people on both planets want the same
things.
o Basic human needs and desires are universal, transcending economic
disparities.
COVID-19 poses a greater threat on Planet Poor due to inadequate facilities.
o Lack of sanitation, overcrowding, and limited healthcare access make
pandemics more dangerous in impoverished areas. The focus should be on
addressing extreme poverty and income inequality.
RESEARCH
INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY: POINTS FOR REFLECTION
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY is prevalent worldwide, with various forms, including
wealth and income inequality.
WEALTH refers to accumulated assets minus liabilities, such as savings, real
estate, and stocks, while income is the earnings constantly added to wealth.
Global wealth distribution is highly skewed, with North America and Europe holding
a disproportionate share, while countries like China, India, and Africa have less.
Income inequality focuses on the distribution of new earnings, which is unequal
worldwide.
The "ECONOMIC BIG BANG" occurred during the Industrial Revolution, causing a
significant gap between rich and poor nations.
Globalization and international trade have contributed to accelerating income
inequality.
"SKILL-BIASED TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE" has created jobs that favor skilled
workers, while unskilled workers fall behind.
In the United States, income inequality is measured using the GINI Index, where a
higher score indicates greater inequality.
Over the past few decades, income inequality in the U.S. has increased, with the
top earners gaining a larger share of income.
Various factors contribute to income inequality, including the reduced influence of
unions, tax policies favoring the wealthy, and significant CEO-employee
salary gaps.
Income inequality also intersects with other forms of inequality, such as race and
gender.
Debates exist over whether income inequality is a problem, but it is associated with
negative social and economic consequences.
Solutions to income inequality may involve education, minimum wage
adjustments, affordable childcare, social safety nets, and changes to tax
policies.
Addressing INCOME INEQUALITY is a pressing issue at both national and global
levels, requiring action to level the economic playing field.
ANALYSIS
THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS ROOTED IN HIS OR HER CREATION IN
THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD.
Endowed with a spiritual and immortal soul, INTELLIGENCE and FREE WILL, the
human person is ordered to God and called in soul and in body to eternal beatitude.
CCC 1699-1715.
RONA VIENNE SILVA
HUMAN INTELLECT enables us to recognize and understand God’s Command to
do good and avoid evil.
FREE WILL enable us to choose good with the guidance of our conscience and to
obey God’s Law of Love.
JUSTICE
JUSTICE is the virtue which inclines us to give to God and to man what is due to
them.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
This is the exercise of God-given individual rights taken in relation to the common
welfare.
The church defines certain principles of what we term SOCIAL JUSTICE as
application of the Law of God to conditions of present day economic and social life
in order to carry out the Church’s primary objective of sanctifying and saving men.
WHAT IS IT THE LORD REQUIRES OF US? – MICAH 6:8
Only to do justice, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
CHRIST’S ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SOCIETY
CHRIST AS A TEACHER Christ teaching gives emphasis on PERSONS
OVER LAW and on the VIRTUES OF JUSTICE
AND CHARITY over the legal code (Luke 10:25-37)
CHRIST PREACHES THE Calls for METANOIA (Conversion of Heart)
KINGDOM OF GOD
Conversion which is NON-VIOLENT
HOPEFUL PREPARATION for its realization in the
future.
CHRIST AS A LIBERATOR Christ heals and liberates people both from
physical and spiritual illness.
Christ’s liberation is also at the same time a
RESTORATION (personal and communal).
LECTURE
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN’S ABILITY TO INSTRUCT ONE ANOTHER ON THE SOCIAL
INVOLVEMENT
The early Christian community has endeavored to follow the examples of Christ.
o DUTY TO GIVE (Act 2:44-45; 20:35; Tim 6:17-19) – It is not right for one to live
in luxury while others live in want. – CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
o DEPOSITS OF PIETY – according to TERTULLIAN is used in feeding the
needy, in burying them, in support of youths and maidens destitute of means
and deprived of their parents, in the care of the aged, and the relief of the
shipwrecked.
o ENDEAVOR TO ESTABLISH UNITY AND SOLIDARITY (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11)
THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE CONTINUING CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
TRADITION
Even with the institutionalization of the Church within the Roman Empire, she
remained to be an active agent for social justice.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH – requires JUSTICE which
is a “habit whereby man renders to each one his due by a constant and perpetual
will.”
JUST WAR THEORY
JUST WAR THEORY deals with the justification of how and why wars are fought.
The justification can be either THEORETICAL or HISTORICAL.
The THEORETICAL ASPECT is concerned with ethically justifying war and the
forms that warfare may or may not take.
The HISTORICAL ASPECT, OR THE “JUST WAR TRADITION,” deals with the
historical body of rules or agreements that have applied in various wars across the
ages.
JUST WAR THEORY (BREAKING IN THE HABIT – YOUTUBE)
Jesus' teachings tend to favor pacifism, promoting turning the other cheek and
loving one's enemies.
For nearly 300 years, pacifism was the uncontested approach for Christians, who
were even barred from entering the military.
After Christianity became the official religion in Rome, Christians moved from
underclass status to positions of leadership.
The shift in status led to the realization that they had the power and responsibility
to protect others, even though violence.
ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, in the fourth century, argued that a legitimate
authority could use violence without breaking God's law under certain
conditions.
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This marked the birth of the Just War Theory, which later evolved into Just War
Doctrine.
Just War Doctrine has specific criteria that must be met to justify the use of
violence, including just cause, comparative justice, legitimate authority, right
intention, probability of success, and last resort.
Even with a just cause, there are still rules within war (use in Bello) that must be
followed, including distinction, proportionality, military necessity, fair treatment of
prisoners, and avoiding inherently evil means.
Violence is never seen as a good for Christians; it causes pain and goes against
the teachings of Jesus.
Violence should be used sparingly, precisely, and at the lowest effective level
possible in the pursuit of the greater goal: saving lives and promoting justice.
Just War Doctrine remains a theoretical framework and has rarely been
employed in practice, as very few conflicts satisfy all its criteria.
Some question the effectiveness of the doctrine and wonder if violence can ever
truly solve our problems.
There is ongoing debate about the doctrine, and its ultimate relevance in a world
where violence begets more violence.
Just as the stance on capital punishment evolved in the Catholic Church, the
question remains whether Jesus, if present today, would align with contemporary
conclusions on violence and just war.
JUST WAR THEORY DIVIDED INTO:
just cause for fighting war, JUS AD BELLUM,
just means used in fighting wars, JUS IN BELLO.
JUS AD BELLUM
When political leaders are trying to decide whether to go to war or not, just war
theory requires them to test their decision by applying several principles:
IS IT FOR A JUST This requires war only be used in RESPONSE TO SERIOUS
CAUSE? WRONGS.
COMMON EXAMPLE OF JUST CASE: self-defense, though coming
to the defense of another innocent nation is also seen as a just cause
by many (and perhaps the highest cause).
IS IT WITH THE This requires that WAR-TIME POLITICAL LEADERS BE SOLELY
RIGHT INTENTION? MOTIVATED, at a personal level, by reasons that make a war just.
EXAMPLE: Even if war is waged in defense of another innocent
country, leaders cannot resort to war because it will assist their re-
election campaign.
IS IT FROM A These demands war only be declared by leaders of a recognized
LEGITIMATE political community and with the political requirements of that
AUTHORITY? community.
DOES IT HAVE DUE This requires us to imagine what the world would look like if we either
PROPORTIONALITY did or didn’t go to war. For a war to be ‘JUST’ the quality of the peace
resulting from war needs to superior to what would have happened
if no war had been fought. This also requires we have some probability
of success in going to war – otherwise people will suffer and die
needlessly.
IS IT THE LAST This says we should explore all other reasonable options before
RESORT? going to war – negotiation, diplomacy, economic sanctions and so on.
JUS IN BELLO
These are the ethical principles that govern the way combatants conduct
themselves in the ‘theatre of war’.
DISCRIMINATION This requires combatants only to attack legitimate targets. Civilians,
medics and aid workers, for example, cannot be the deliberate targets
of military attack. However, according to the PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE-
EFFECT, military attacks that kill some civilians as a side-effect may be
permissible if they are both necessary and proportionate.
PROPORTIONALITY This applies to both jus ad bellum and jus in bello. JUS IN
BELLO requires that in a particular operation, combatants do not use
force or cause harm that exceeds strategic or ethical benefits. The
GENERAL IDEA is that you should use the minimum amount of force
necessary to achieve legitimate military aims and objectives.
NO INTRINSICALLY This is a debated principle in just war theory. Some theorists believe
UNETHICAL MEANS there are actions which are always unjustified, whether or not they
are used against enemy combatants or are proportionate to our goals.
Torture, shooting to maim and biological weapons are commonly
used examples.
‘FOLLOWING As the war crime tribunals after the Second World War clearly
ORDERS’ IS NOT A established. Military personnel may not be legally or ethically
DEFENSE excused for following illegal or unethical orders. Every person
bearing arms is responsible for their conduct – not just their
commanders.
JUS POST BELLO
Once a war is completed, steps are necessary to transition from a state of war to a
state of peace. Jus post bello is a new area of just war theory aimed at identifying
principles for this period. Some of the principles that have been suggested (though
there isn’t much consensus yet) are:
RONA VIENNE SILVA
STATUS QUO ANTE A Latin term meaning ‘the way things were before war’ – basically
BELLUM rights, property and borders should be restored to how they were
before war broke out. Some suggest this is a problem because those
can be the exact conditions which led to war in the first place.
PUNISHMENT FOR It is a crucial step to re-installing a just system of governance. From
WAR CRIMES political leaders down to combatants, any serious offences on either
side of the conflict need to be brought to justice.
COMPENSATION OF This suggests that, as much as possible, the innocent victims of
VICTIMS conflict be compensated for their losses (though some of the
harms of war will be almost impossible to adequately compensate,
such as the loss of family members).
PEACE TREATIES Need to be fair and just to all parties, including those who are guilty
of the war occurring.
NOTE:
Even if the principles of jus ad bellum are met, there are still ways a war can be
unjust.
JUST WAR THEORY provides the basis for exercising ‘ethical restraint’ in war.
Without restraint, philosopher MICHAEL IGNATIEFF, argues there is no way to tell
the difference between a ‘warrior’ and a ‘barbarian’.
THE EMERGING IDEOLOGIES OF THE MODERN TIME
DARK AGES (MEDIEVAL PERIOD) VS AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
TWO THINGS are easily identified with the age of enlightenment:
o USE OF REASON (as opposed to faith)
o AUTONOMY (as opposed to obedience)
The Church during the Middle Ages, according to enlightenment thinkers’, values
faith and obedience which are instruments of ignorance and oppression.
THE ENLIGHTENMENT PERIOD brought about changes in the society including
the Industrial Revolution and the two ideologies of Capitalism and Socialism.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
1 Roughly 1760 to 1850 5 Mass production leads to surplus
2 Started parochially in England 6 Surplus that results to profit
3 Introduction of New technology 7 Emergence of market
4 Rise of factories & salaried workers 8 Gave birth to capitalism
However, there were those who were not convinced with the capitalist ideology. An
alternative ideology has flourished, SOCIALISM, and it has several objections
against the capitalist ideology:
o The capitalist principles of self-direction and social mobility are myths
and are only true for the rich and able members of the community.
o CAPITALISM ignores, tolerates, and even perpetuates unjust situations
of resource- distribution: unequal distribution of goods, and the gap between
rich and poor.
o CAPITALISM endorses the pathology of isolated existence.
SOCIALISM PROMOTES TWO ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPLES:
o COMMON OWNERSHIP to replace and abolish the concept of private
property.
o PERSONAL FREEDOM must be replaced by government control that seeks
for the implementation of the COMMON GOOD.
ON INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (YOUTUBE TRANSCRIPT)
The INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION is one of the most significant developments in
human history.
In 1820, daily life in Europe was quite different from the present. Most people
worked in agriculture, without running water or electricity. They relied on solar
cycles to measure time.
The standard of living in Europe in 1800 was like that of Neanderthals.
The Industrial Revolution brought about changes, transforming people's lives.
European industrial production began in the 18th century.
Factors contributing to the Industrial Revolution included:
o population growth
o improved nutrition
o the development of various mechanical devices.
Artisans made small improvements to existing mechanical devices. Inventions
like the flying shuttle, spinning jenny, and water frame significantly improved
productivity in weaving and spinning.
The rise of factories was driven by the need to increase textile production. The
steam engine, developed by JAMES WATT, powered factories, and revolutionized
transportation. Trains, steamships, and eventually automobiles emerged as
transportation methods.
Industrialization created URBANIZATION and the need for urban infrastructure and
services.
The BOURGEOISIE and PROLETARIAT became prominent social classes
alongside the aristocracy and peasants.
The BOURGEOISIE, originally referring to urban residents, came to include
factory owners and landholders.
The PROLETARIAT comprised factory and industrial workers who lacked
property.
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Women transitioned from various types of work, often in weaving and spinning, to TWO ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPLES PROMOTED BY SOCIALISM
factory jobs during industrialization. COMMON OWNERSHIP To replace and abolish the concept of private
Women's roles changed, and the "angels in the household" ideology discouraged property.
them from working outside the home. COMMON GOOD Personal freedom must be replaced by
Factory work often required child labor and unpaid orphans from institutions. government control that seeks for the
Workers formed clubs and societies to protect their interests and discuss politics, implementation of the COMMON GOOD.
leading to the growth of the labor movement.
The Industrial Revolution was a process marked by incremental innovations THE MODERN SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH (1891 TO PRESENT)
and collaboration, not just inventions by geniuses.
The spread of industrialization led to the rapid growth of cities and created The FIRST EVER SOCIAL ENCYCLICAL was written because of the new social
problems like overcrowding and sanitation. conditions brought about by industrial revolution and the two competing
Industrialization was not confined to England but spread across Europe in the 19th ideologies of Capitalism and Socialism.
century.
Eastern Europe experienced less dense industrialization, and many peasants MATER ET MAGISTRA
continued to live hand-to-mouth.
The Industrial Revolution is considered a continuous, ongoing process that has Biblical & Church’s Renaissance Industrial
significantly impacted modern life. Early Golden Age Era & Age of Era
Christian & Humanism
Era Scholastic

ACTIVE OBSERVER
THE BIRTH OF CAPITALISM AND THE CRITIQUE OF SOCIALISM
Era

EDUCATOR
PROVIDER
Origin of the Orthodoxy to Man as a Man as
CAPITALISM World the Creator of Creature Producer
the World Creator
Capitalists aimed towards profit.
Markets are constructed for the interest of those who have the capital, who makes COSMOS THEOS MECHANOS
ANTHROPODS
use of the same capital to generate more income or more profit, and thereby further
ANCIENT MEDIEVAL MODERN POST-
enlarging the initial capitals.
PERIOD PERIOD PERIOD MODERN
PERIOD
TWO VALUES PROMOTED BY CAPITALISM
SOCIAL MOBILITY Capability to rise from one social status to a better one The term “social doctrine” goes back to POPE PIUS XI and designates the
depending on the effort one exerts.
doctrinal “corpus” concerning issues relevant to society. (Compedium of Social
SELF-DIRECTION One’s own future is one’s own responsibility.
Doctrine of the Church, 87)
The church’s social concern did not only begin with RERUM NOVARUM. “The
It also highlights the PRINCIPLE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Church has never failed to show interest in the society.” as evident in history.
CAPITALISM BY JOHN GREEN (YOUTUBE)
SOCIAL ROLE OF THE CHURCH BASED ON SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS
CAPITALISM is both an economic and cultural system characterized by innovation,
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just
investment, and a focus on increasing wealth.
society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern
The development of industrial capitalism had a significant impact on production and
Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal,
transformed societies.
conciliar, and episcopal documents.
MERCANTILE CAPITALISM, which involved borrowing money to engage in trade,
ENCYCLICAL - Comes from the Latin encyclicus & from the Greek ἐν κύκλῳι (en
was a precursor to industrial capitalism.
kykloi) meaning general or encircling.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES in the 17th century allowed for larger trade missions
and shared risk, contributing to wealth and economic growth.
A papal encyclical is a letter, usually treating some aspect of Catholic doctrine
Agricultural productivity improvements in the 16th century, driven by the Dutch, led
sent by the Pope addressed either to the Catholic bishops of a particular area or to
to lower food prices, and encouraged further innovation. Lower food prices and
the bishops of the world. The form of the address can vary widely, and often
higher wages in England led to more disposable income, fostering the growth of
designates a wider audience.
consumer goods.
ENCLOSURE, where landlords privatized common fields, increased agricultural
The Church has the right to speak out on matters that affect religion and morality
productivity but also impoverished tenant farmers.
as they affect moral issues and social issues.
Capitalism was developed in Britain in the 19th Century, and it relies on private
The church using the Gospel principles can help reconcile and unify social
investors taking risks and valuing innovation.
classes.
Capitalist values include embracing risk, appreciating innovation, and
The church can educate people to act justly.
recognizing the role of consumers in driving economic growth.
The Church commits herself to the humanization of life, world justice, and
Socialism, as an intellectual construct, emerged in France with both utopian and
preferential options for the poor and against social apathy.
revolutionary branches.
Individual Christian must advance civil institutions, human dignity and foster a
FOURIER was credited for the word FEMINISM in 1837.
unity between peoples since the church and humanity experience the same earthly
AUGUSTE BLANQUI in the 19th-century revolutionary is associated with
situation (faith doing justice).
communist ideas. He advocated for the violent overthrow of capitalism by the
Catholic Social Encyclicals:
working classes and believed workers could dominate a communist world.
o It gives us principles for reflection.
Blanqui held elitist views, thinking workers needed guidance to overcome
o It provides criteria for judgment.
superstitions and prejudices against bourgeois oppression.
o It gives guidelines for action.
KARL MARX was a philosopher and historian who advocated for revolution and
“RERUM NOVARUM marks the beginning of a new path. Grafting itself onto a
is often associated with communism.
tradition hundreds of years old, it signals a new beginning and a singular
MARX'S THEORY OF CLASS STRUGGLE focuses on the conflict between
development of the Church's teaching in the area of social matters” (CSDC, 87).
capitalists and workers, who seek to maximize their interests.
Following these new developments of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Church
Marx believed that capitalism was not consistent with human nature, as it
responded to the emerging social questions that accompanied them. These were
replaced collaboration with conflict.
the concerns that constitute the backdraft of the publication of the first social
The debate between capitalism and socialism continues, especially regarding
encyclical, Rerum Novarum (RN).
regulations and the role of government in markets.

SOCIALISM

However, there were those who were not convinced with the capitalist ideology. An
alternative ideology has flourished, SOCIALISM, and it has several objections
against the capitalist ideology:
o The capitalist principles of self-direction and social mobility are myths
and are only true for the rich and able members of the community.
o Capitalism ignores, tolerates and even perpetuates unjust situations of
resource- distribution: unequal distribution of goods, and the gap between
rich and poor.
o Capitalism endorses the pathology of isolated existence.

RONA VIENNE SILVA PAGE | 3

 THY 3
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L2:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH
MODERN SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH (SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS)
STUDY
QUESTION
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
In what way can we see the Church fulfilling her mission as a herald?
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
RESEARCH
HOW CAN WE PROTECT THE TRUTH FROM MISINFORMATION? BY SINAN ARAL
Associated Press tweeted false news about explosions at the White House and
Obama's injury, propagated by Syrian hackers.
Tweet went viral and caused a stock market crash, wiping out $140 billion in equity
value.
Robert Mueller indicted Russian companies and individuals for meddling in the
2016 presidential election.
Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin arm, spread fake news on social media during
the election.
False news campaigns also led to "genocidal propaganda" and mob killings in
various incidents.
Researchers conducted a longitudinal study on the spread of fake news on Twitter
from 2006 to 2017.
False news diffused further, faster, deeper, and more broadly than true news,
especially in politics.
False news spreaders had fewer followers, fewer people, were less active, and
less verified.
The novelty hypothesis suggested that novelty and surprise in false news
increased its virality.
SYNTHETIC MEDIA AND DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY, powered by generative
adversarial networks, pose a new challenge.
Synthetic media and democratization of AI make it easier to create convincing
fake videos.
BOTS were found to accelerate the spread of both true and false news, but
HUMANS are responsible for the differential diffusion.
Potential solutions and challenges:
o LABELLING. Labeling information for credibility and source but deciding who
decides what's true or false is a challenge.
o INCENTIVES. Incentivizing less false news production by reducing its
economic appeal. Economic motive existed because you can earn advertising
dollars if you spread information.
o REGULATION. Regulation, while necessary, can have unintended
consequences, like suppressing free speech.
o TRANSPARENCY. Transparency in social media algorithms is a balance
between openness and security. Facebook and other social media are facing
a transparency paradox – people are asking for transparency regarding the
privacy of their accounts.
o ALGORITHMS AND MACHINE LEARNING. Developing algorithms and
machine learning to detect and counter fake news, but ethical questions
remain.
A call for individual responsibility in defending the truth against misinformation using
technology, policies, and ethical behavior.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
FAKE NEWS
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
When were you last victimized by fake news?
Why do you think you fell for it?
In this post-modern world that exposes us to various information, how/where do you
usually search for the truth about society?
Do you consider the Church as a light regarding moral and social issues? Why or
why not?
ANALYSIS
MATTHEWS 28:20
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
The way in which we live in and structure society are MORAL QUESTIONS, as we
aim at the attainment of justice and the common good. Therefore, since it is moral
in nature, this is an area over which the pope and Church have the authority to
teach (Mat. 28:20).
Encyclicals that deal predominantly with questions of justice in society are
commonly called “SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS.”
LECTURE
SOCIAL ROLE OF THE CHURCH BASED ON SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS
RONA VIENNE SILVA
How did the Social Teachings of the Church develop?
The Church has the right to speak out on matters that affect religion and morality as
they affect moral issues and social issues.
The church through the use of the Gospel principles can help reconcile and unify
social classes.
The church can educate people to act justly.
Individual Christians must advance civil institutions, and human dignity and foster
unity between peoples since the church and humanity experience the same earthly
situation (faith doing justice).
The Church commits herself to the humanization of life, world justice, and the
preferential option for the poor and against social apathy.
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society
and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.
Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of PAPAL,
CONCILIAR, and episcopal DOCUMENTS.
WHAT IS ENCYCLICAL?
ENCYCLICAL - Comes from the Latin encyclicus & from the Greek ἐν κύκλῳι (en
kykloi) meaning general or encircling.
A PAPAL ENCYCLICAL is a letter, usually treating some aspect of Catholic doctrine
sent by the Pope addressed either to the Catholic bishops of a particular area or to the
bishops of the world. The form of the address can vary widely, and often designates a
wider audience.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS
It gives us principles for REFLECTION.
It provides criteria for JUDGEMENT.
It gives guidelines for ACTION.
SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS
SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS are based on truths given to us by reason and revealed in
Christian anthropology.
The Church does not, however, set out to approve of a particular regime or social
structure per se (GS, 74), though some forms of social structures are condemned as
intrinsically unjust and erroneous. The Church rather seeks to maintain that the
structure adopted fulfills the requirements of justice and fosters the true freedom
and dignity of every individual. Further, it teaches what constitutes the attainment
of justice in society (Caritas in Veritate, par. 9).
The social encyclicals provide a road map for Catholics and others to discern the
course of society and guidance in making public policy choices. They are broad
enough to leave flexibility in how a goal is achieved but specific enough to provide
meaningful guidance – e.g., all life is sacred, we must care for the poor, and workers
should be treated fairly. There may be disagreement on the process, but the goals
remain clear.
LEO XIII, RERUM NOVARUM, 1891 (OF NEW THINGS)
CONTEXT Industrial revolution leads to exploiting workers.
MESSAGE First comprehensive document of social justice.
Defends workers’ rights based on natural law.
Rights include work, private property, just wage, workers’
associations.
THEMES PROPERTY ISSUES AND THE INEQUALITIES AMONG PEOPLE
o The encyclical then vocally criticized the unequal distribution
of wealth and the huge gap between the rich and the poor.
The COMPENDIUM describes Rerum Novarum as the encyclical that
“examines the condition of salaried workers, which was particularly
distressing for industrial laborers who languished in inhumane
misery.”
WAGE AND PROTECTION OF WORKERS
o Rerum Novarum argues that the divide between people may
be addressed if we move towards the improvement of the
workplace.
o Wages are regulated by free consent…To avoid injustice, the
government must intervene, seeing to it that workers receive
what is due to them. (cf. RN, 43,45)
o The principal duty of employers is to give every one what is
just. (RN, 20)
SOLIDARITY AND THE WORFIER’S UNIONS
o RN supports the workingmen’s unions as legitimately
supported by the notion of natural rights, and it criticizes the
state’s tendency to suppress these unions.
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o Workers’ unions are mechanisms not for its own sake but to
ensure that the conditions are set so as to allow workers to
maximally perform and use their full potential.
PIUS XI, QUADRAGESIMO ANNO, 1931 (THE FORTIETH YEAR)
CONTEXT Fortieth anniversary of Rerum Novarum; Great Depression
underway; dictatorships growing in Europe.
MESSAGE States need to reform greedy capitalist systems to which they have
become slaves.
Communism is dangerous because it condones violence and
abolishes private property.
Labor and capital need each other.
Workers need just wages to acquire private property.
International economic cooperation urged.
The principle of “subsidiarity” was introduced.
THEMES ON ECONOMIC DICTATORS
o Economic dictators refer to monopolies and powerful states,
like the U.S., which dictated the global economy.
o QA argues that the presence of the economic dictators
makes capitalist system hypocritical.
ON TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENTS
o By totalitarian governments, we mean those governments
whose common life is decided only by the government with
very minimal participation from the people.
PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY
o Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they
can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to
the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time, a
grave evil and disturbance of the right order to assign to a
greater and higher association what lesser and
subordinate organizations can do. Every social activity ought of
its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social,
and never destroy and absorb them. (QA, § 79)
JOHN XXIII, MATER ET MAGISTRA, 1961 (MOTHER AND TEACHER)
CONTEXT Entitled as Christianity and Social Progress, the encyclical Mater
et Magistra was published by John XXIII on May 15, 1961.
Science and technology advance in developed nations, while
millions live in poverty in Third World.
Growing animosity between the East and West blocs dubbed as the
Cold War of powerful States that adopted the competing ideologies
of socialism and capitalism.
Rivalry Between US and USSR
o Armed Race
o Space Race
o Military Technology (Internet)
MESSAGE Disparity between rich and poor nations must be addressed.
Arms race contributes to poverty.
Economic imbalances cause threats to peace.
Rich nations must help poor ones while respecting culture.
Nations are interdependent and need to cooperate.
Catholics should know social teaching and be active.
THEMES A FOCUS ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
o MM calls for balanced attention between industrial progress
and the development of the agricultural sector. (emphasizes
as well on the common good, cooperation among nations,
population increase, and economic development)
THE PRINCIPLE OF SOCIALIZATION
o The principle is discussed within the context of increasing
intervention of the State to propel the social conditions of
the least among us vis-à-vis the danger of threatening
individual freedom amidst the increased intervention of the
State (cf. MM, §59-67).
o MM believes that every person deserves to get the basic
needs regardless of his/her social condition, and so the
community must feel responsible in making sure that
everyone is properly aided in the pursuit of their basic needs.
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Hence, socialization is to be done where institutions have
to be established in order to ensure that there are agencies that
would look into the distribution of basic services to all
citizens.
FAMILY FARMS AND COOPERATIVES
o attention to the contribution of cooperatives and the kind of
contribution that they can possibly give both for the
empowerment of the workers and in enhancing balance within
the economy towards the common good (cf. MM§§85-90).
o Support of the State, for the well-being and sustenance of
cooperatives, is particularly needed for the growth of the
agricultural sector, specifically the family farms. (cf. MM §146
RESPONSIBILITY OF WEALTHY NATIONS
o The encyclical, as early as the 1960s, has already insisted on
interdependence among nations (MM, §40).
o “The solidarity which binds all men together as members of a
common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to
look with indifference upon the hunger, misery, and poverty
of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even
elementary human rights”(MM, §157).
JOHN XXIII, PACEM IN TERRIS, 1993 (MOTHER AND TEACHER)
CONTEXT Two years after Mater et Magistra, John XXIII published another
encyclical entitled Pacem in Terris on April 11, 1963. The encyclical
was published at the height of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was
erected in March of 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962
almost brought the United States of America and Russia to another
major war.
MESSAGE Peace is ensured through social rights and responsibilities-
between people; between citizens and public authorities; between
states; among nations.
The world needs to recognize the rights of women.
Arms race goes against justice, reason, and human
United Nations needs to be strengthened.
THEMES Pacem in Terris has primarily contended that talks about ‘PEACE’
should be anchored on our understanding of moral order.
o A. Order between individuals (PT, §§8ff)
o B. Order between individuals and government authorities (PT,
§§46ff);
o C. Order between States (PT, §§80ff).
RIGHTS TALFI IN THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TRADITION
o Significantly, PT also provides the Catholic position on human
rights. Following its support to the aims of the United Nations,
it also viewed of Human Rights as an advance in our
contemporary social situation (PT, §143). It however reminds
its readers that an emphasis on rights without attention to
duties will be insufficient and ineffective (PT, §§ 44 & 144).
DISARMAMENT AND MUTUAL TRUST
o Reading PT should bring our attention to its call for disarmament.
The encyclical argues that the arms race that was happening in
the world from the late 50s until the 60s is contrary to the
call for social order (PT, §112).
PAUL VI, POPULORUM PROGRESSIO, 1967 (ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PEOPLES)
CONTEXT On March 26, 1967, POPE PAUL VI published the encyclical
Populorum Progressio. The encyclical is known for its emphasis on
the talk about development, and it is even referred to by some circles
as the ‘Catholic social teaching’s Magna Carta on development.’
THEMES ATTENTION TO POOR NATIONS
o One important call from the encyclical is the attention it gives
to the plight of poor nations, and it questions the rapid
progress among rich nations and the slow development
among their poorer counterparts (PP, §8)
CALL FOR AUTHENTIC AND INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
o PP reminds us that authentic development could never be
solely measured by economic and material progress (PP,
§14). PP calls for an evaluation of the values that we hold dear.
CALL FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY
o PP calls for a common development among mankind and
reminds wealthier nations of their threefold responsibility for
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1) mutual solidarity,
2) social justice, and
3) universal charity (PP, §44).
DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW NAME FOR PEACE
o PP reminds the global community that for us to journey towards
lasting peace, we need to realize that equal opportunity toward
development must become a possibility for all nations (cf. PP,
§§ 76-77).
JOHN PAUL II, LABOREM EXERCENS, 1981 (ON HUMAN WORFI)
CONTEXT Great numbers of people are unemployed, migrant workers
exploited. Both capitalist and communist systems exploiting the
worker.
John Paul II’s third encyclical, but the first of his several encyclicals,
was published on September 14, 1981. The encyclical offers the
“most comprehensive treatment of human work in the corpus of
Catholic social teaching.”
MESSAGE Work is part of man’s vocation and dignity, participation in God’s
creative work. Has spiritual dimension.
Decent wages, rights, and benefits of worker must be assured.
Work must serve the family, with special consideration for working
mothers.
Steps must be taken to assure that disabled can participate in the
dignity of work.
THEMES OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE COMPONENTS OF WORK
o Subjective dimension refers to the aspect of work that allows
the human person to realize himself/herself.
o Objective component of work refers to the kind of work that
the human person does which is measured by its monetary
returns.
A WARNING AGAINST ECONOMISM
LE reminds us to be careful with the ‘error of economism’ (LE,
§13), that is, of equating the dignity and value of our work
with the financial incentives that it gives in return.
THE ROLE OF INDIRECT EMPLOYERS
o It specifically calls our attention to the reality of ‘indirect
employers,’ which includes “both persons and instructions of
various kinds, and also collective labor contracts and the
principles of contracts and the principles of conduct which
are laid down by these persons and institutions and which the
whole socioeconomic system or are its result (§17).
FAMILY WAGE AS JUST WAGE
Just wage is family wage. LE categorically defines just
remuneration “for the work of an adult who is responsible for
a family” to be sufficient “for establishing and properly
maintaining a family and for providing security for its
future” (LE, §19).
SUPPORT FOR WORKER’S UNIONS
Unions must resist the temptation to become partisans in the
political arena, and they must be careful not to allow
themselves to be used and manipulated for the political
ends of others.
SPIRITUALITY OF WORK
LE’s profound contribution is to make its readers realize that
the work that we do is not only our means for ‘self-
realization’ but is even our way of participating in the Paschal
mystery of Christ. (Workers’ participation in Christ’s suffering,
death on the cross, and resurrection.)
JOHN PAUL II, SOLICITUDO REI SOCIALIS, 1987 (ON SOCIAL CONCERN)
CONTEXT World economy in flux – debt, unemployment and recession hitting
both rich and poor nations.
The explicit claim of JPII in writing the Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On
Social Concern) on December 30, 1987 is to commemorate Paul VI’s
Populorum Progressio and to affirm the continuing relevance of
the social doctrine of the Church (SRS, §3).
MESSAGE Critiques economic gap between northern and southern hemispheres
and global debt. Should be one united world.
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East-West tensions and competition block world cooperation and
solidarity.
Critiques consumerism and waste, as well as international trade
practices that hurt developing nations.
THEMES SUPERDEVELOPMENT AND UNDEVELOPMENT
o JPII recalls here the immorality of the extreme gap between
peoples.
REITERATION OF THE OPTION FOR THE POOR
While we own things privately, that ownership is not only
meant to further our well-being as human individuals, but also
to empower us so we become available to serve others.
ON TERRORISM AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEM
o SRS noted the emergence of terrorism, used by some groups
as a means to create a better society. The encyclical
unequivocally condemned the act as ‘unjustifiable’ (SRS, §24).
o SRS speaks of the increasing tendency even among States to
readily equate demographic growth with underdevelopment.
STRUCTURES OF SIN THAT IMPEDES THE REALIZATION OF THE
COMMON GOOD
SRS also points out that there are certain political, economic,
and social arrangements that impede the solidarity of
people, and instead promotes division that runs contrary to the
development of peoples. When sinful and corrupt practices
have become embedded in the way we conduct our activities in
the community, they provide the impression that there is an
obstacle that is difficult to overcome (SRS, §36), and this
instead invites others to condone rather than fight corruption.
JOHN PAUL II, CENTESIMUS ANNUS, 1991 (THE HUNDREDTH YEAR)
CONTEXT 100TH anniversary of Rerum Novarum. The collapse of communism in
Eastern Europe.
Showing his appreciation and support for the continuing growth of
Catholic social teaching, John Paul II celebrated the centenary of Leo
XIII’s Rerum Novarum by publishing the Centesimus Annus on May
1, 1991.
MESSAGE Critiques fundamental error of communism – atheistic view of
humanity.
Gives qualified support to the free market as most efficient system for
utilizing resources and responding to needs. The free market also
recognizes the freedom of the human person.
Warns against consumerism, as well as making the capitalist system
an all-encompassing ideology.
THEMES THE NEW THINGS OF TODAY
o The opposition between socialism and liberal capitalism
that was at its height during the time of Leo XIII is no longer
as strong in 1991, especially because the USSR has already
weakened (and will in fact be later disbanded by the end of that
year) and the Berlin Wall has actually already fallen in 1989.
SUBSIDIARITY AND SOLIDARITY
CA also insists that an economic program will hardly be just if
it does not pave the way for solidarity and solidarity. The
ultimate aim of an economic system is to ensure the well-being
of human individuals. Unless an authentic measure of social
inclusion is realized, the economic system will remain to be
ineffective and immoral.
BENEDICT XVI, CARITAS IN VERITATE, 2009 (CHARITY IN TRUTH)
CONTEXT Worldwide economic crisis centered on weakness in financial
institutions and the collapse of the housing market.
Benedict XVI’s first social encyclical is supposed to be published in
2007 as a commemoration of Paul VI’s Populorum Progressio. But
due to the prevailing circumstances of that year, particularly the
economic recession that affected most of economies in the world, the
publication was delayed and was moved to June 29, 2009.
MESSAGE True human development requires charity lived out in truth, including
respect for the common good, religious freedom, and the sanctity
of human life. Only an economy of communion, a business ethic
centered on persons and not on profit, will be a sufficient response to
the present economic and financial crisis.
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THEMES THE PHENOMENON OF GLOBALIZATION

o CV points out that globalization brings with it both the
advantages, disadvantages and corresponding challenges.
PROMOTING THE LOGIC OF GIFT AND THE PRINCIPLE OF
GRATUITOUSNESS
Only when we learn to realize that everything that we have is a
gift will we be willing to take good care of them and be willing to
give them back in return as a gift. Such a culture of caring and
giving, together with the culture of receiving, becomes
important aspects if we would want to build a culture of
communion in our globalized and consumerist world.

FRANCIS I, LAUDATO SI, 2014 (“MI SIGNORE”,PRAISE BE TO YOU, MY LORD)

A WARNING AGAINST OUR NEGLECT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

LS is the second encyclical of Pope Francis.

LS is primarily intended to denounce the harms that contemporary society does to
the environment.
LS argues that humanity’s propensity for short-term but easy gains become the
reason for the neglect and abuses that it does to the environment.
LS warns us about the danger of our attitude towards the environment. We are
reminded that we are caretakers of this world, and our abuse of the environment
is ultimately our neglect of humanity and of ourselves.

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