CHRISTIAN VISION OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIETY ○ This operation refers to the augmentation and refers to

By Joshua Miguel M. Martinez | 2LM3 the operation by which living beings acquire by
nourishment the quantity characteristic to it (motis a
minore ad majorem quantitatem). It is a result of the
Human Dignity in the story of Creation assimilation of food. It is the vital operation then by
which, for example, the baby increase in size and
a. Human Beings as the crowning glory of God’s Creation obtain the development characteristic of the species to
which it belongs.
● Genesis 1:27 → So God created man in his own image, in the ● Nutrition
image of God he created him male and female he created ○ This refers to the operation by which the creature's life
them. is conserved. It is a vital operation which transforms
○ This statement is the basis of Christian anthropology, food into nutritive substances by the process of
because it identifies the foundation of man's dignity as metabolism and the ability to assimilate these nutritive
a person in his creation "in the likeness" of God. At the materials to the different parts of the body.
same time, the passage clearly says that neither man ● Reproduction
nor woman separately are the image of the Creator, but ○ This refers to the operation by which a new organism is
man and woman in their reciprocity. Both are equally generated from a previous organism (origo viventis a
God's masterpiece. principio vivente conjuncto in similitudinem naturae). It
● Genesis 1:26-27 → Then God said: "Let us make man in our is the vital process whereby living beings, after
image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the reaching maturity, perpetuate their species.
fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all ● Sensation
the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ○ This operation manifests the capacity to perceive
ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he accidental properties of things.
created him; male and female he created them. ● Locomotion
● “The dignity of the human person is rooted in his or her ○ The operation that manifests the capacity to move from
creation in the image and likeness of God. one place to another.
○ We are endowed with a spiritual and immortal soul, ● Intellection
intelligence and free will, the human person is ordered ○ Considered as an immaterial operation because its
to God and called in soul and in body to eternal object is the idea which is an immaterial presentation of
beatitude.” (ccc 1699-1715) reality
● Imago Dei ● Volition
○ The divine image is present in every man. He is ○ This is an immaterial operation and its object is the
endowed with: idea which is immaterial because it is a movement
→ A spiritual and immortal soul consequent upon the immaterial apprehension of the
→ Intellect (knowledge) intellect.
→ Freewill (freedom) b. Human beings as stewards of God’s Creation
● Endowed with a spiritual and immortal soul
○ The human person is composed of body and soul ● Being an image of God also implies our responsibility to His
○ Every spiritual soul is created immediately by God and creation (Stewardship).
also that it is immortal. ● Stewardship implies that we must both care for creation
○ Gen. 2:7 → "then the LORD God formed man of dust according to standards that are not of our own making and at
from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the the same time be resourceful in finding ways to make the earth
breath of life; and man became a living being. flourish. It is a difficult balance, requiring both a sense of limits
● Intellect and a spirit of experimentation.
○ God gave us the ability to learn about things and ● As God bestowed dignity to human persons, they should also
understand them by the use of our intellect. Through recognize the dignity of other creatures, a relationship of
our senses, we gain knowledge of things around us. responsibility.
● Freedom and Responsibility ○ "In our day, there is a growing awareness that world
○ God created man a rational being, conferring on him peace is threatened not only by the arms race, regional
the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his conflicts and continued injustices among peoples and
own actions. nations, but also by a lack of due respect for nature, by
○ but the exercise of freedom does not entail the putative the plundering of natural resources and by a
right to say or do anything. progressive decline in the quality of life.“- St John Paul
○ True freedom is the power and right to do that which II during the Celebration of World Peace January 1,
is right and good. It is rooted in reason and will, to act 1990
or not; to act to do this or that, and so to perform ● Caring for and cultivating the world involves the
deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. following:
○ The more one does what is good, the freer one ○ Joyful appreciation of the God-given beauty and
becomes. There is no true freedom except in the wonder of nature;
service of what is good and just. The choice to ○ Protection and preservation of the environment,
disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and one which would be the stewardship of ecological concern;
becomes a slave to sin. ○ Respect for human life—shielding life from threat and
○ “The State values the dignity of every human person assault, doing everything that can be done to enhance
and guarantees full respect for human rights.” - this gift and make life flourish; and
Philippine Constitution, Article 2 Section 11 ○ Development of this world through noble human
effort—physical labor, the trades and professions,
OPERATIONS FOUND IN A HUMAN BEING the arts and sciences. We call such effort "work." Work
is a fulfilling human vocation.
● Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si presents current
ecological problems our world is facing such as the variety of
forms of pollution, increasing deforestation, a disturbing
warming of the climate, depletion of natural resources
(especially quality drinking water), loss of biodiversity, the
decline of quality of human life and relationships, and the
global inequality gap between the poor and the rich.
○ Throwaway culture - ruthlessly consumes, exploits,
and discards human life and our natural resources as
● Growth one of the root causes.
C. Human Beings And The Talks Of Gender And Sexuality
 ● Faced with theories that consider gender identity as merely the Today we can see the Phenomenon of resurrection in our daily
cultural and social product of the interaction between the lives in different forms in different levels.
community and the individual, independent of personal sexual ○ 1. REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR CRIMINALS BY
identity without any reference to the true meaning of sexuality, THE STATE
the church does not tire of repeating her teaching: "everyone, ■ The Philippine government adheres and
man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his/her believes that all persons have dignity whether
sexual identity. Physical, moral and spiritual difference and one is a criminal or not.
complementarities, needs and mutual support between the ■ The Bureau of Corrections is an example of this
sexes are lived out." manifestation as a rehabilitation program for the
● Man discovers woman as another “I”. Sharing the same law offenders. Its functions are to safely keep
humanity prisoners convicted by courts, prevent prisoners
● Consequently pope francis said, human identity becomes the from committing crimes, provide inmates basic
choice of the individual, one which can also change over time needs, ensure rehabilitation programs are
that can be a source of concern that some ideologies of this made available to the inmates for their physical,
sort, which seek to respond to what are at times intellectual and spiritual development and train
understandable aspirations, manage to assert themselves as the inmates in livelihood programs to assist
absolute and unquestionable, even dictating how children them earn a living and develop their skills while
should be raised. serving their sentences.
● He emphasized that 'biological sex and the socio- cultural role ■ The logo of DOJ portrays a man who committed
of sex (gender) can be Distinguished but not separated.' a crime against the society and was put behind
● The church recognizes and does not neglect a number of men bars. However, his life will not end behind bars
and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies. because the institution (Bureau of corrections)
○ They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and aims to mold him correctly to be integrated into
sensitivity. society again. Hence, half of the man is in bars
○ Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard and the other half waiting for his integration, as
should be avoided. portrayed in the picture of the sun
○ These persons are called to fulfill god's will in their ○ 2. REHABILITATION PROGRAM BY THE CHURCH
lives. ■ As a social institution the Church upholds the
○ Like every human being whether male or female, dignity of a human person amidst their “FALL.’’
homosexuals are also called to chastity, The Church sees to it that every person is
○ In the philippine context, the former president of the protected and given a chance to renew
catholic bishop's conference of the philippines (cbcp) himself/herself both spiritually and in the
lingayen-dagupan archbishop socrates villegas, d.d. society.
came out with a statement supporting a proposed anti- ■ The Church in the Philippines is giving
descrimation law for lesbian, gay, bisexual and assistance to the people in the form of
transgender (lgbt+) community. SANLAKBAY, a rehabilitation program for drug
■ ​However, he emphasized that the church dependents.
cannot encourage choosing one's gender and
performing homosexual acts, among other THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION OF OUR HUMAN PILGRIMAGE: TO
things. RETURN TO THE FATHER
■ It explained that gender and sexuality "must be ● Pilgrims: One who journeys, a wayfarer
counted as god's gift." ○ Pilgrims towards salvation: As pilgrims we are in a
● In a relationship of mutual communion, man and woman fulfill journey towards our ultimate goal, that is GOD. In our
themselves in a profound way, rediscovering themselves as journey, the path is full of challenges and distractions.
persons through the sincere gift of themselves. Sometimes we fall and sometimes we get distracted,
○ To be human is to exist either as male or as female. but we must never lose sight of our ultimate goal.
○ We are all loved: God is always waiting for us; he
never grows tired. Jesus shows us this merciful
HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE REDEMPTIVE ACT OF CHRIST & THE patience of God so that we can regain confidence,
ULTIMATE DESTINATION OF HUMAN PILGRIMAGE hope-always. God’s patience has to call forth in us the
courage to return to him, however many mistakes and
The Fall (Genesis Chapter 3) sins there may be in our life. For we are not numbers,
● What is the Incarnation? we are the most important thing to him. Even if we are
○ Got us men and for our salvation he came down from sinners, we are what is closest to his heart.
heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became
incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man”- Introductory concept on Man and Society & Human Dignity as
(CCC 517) Inviolable and Inalienable.
○ For St. John, incarnate = “The Word became Flesh”
○ CATHOLIC CHURCH: It is the act that the Son of God ● Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
assumed human nature in order to accomplish our ○ Is a milestone document in the history of human rights.
salvation in it. Drafted by representatives with different legal and
○ The son of Man has not come to be served but to cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the
serve, and to give his life as a run for many. Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations
● Humanity is stained with sin General Assembly.
○ The purpose of incarnation is that Jesus Christ was ○ is widely recognized as having inspired, and paved the
incarnated by the obedience of Mary, preached the way for, the adoption of more than seventy human
Gospel, suffered and died on the Cross for the rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at
REDEMPTION OF ALL. This is a testament to the global and regional levels (all containing references to
dignity of human being that despite of the Fall and it in their preambles).
sinful nature, God affirms transcends and elevated the
nature of humanity. Introductory concept on Man and Society
● The human person is by nature a social being
● What can we learn from Resurrection? ○ They are relational beings, who are free and
○ It teaches us that God imparts to the sinner His love responsible, recognize the necessity of integrating
and conversion. The phenomenon shows that God themselves in cooperation with fellow human beings,
brings about a true spiritual resurrection, restoration of and who are capable of communion with them.
the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of ○ They belong to various societies such as family, civil
God. and religious communities, and are bound together by
a principle of unity and common good.
● The human person is an image of God and resembles the ○ This teaching rests on one basic principle: individual
communion of the divine persons in the Trinity, he must human beings are the foundation, the cause and
therefore establish himself a community with other persons in the end of every social institution.
order to live in a society. ○ On this basic principle, which guarantees the sacred
● Society - a group of persons bound together organically by a dignity of the individual, the church constructs her
principle of unity that goes beyond each one of them. social teaching.
○ As an assembly that is at once visible and spiritual, a ● Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the
society endures through time. dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone.
○ He rightly owes loyalty to the communities of which he ○ For the Christian faith, the life, ministry, death and
is part and respect to those in authority who are in resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrate that God has
charge of the common good. a special purpose for human beings. This remnant of
○ Society is a requirement of man‘s nature through the divine image and purpose conferred by God carry
exchange, mutual service and dialogue with others. By the implication that people are to be honored and
this he develops and responds to his vocation – love treated as sacred.
for neighbor and love for God. ● Because humans were made in the image of the triune God,
● Each community is defined by its purpose and consequently who unites unity and interaction in self, it is believed that
obeys specific rules; but “the human person is and ought to human life is fundamentally social.
be the principle, the subject and the end of all social
institutions.” Human Dignity as Inviolable and Inalienable
● Socialization - also expresses the natural tendency for human
beings to associate with one another for the sake of attaining ● Human Rights - are a mechanism to control the exercise of
objectives that exceed individual capacities. power so that it does not become dehumanizing of persons.
○ It develops the qualities of the person, especially the ○ Persons sometimes exercise power in a way which
sense of initiative and responsibility, and helps dehumanizes other persons. For this reason Christian
guarantee his rights. ethical reflection has arrived at the category of human
● Principle of Subsidiarity - a community of a higher order rights.
should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a ○ Human rights may be defined as those fundamental
lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather rights of human beings which are essential to the
should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its exercise of human dignity.
activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a ■ These rights are possessed by human beings
view to the common good. by the mere fact of their being human.
● Three Essential Elements of Common Good: ■ They are inherent in their nature, and far from
○ 1st Respect for the person as such: Fundamental being concessions by society or by the state,
and inalienable rights of the human person. instead society and the state have the duty to
○ 2nd Social well-being and development of the defend or promote them.
group itself: Development is the epitome of all social ● The dignity of the human person is:
duties. ○ Innate (we were born with it)
○ 3rd Peace: The stability and security of a just order. ○ Inviolable (cannot be violated)
● Our laws also support the formation of these ○ Inalienable (cannot be taken from us)
organizations: ○ Universal (encompasses all humanity)
○ 1987 Philippine Constitution Article XIII. Section 23: ● A Brief Development of Human Dignity in Relation to
The State shall encourage non- governmental, Human Rights:
community-based, or sectoral organizations that ○ Dignitas by the early romans & Cicero
promote the welfare of the nation. ■ Early Romans used the term dignitas referring
○ Civil Code of the Philippines Article 32: The right to to people appointed to public offices and with
become a member of associations or societies for higher status in the society.
purposes not contrary to law; ■ Then Cicero redefined dignitas referring to all
● Both the Church and the State recognize family as the most humans by making distinction against animals
important unit of the society. where the former are governed by reason while
○ The family is the original cell of social life. the latter by bodily pleasures and instinct.
○ A natural society in which husband and wife are called ■ To him, dignity encompasses not only those
to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. who were persons of authority and wealth but
○ The family is the community in which, from childhood, includes all humanity.
one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and ○ Imago dei by St. Leo the great
make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation ■ St. Leo the Great and St. Thomas Aquinas also
into life in society. used the term dignitas referring to dignity of
○ The family must be helped and defended by human person.
appropriate social measures ■ To St Leo, persons have dignity due to the fact
■ Article XV. The Family of the 1987 Philippine that man is raised up among other beings and
Constitution Section 1:The State recognizes made in God’s image
the Filipino family as the foundation of the ○ Great Chain of beings by St. Thomas Aquinas
nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its ■ The elevated beings of St. Leo were
solidarity and actively promote its total incorporated into St. Aquinas' theory of the
development. great chain of beings, which holds that the more
■ Section 2: Marriage, as an inviolable social dignity a being possesses, the higher its
institution, is the foundation of the family and position.
shall be protected by the State. ○ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by
○ Where families cannot fulfill their responsibilities, other the United Nations
social bodies have the duty of helping them and of ■ The United Nations was established (1945) on
supporting the institution of the family. Following the accounts of horrors experienced from World
principle of subsidiarity, larger communities should take War 2 particularly from Nazi Germany and
care not to usurp the family's prerogatives or interfere Imperial Japan.
in its life. ■ It recognizes the dignity of every person in
■ For example, the Department of Social Welfare Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
and Development (DSWD) has a mandate to The Preamble and first three articles of the
take custody of abandoned children. declaration serve as its foundation of other
● The dignity of the human person is the primary principle and rights.
the heart and soul of the social teaching of the catholic church. ■ The preamble provides that whereas
recognition of the inherent dignity and of the
 equal and inalienable rights of all members of ○ Pacem in Terris by St John XXIII & other Church
the human family is the foundation of freedom, documents on human rights
justice and peace in the world. That human ■ was a landmark in the acceptance by the
rights should be protected by the rule of law. Catholic Christian Church of the Universal
■ Article 1: All human beings are born free and Declaration of Human Rights.
equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed ■ For the first time, the Papal magisterium
with reason and conscience and should act presents a relatively complete and systematic
towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. catalogue of human rights, comparable to those
■ Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights in contemporary declarations of human rights
and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, promulgated by national or international
without distinction of any kind, such as entities.
race, color, sex, language, religion, political ■ “The promotion of human rights remains the
or other opinion, national or social origin, most effective strategy for eliminating
property, birth or other status. Furthermore, inequalities between countries and social
no distinction shall be made on the basis of the groups, and for increasing security” - Pope
political, jurisdictional or international status of Benedict XVI, Address to the United Nations,
the country or territory to which a person April 2008.
belongs, whether it be independent, trust, ■ The chart depicts the levels of rights and the
non-self-governing or under any other limitation relationships between them according to the
of sovereignty. rights theory found in the encyclical, Pacem in
■ Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty Terris. Rights theory in the social tradition
and security of person. recognizes the importance of the social nature
■ Since the Philippines is one of the signatories of of the person and role that context plays in the
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our promotion and guarantee of rights:
1987 Philippine Constitution adheres to these
freedoms through the creation of the
Commission of Human Rights and by directing
the government to value the dignity of all
human persons through ensuring full respect for
human rights. (Article XIII: Social Justice and
Human Rights)
■ Section 1: The Congress shall give highest
priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all the
people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic, and political inequalities, and remove
cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth
and political power for the common good.
■ Section 17: (1) There is hereby created an
independent office called the Commission on ■
Human Rights. ● Persons sometimes exercise power in a way which
■ Section 18: The commission Human Rights dehumanizes other persons. For this reason Christian ethical
shall have the following powers and functions: reflection has arrived at the category of human rights. Human
● (1) Investigate, on its own or on rights are a mechanism to control the exercise of power
complaint by any party, all forms of so that it does not become dehumanizing of persons.
human rights violations involving civil
and political rights; UNIT 2 THE SOCIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH
● (2) Adopt its operational guidelines and
rules of procedure, and cite for contempt ● The Church is always mindful of the conditions of the people in
for violations thereof in accordance with society. She has the mission to proclaim the Gospel not only to
the Rules of Court; those who are privileged and fortunate in life but also those
● (3) Provide appropriate legal measures who are poor, marginalized, deprived, and voiceless in the
for the protection of human rights of all society.
persons within the Philippines, as well ○ Social issues are also of prime concern of the Church
as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide ● The origin and foundation of the Social Mission of the
for preventive measures and legal aid Church are rooted in the Judeo-Christian Tradition:
services to the underprivileged whose ○ Shalom (Over-all harmony): Yahweh is a righteous
human rights have been violated or God in the Old Testament so He encourages His
need protection; people as well to become just and righteous in order
● (4) Exercise visitorial powers over jails, to realize peace or shalom (over-all harmony) in His
prisons, or detention facilities; Kingdom.
● (5) Establish a continuing program of ○ Sedekah: It means right relationship.
research, education, and information to ■ It is manifested by Yahweh in His relationship
enhance respect for the primacy of with Israel and with all things He has made, and
human rights; by Israel, in her response of obedience,
● (6) Recommend to the Congress reverence and faithfulness to God
effective measures to promote human ■ The right relationship that God has established
rights and to provide for compensation demonstrates the way of justice for human
to victims of violations of human rights, beings in dealing with one another.
or their families; ■ also corresponds to Yahweh‘s righteousness.
● (7) Monitor the Philippine Government’s Yahweh shows his righteousness by keeping
compliance with international treaty the covenant and being the very source of
obligations on human rights; righteousness.
● (8) Grant immunity from prosecution to ■ Some terms related are mercy, compassion and
any person whose testimony or whose salvation.
possession of documents or other ■ It is identical with deliverance and salvation,
evidence is necessary or convenient to describing it as associated to a norm
determine the truth in any investigation established by God.
conducted by it or under its authority; ○ Mishpath
 ■ Yahweh is a judge who punishes the wicked ● Just like the mission of Jesus Christ, the mission of the Church
one and rewards the righteous one. Thus, He to the society is threefold: Kingly, Priestly and Prophetic:
corrects wrongdoings in order to restore right ○ King: One‘s commitment to serve others through
relationship. active participation in integral human development.
■ The arbiter, the King-God, secures order in the ○ Priest: Our capacity to pray for one another and our
community by applying the mishpath. It implies ability to establish a deeper relationship with God
deliverance for those who are just and innocent, through prayer and worship.
but harsh for the wicked and sinful. ○ Prophet: Proclaiming peace founded on truth, built
○ Hesed according to justice, integrated by charity and practiced
■ It is often translated as loving kindness. in freedom.
Other translations are steadfast love, mercy ● The Church in the Philippines has been known as the
and compassion. Hesed is the expression of forerunner of truth and justice among the Filipinos regardless
loving kindness in the Kingdom of Yahweh. of ethnicity, gender and religion.
■ Yahweh‘s hesed is manifested in His ○ It is not to be identified with any political partisan in
everlasting love for Israel | remaining faithful in order to become a credible herald of peace, justice and
spite of Israel‘s unfaithfulness | and showing truth; and proponent of unawa (understanding), awa
compassion and mercy for her sins. (mercy) and gawa (deeds) among people particularly
■ Yahweh is the epitome and example of doing the marginalized.
hesed to others. ■ The Church in the Philippines is expected to be
○ Dikaiosune the advocate of impartiality that shuns any form
■ Jesus’ invitation to strive first for the Kingdom of of discrimination, conflict and political animosity.
God and His righteousness (Mt. 6: 33) is ■ The Church is also called to promote respect for
basically relational. races, genders, religions and point of views so
■ The Greek word dikaiosune can be rendered that national unity and healing are attainable.
righteousness or justice. ■ Discrimination and neglect are obstacles to the
■ The metaphor of the Kingdom of God embodies full development of persons and of society as a
the way God relates with people and sheds light whole.
on the word dikaiosune as the manner by which ■ Everyone has a role and needs to have the
God wants to be ―king or as to be the divine opportunity to improve themselves so that they
will is followed can take their place in society and participate
● In the New Testament, Jesus Christ proclaims that the fully in the community they find themselves in.
Kingdom of God is already at hand and the Beatitudes are the ■ This aspiration can only be achieved through
ways to attain its fullness. the recognition of people’s capacities,
● God reigns where the divine will is done. potentials, and rights as well as in ensuring that
○ The right situation is doing justice to humankind for it is the structures in the communities and in society
the one willed by God. as a whole support this goal.
● Jesus‘ initial proclamation of the justice of God ― to bring ● Duc in Altum (Put out into the deep)
good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and ○ Each Catholic is a missionary.
recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and ○ He/she is immersed and conscious of the signs of the
announce the Lord‘s year of mercy/favor (Lk. 4: 18-19) times making him/her capable of bringing people closer
resonates the prophet Isaiah‘s announcement of God giving ― to the Kingdom of God.
justice to His people. ○ Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, we are also fishers of
● Jesus‘ proclamation of the Kingdom of God also entails men by witnessing our faith.
renewal and righteousness by witnessing the Gospel. ● As agent of hope and transformation
● The Beatitudes of Jesus are also considered as expressions ○ Christ commanded his disciples: “Go therefore and
and ways to realize the right relationship in the Kingdom of make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
God. name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
○ The beatitudes of Jesus Christ according to Matthew Spirit”
5:3-10: ○ It is through baptism that members of the Christian
■ Blessed are you Poor, for yours is the kingdom community ―are called to a holiness of life in the world
of God. befitting disciples of Jesus.
■ Blessed are you Hungry, you shall be satisfied. ○ Discipleship is the fundamental vocation in which the
■ Blessed are you that Weep, you shall laugh. Church's mission and ministry find full meaning.
■ Blessed are those Mourn, they shall be ■ As disciples of Jesus, we are called into
comforted. communion with both God and others and are
■ Blessed are the Meek, they shall inherit the sent on a mission to proclaim the Good News of
earth. the Kingdom.
■ Blessed are the Merciful, they shall obtain ○ The Church fulfills her mission of preaching the Gospel
mercy. when it teaches the demands of justice.
■ Blessed are Pure in Heart, they shall see God. ● Responding to the demands of our contemporary
■ Blessed are the Peacemakers, they shall be communities
called children of God. ○ The fact of Religious Pluralism
● The Gospel shows in an abundance of texts that Jesus was ■ The Church recognizes and defends the
not indifferent or extraneous to the problem of the dignity and fundamental dignity of man to be free from
rights of the human person, nor to the needs of the weakest, coercion in matters religious.
the neediest, and the victims of injustice. ■ The Church position on religious pluralism: All
● Jesus‘ concern was not limited to the forgiveness of sins: At all men are called in freedom to Jesus Christ and
times He stressed a real solidarity with the poorest and to his Church, which has a divine mission,
lowliest (Matthew 11:28-30). indeed a mandate, to evangelize the whole
○ He cured the sick, lepers and blind men, and many world, so that at the name of Jesus every knee
more. He fed thousands of hungry people. He should bend, in heaven and on earth, and every
personally took upon Himself the description of the tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
Suffering Messiah as foretold by Isaiah. glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10–11).
● The Church continues to struggle for the realization of the ■ To all peoples, the Church preaches Christ
Kingdom of God through ongoing renewal and consistent crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and a folly
propagation of the Gospel through words and deeds. to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both
● The social mission of the Church is rooted in the ministry and Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and
mission of Jesus Christ to love and serve by promoting and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:23–24).
protecting the wellbeing of the human persons.
 ■ All men and women are called by God to faith viii. These are Catholic contributions to the talk
and baptism in Jesus Christ. about human flourishing based on important
○ Truthful Tolerance principles such as the dignity of the human
■ The Declaration on Religious Freedom of person, subsidiarity, solidarity and the
Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae, cast a new light. preferential option for the poor.
■ The human person has a right to religious ix. Moreover, each of these documents, while
freedom. This freedom means that: sensitive to the historical conditions of particular
• All men are to be immune from times, are grounded in the Tradition of the
coercion on the part of individuals or Church that finds its beginning in the person
social groups and of any human power and ministry of Jesus Christ.
• No one is to be forced to act in a ● Nature of the Social Teaching:
manner contrary to his own beliefs ○ Emphasis on the human person as imago dei
• Not to be restrained from acting in ■ Church’s understanding of human dignity - is
accordance with his own beliefs, the conviction that the human person occupies
whether privately or publicly, whether a central role in the creation of God, and that
alone or in association with others, the human person is the only creature that is
within due limits. created in the image and likeness of God, and
○ Fidelity to Proclaim the Kingdom of God is the only creature that has the capacity for
■ The Church, endowed with the gifts of her God.
founder and faithfully observing his precepts of ■ Human dignity is a core-concept in the social
charity, humility and self-denial, received the teaching of the Church. The Church believes
mission of proclaiming and establishing among that human dignity is a concept that is both
all peoples the Kingdom of Christ and of God, inviolable and inalienable, that is, it can never
and she is, on earth, the seed and the be compromised regardless of the
beginning of that Kingdom. circumstances and consequences of the action.
■ The Church‘s mission is the same as it was ■ The apex of the affirmation of human dignity is
yesterday, today, and tomorrow: to evangelize the coming of Christ. Christ embraces humanity
the whole world. ―It is the duty of the Church, through the mystery of Incarnation, which
therefore, in her preaching to proclaim the affirms that humanity is central to God’s plan.
Cross of Christ as the sign of God‘s universal ■ The centrality of the dignity of the human
love and the source of all grace. person is even highlighted more with the
Paschal Mystery of Christ. He showed us that
NATURE OF THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH the cross is not a meaningless symbol, but is
● The Social Teaching of the Church is at the core of Christianity. rather a testimony of God’s love.
It needs to be pointed out that Jesus is an active agent in the ○ Celebrates humanity and our interconnectedness
renewal of the Society. ■ Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham and the
○ His proclamation of the Kingdom of God means that people of Israel is Yahweh’s own initiative and
certain practices in the community would even have to gift which is even beyond what humanity
be renewed in order to show to the people that indeed deserves.
God’s reign is at hand, even if at the same time, it ■ The covenant is an expression of Yahweh’s
cannot be fully fulfilled in the present. willingness to reach out to His people. In fact,
1. The truth of Faith by the covenant, Yahweh makes himself bound
a. The first christians were true followers of Christ in the to fulfill his promises to His people.
sense that they have endeavored to preserve in the ■ In turn, the covenant becomes the people’s
ministry that Christ has started. This is especially assurance that Yahweh will never abandon
shown in their commitment to equality, respect and love them.
for each other. ■ Moreover, “there comes from the Decalogue a
i. Moreover, decisions in their communities are commitment that concerns not only fidelity to
done “in remembrance” of the memory of the one true God, but also the social relations
Christ. among the people of the Covenant. The gift of
ii. The Middle Ages Church, despite the infamous freedom and the Promised Land, and the gift of
abuses of some members of the hierarchy and Covenant on Sinai and the Ten
the clergy, remains faithful to Christ’s call to Commandments are therefore intimately linked
bring about the reign of love in our to the practices which must regulate, in justice
communities. and solidarity, the development of Israelite
iii. Important thinkers in the Middle Ages, society.
especially Thomas Aquinas, continue to talk ■ A society that wishes and intends to remain at
about justice and charity for the poor. the service of the human being at every level is
iv. The challenge to aid the needy in the a society that has the common good – the good
community has become more pressing with the of all the people and of the whole society – as
emergence of modern ideologies that were its primary goal.
brought about mainly by the Industrial ■ In the diversity of cultures, the natural law
Revolution. unites peoples, enjoining common principles.
v. Capitalism and Socialism were two ideologies Since something of the glory of God shines on
that were both supposedly aimed at improving the face of every person, the dignity of every
the conditions of every person’s life. However, person before God is the basis of the dignity of
because of their neglect to talk about God in man before other men.
their endeavors, they have instead also ○ Promotion of Justice according to God’s plan
contributed to the increasing problems of ■ God destined the earth and all it contains for all
poverty and injustice in the community. men and peoples so that all created things
vi. Hence, the modern social encyclicals were would be shared fairly by all mankind under the
Catholic contributions to the talk about human guidance of justice
flourishing pointing out especially the important ■ The principle of the Universal Destination of
points from these two ideologies. Goods is an invitation to develop an economic
vii. The Catholic Church has issued important vision inspired by moral values that permit
documents in order to officially announce its people not to lose sight of the origin or purpose
stand on pertinent social issues that confront of these goods, so as to bring about fairness
our communities at particular moments in and solidarity.
history.
 ■ Everyone has the right to enjoy the conditions
of social life that are brought about by the quest
for the conditions of social life that are brought
about by the quest for the common good.
■ Pope Pius XI: ‘the distribution of created goods,
which, as every discerning person knows, is
laboring today under the gravest evils due to
the huge disparity between the few exceedingly
rich and the unnumbered property less, must be
effectively called back to and brought into
conformity with the norms of the common good,
that is, social justice. This then prompts the
Church to call for a more just distribution of the
world’s wealth
■ Man, then, must never forget that his capacity
to transform and in a certain sense create the
world through his own work. is always based on
God’s prior and original gift of the things that
are.

2. The Paradigm of Love and Justice versus the Way of Violence

a. Love is the most identifying value of the Church's social
teaching. It is what makes us uniquely Christians. It is,
in fact, unachievable without grace, but the grace is
freely supplied to the willing, which is grace itself.
● The Way of Love and Justice
○ In the Church’s perspective, love as a value is “the
highest and universal criterion of the whole of social
ethics.”
○ From the inner wellspring of love the values of truth,
freedom, and justice are born and grow. Love is what
makes us able to see the other as a friend, as another
self, so that the needs and requirements of others
seem as one's own.”
○ Love presupposes and transcends justice. This means
that love builds upon justice just like grace builds upon
nature.
■ For what happens when love meets justice,
look at the cross of Christ, the cross of Christ
which is our law. Without justice, there is no
love. Without justice, love does not survive.
Justice is the prerequisite of love. Justice is
fulfilled by love.
■ Kant insisted that, in justice, the law of
punishment was a categorical imperative which
admitted no exception. For if justice goes, there
is no longer any value in human beings living
on the earth. Kant is entirely correct. A world
without justice is, to be sure, too horrible to
behold.

However, a world with justice but without love is equally as bad or

worse. Human relationships cannot be governed solely by the
measure of justice. The prophet Malachi tells us that God requires
more than doing justice. He requires us to love mercy and to walk
humbly with Him. (Malachi 3:3)

■ Summum ius, summa iniuria was a Roman

maxim mentioned by Cicero. It is a brilliant,
ambiguous saying which can be translated,
“extreme justice is the greatest injustice,” or an
"extreme justice is an extreme wrong.
■