THEOLOGY 5
Education
Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
I. Define CST
 Doctrine – is organized and developed by the
Catholic Church on matters pertaining to
economics, poverty, wealth, social organization,
and the role of the state.
 Origins of Catholic Doctrine:
- Classical Origin -> Jesus Himself
-> “Whatever you do to those least brothers and
sisters of mine, you do to me”
-> i.e. the Parable of the Good Samaritan
- Modern Day Foundation -> Pope Leo XIII in his
encyclical letter, “Rerum Novarum” (On Labor
and Capital, 1891)
II. Framework of CST
 SEE, JUDGE, ACT METHODOLOGY – Pastoral cycle
- See -> know the problem/issue
- Judge -> based on moral teaching; Bible/Gospel
- Act -> concrete action based on active non-
violence participation
 KAIROS & KRONOS
- Kairos -> in God’s time; there is perfection
- Kronos -> time of this world; time of
imperfection
 ROLE OF:
- The Government/State -> provide material
things
-> Powers of the Government:
1. Taxation
2. Imminent Domain – for public use or just
payment
3. Police Power – power to persecute people
who violated the laws
- Public Officials/Laity
-> technical; for the common good
-> put Gospel values on the dominant structures
of society.
-> Gospel Values:
a. Peace
b. Unity
c. Justice
d. Love
-> Dominant structures of society:
a. Economics
b. Political structure
c.
d. Sociocultural
e. Technology
f. Ecology
-> All must be at the minimum requirement
(75%/100%)
- The Church -> formation of faith and morale
- The Clergy -> formation of the conscience of the
people
 FLOW & PATTERNS OF CST
- Are always in affirmation of the previous
teachings and in “work in progress”
*minimum requirement is 75%
- THEOLOGIAN – gives theological opinions:
o Rejection
o Acceptance
o Pending
 RENEWED INTEGRAL EVANGELIZATION
- Salvation is both body and soul (1960-65 VAT. II)
 CST SHALL NEVER ENDORSE ANY FORM OF
IDEOLOGY/GOVERNMENT BUT ONLY GOSPEL
VALUES AND PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY.
- Principles of Subsidiarity -> governance from
the lowest level
- dialogue and consultation
III. Major Themes of CST
 Defined by USA Bishops Conference
1. Life and dignity of the human person
- Human Person as the moral agent
-> created in the image and likeness of God -
dignity
- Human Life -> from Concepcion
-> Gift from God
-> must take care of it until natural death
- Human Rights -> right to have quality kind of life
-> Elements of the Due Process of the Law:
- right to be informed
- right to be heard
- Human Person acc. to Sociology:
-> being a member of the society
- Human Person acc. to Psychology:
> A thinking being
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
- 3 T’s: Time, Talent, Treasure
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Preferential option for the poor and vulnerable
5. Dignity of human work and rights of workers
6. Solidarity and Subsidiarity
7. Care for God’s creation