an encyclical written by pope john

8/14/2019 an Encyclical Written by Pope John

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Overviewverview

anan encyclicalencyclical written bywritten by Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II ononthe hundredth anniversary of Rerumthe hundredth anniversary of Rerum

NovarumNovarum .. It is part of a larger body of writings known asIt is part of a larger body of writings known asCatholic Social TeachingCatholic Social TeachingThe encyclical notes the fall of The encyclical notes the fall of RealRealSocialismSocialism but cautions against thinking thatbut cautions against thinking thatthis fall signifies a victory for this fall signifies a victory for capitalismcapitalism ..


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Historyis tory

Centesimus AnnusCentesimus Annus was promulgated inwas promulgated inMay 1991May 1991 , after the collapse of socialism, after the collapse of socialism

in most of Eastern Europein most of Eastern Europe


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Introductionntroduction

Rerum Novarum is of great importance for theRerum Novarum is of great importance for theChurch; the vital energies it unleashedChurch; the vital energies it unleashed

continue to increase (#1).continue to increase (#1).Rerum Novarum can be used to help look backRerum Novarum can be used to help look backat fundamental principles, look around at newat fundamental principles, look around at newevents, and look to the future (#3).events, and look to the future (#3).

An analysis of history and current events isAn analysis of history and current events isessential to the Churchs mission of essential to the Churchs mission of evangelization (#3)evangelization (#3)


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Characteristics of RerumCharacteristics of RerumNovarumNovarum

attempted to respond to the conflict betweenattempted to respond to the conflict betweencapital and laborcapital and labor

pope Leo XIII struggles with what he views aspope Leo XIII struggles with what he views assignificant failures of the market economysignificant failures of the market economy-not technical failings, but moral failings-not technical failings, but moral failings

To teach and spread her social doctrine is an To teach and spread her social doctrine is an

essential part of the Churchs evangelizing missionessential part of the Churchs evangelizing mission


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Characteristics of RerumCharacteristics of RerumNovarumNovarum

strongly affirms the dignity of work and the rightsstrongly affirms the dignity of work and the rightsto private property, private associations, a justto private property, private associations, a justwage, and to discharge freely religious dutieswage, and to discharge freely religious duties

Rerum Novarums criticism of socialism andRerum Novarums criticism of socialism andliberalism is still relevant todayliberalism is still relevant today

Rerum Novarums emphasis on the rights of theRerum Novarums emphasis on the rights of thepoor and the defenseless gives testimony to thepoor and the defenseless gives testimony to the

continuity of the option for the poorcontinuity of the option for the poor

The guiding light of Rerum Novarum is its view of The guiding light of Rerum Novarum is its view of human dignityhuman dignity


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The Foundationhe Foundation

The Foundation of religion and worshipThe Foundation of religion and worshipCentesimus Annus Pro PontificeCentesimus Annus Pro Pontifice isisbased in thebased in the State of Vatican CityState of Vatican City andandgovernedgoverned by theby the Churchs Canon LawChurchs Canon Law

and theand the Civil Law of the State of Civil Law of the State of Vatican CityVatican City , as well as by its, as well as by its By-LawsBy-Laws ..


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A characteristic peculiar to theA characteristic peculiar to theFoundation is the spiritual animation of Foundation is the spiritual animation of

founding and adhering members providedfounding and adhering members providedby ecclesiastical counselors.by ecclesiastical counselors.

It focuses in particular on the goals andIt focuses in particular on the goals andtakes place at periodic or ad hoctakes place at periodic or ad hocmeetings and special events.meetings and special events.


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Article 3 of the By-LawsArticle 3 of the By-Laws , having stated, having statedthat the Foundations specific purpose isthat the Foundations specific purpose isto collaborate towards the diffusion of to collaborate towards the diffusion of human, ethical, social and Christianhuman, ethical, social and Christian

values, indicates three goals:values, indicates three goals:


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Goalsoals

promoting informed knowledge of thepromoting informed knowledge of thesocial teachings of the Churchsocial teachings of the Church

promoting initiatives aimed atpromoting initiatives aimed atexpanding the Churchs effective roleexpanding the Churchs effective rolein all sectors of contemporary societyin all sectors of contemporary society

promoting fund raising activitiespromoting fund raising activities


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A Dynamic and Prophetic TraditionA Dynamic and Prophetic Tradition

DynamicDynamic because it always addresses the signs of because it always addresses the signs of the timesthe times

revisits new manifestations of oldrevisits new manifestations of old problemsproblems explores new problemsexplores new problems

PropheticProphetic because it uses the two-pronged approach because it uses the two-pronged approachof the biblical prophetsof the biblical prophets

denounces a disordered situationdenounces a disordered situation

announces a more enlightened approachannounces a more enlightened approach


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Rooted in Faith, but not DogmaRooted in Faith, but not Dogma

analyses reflect the particular vision of analyses reflect the particular vision of catholic faithcatholic faith

understood as integral to faithunderstood as integral to faith

they are an ethical framework, no dogmathey are an ethical framework, no dogma

guidelines for reflectionguidelines for reflection

criteria for judgmentcriteria for judgment directions for actiondirections for action


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Catholic Social Teaching

draws together and synthesizes all that has comebefore

points out that of the social systems currentlyavailable, democracy and free market economieshave the best potential for promoting humandevelopment

introduces an empirical sensitivity to CSTsunderstanding of economic development


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insists on a vibrant, publicly assertivemoral-cultural order and recognizes theinteraction between economics, culture,

and politics, with culture as, by far, themore important

includes family and life issues on the list of social concerns


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MARKET ECONOMIES - an important source of wealth and should be

viewed carefully and favorably- recognizes the free market for:

Better resource utilization Promotion of commerce, and

Giving central place to individual desiresand preferences in a contractual context.


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STATE AND CULTURE- begins by endorsing the rule of law which it defines

as three powers:

legislative executive judicial

- each power balanced by other powers and byspheres of responsibility which keep them withinproper bounds


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DEVELOPED WORLD ISSUES

- three dangers or major risks andproblems:

Consumerism Ecological Question

Alienation


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CONSUMERISM

A style of life directed towards havingrather than being.It is a web of false and superficialgratifications.


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THE ECOLOGICAL QUESTION

Divided into two parts:1. The physical or natural environment

- ecology thus becomes part of CST

2. The more serious destruction of the

human environment, somethingwhich is by no means receiving theattention it deserves.


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ALIENATION

loss of the authentic meaning of life occurring indeveloped countries because of: Consumerism

Work settings which isolate a person in a

maze of relationships marked bydestructiveness, competitiveness andestrangement Manipulation by the means of masscommunication which impose fashions and

trends of opinion through carefullyorchestrated repetition


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The Dignity of WorkThe Dignity of Work

issue: human labor is viewed only on the basisissue: human labor is viewed only on the basisof its economic purposeof its economic purpose

workers are factors of productionworkers are factors of production no different than capital and naturalno different than capital and natural

resourcesresources

response: work is a fundamental part of response: work is a fundamental part of human existencehuman existence

objective vs. subjective dimensionsobjective vs. subjective dimensions worker is primary, work is secondaryworker is primary, work is secondary


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Priority of Labor over capitalPriority of Labor over capitalissue: decisions based solely on profitsissue: decisions based solely on profits

capital is co-equal factors of capital is co-equal factors of productionproduction private ownership justifies maximum profitprivate ownership justifies maximum profit

response: labor has priority over capitalresponse: labor has priority over capital capital is a means of production, not an endcapital is a means of production, not an end based on a misguided materialist philosophybased on a misguided materialist philosophy right to private property is neither absolute norright to private property is neither absolute nor

untouchable (St. Thomas Aquinas)untouchable (St. Thomas Aquinas)

profits are a social dividend profits are a social dividend


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Just Wages and WorkingJust Wages and WorkingConditionsConditions

issue: many persons work underissue: many persons work underunacceptable employment conditionsunacceptable employment conditions

response: true measure of an economicresponse: true measure of an economicsystem is how work is rewardedsystem is how work is rewarded voluntary transactions need not bevoluntary transactions need not be

fair or justfair or just workers must be paid a just wage workers must be paid a just wage workers have rights to certainworkers have rights to certainbenefitsbenefits


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Right to Meaningful EmploymentRight to Meaningful Employment

issue: unemployment and underemploymentissue: unemployment and underemploymentarise naturally in economiesarise naturally in economies some is voluntary, but some is notsome is voluntary, but some is not

response: unemployment is the opposite of aresponse: unemployment is the opposite of aright and just situationright and just situation work is a dutywork is a duty

the duty implies a right to as jobthe duty implies a right to as job firms should operate as a community of firms should operate as a community of personspersons


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The Right to join a UnionThe Right to join a Unionissue: individuals often lack the power to assureissue: individuals often lack the power to assureproper working conditionsproper working conditions

response: to secure well-ordered conditions,response: to secure well-ordered conditions,

workers have a right to unionizeworkers have a right to unionize rooted in social nature and solidarityrooted in social nature and solidarity unions must work for the commonunions must work for the commongood, not against those who owngood, not against those who own capitalcapital

strikes are legitimate, with somestrikes are legitimate, with someexceptionsexceptions


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CONCLUSION

We must not forget that CST is first andforemost Christian teaching. As the Holy Father emphasizes in CA, it proclaims God and hismystery of salvation in Christ to every humanbeing, and for that very reason reveals man tohimself. In this light, and only in this light does itconcern itself with everything else Issues of human rights, workers right, property rights, therole of the state, economy and culture, andrespect for life.


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GROUP 8GROUP 8

Timbang, Paolo JerardoTimbang, Paolo JerardoTumbokon, Jennifer Tumbokon, Jennifer

Villagracia, ChasekalynVillagracia, ChasekalynZapanta, Jerrielle MaeaZapanta, Jerrielle Maea

-yebah =)-yebah =)

an encyclical written by pope john

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