Students will understand that….

The economy is meant to serve human needs. God intended created goods to serve the whole of

humanity. Authentic moral character includes the practice of

the virtues of temperance, so as to moderate attachment to this world's goods; the practice of the virtue of justice, to preserve our neighbor's rights and render him what is his due; and the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the Lord.

The fundamental obligation of political authority is to promote and protect the common good.

Essential Questions

What does “thou shalt not steal” mean when I am one of the privileged few in a global economy of multitudes of poor and hungry people?

What does it mean when Jesus tells me, “Blessed are the poor” and “Woe to the rich”?

Do I benefit from economic practices which include the unjust exploitation of human beings and the senseless destruction of the environment?

How can I be empowered to struggle against coveting riches for the work I do, achieving vain honor in the world, or taking pride in my success so that I may live in simplicity, humility and love of others?

Minimum Wage Activity

In groups of 4, create a family budget based on the information given.

Minimum Wage Activity

Get back into your family groups from the other day.

As a group, answer the following questions: How would you describe your family’s

economic class? Why do you think you are in that class? What could you or your family do in order to

move up from that class?

Gift Economy

Gift economy What is meant by “a

sense of wrongness?” Are we separate being

among separate beings in a universe that is separate from ourselves?

How do you understand the “story of self?”

Poverty in the US

Persons infamily/household Poverty guideline

1 $11,170

2 15,130

3 19,090

4 23,050

5 27,010

6 30,970

7 34,930

8 38,890

2012 Poverty Guidelines for the48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

Race and Poverty in the US

Forty-three percent of working families with at least one minority parent were low income,

Nearly twice the proportion of white working families (22 percent).

In 2010, 15.1% of Americans live in poverty (46.2 million people). 9.9% of non-Hispanic whites 27.4% of Blacks 26.6% of Hispanics

Poverty in the US: 2010 Census

In 2010, 15.1% of Americans live in poverty (46.2 million people).

That’s 2 out of every 13 people

20.5 million people live in extreme poverty Half of the federal poverty line

22% of children under the age of 18 live in poverty

Poverty in the US: 2010 Census

1 in every 3 families are low-income.

More than 60 million people are enrolled in either Medicaid or SCHIP.

50 million Americans do not have health insurance at all.

These numbers were made significantly worse because of the recession

Poverty in the US

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR3jQOgs9gc

Population

Africa Asia Oceania Europe North America South America

13.1% 60.6% .5% 12% 5.2% 8.6%

Wealth

Africa Asia Oceania Europe North America South America

Wealth 1.8% 25.5% 1.6% 32.2% 31.8% 5.1%

Population 13.1% 60.6% .5% 12% 5.2% 8.6%

Word Population in Fifths

Top 1/5 2nd 1/5 3rd 1/5 4th 1/5 Bottom 1/5

82.7% 11.7% 2.3% 1.9% 1.4%

7th Commandmant

“Thou Shalt Not Steal” (Exodus 20:15).

What does this passage mean? What is stealing?

Do you think, given these numbers, that being rich is the equivalent of stealing from the poor?

Jesus

BLESSINGS WOES

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Blessed at Bellarmine

Are we blessed at Bellarmine? Why?