A Pilgrim People - Catholic Apologetics Institute of North...

A Pilgrim People

The Story of Our Church

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Early Church Growth & Threats (30-312 AD)

Controversies and Councils (313-450 AD)

Rise of Christendom (450-1050 AD)

High Medieval Church (1050-1300 AD)

Renaissance to Reformation (1300-1600 AD)

Worldwide Growth (<1500-1900 AD)

Revolution to Renewal (1600-2000 AD)

Opening Prayer

Part 7 –

Revolution

to

Renewal

1) The Scientific Revolution

– Copernicus

– Galileo

– Darwin

17th - 19th

Centuries

State of Siege Mentality

Church and Science

After the Renaissance, people continued to

question long-standing beliefs & traditions

17th – 19th centuries were full of scientific

discoveries and new theories

Some of these theories were initially seen

as opposing Christian beliefs, especially

concerning creation

Thus the Church and science were on a

collision course

Video Clip CH7-1

Biblical Truth

Before Copernicus's heliocentric (sun-centered)

theory, believed sun revolved around earth

– Joshua 10:12-13

– Reflected idea that Bible literally true in all

details

Heliocentric theory caused great anxiety for

Church leaders (is Bible not true?)

Today, Catholics believe that Bible is

theologically true, not necessarily literally true

Church and Science

In Arabic, Babylonian, Chinese, Egyptian,

Greek, Hindu, and Mayan cultures science

suffered a “stillbirth”

Why did science thrive and grow in a

Christian civilization?

Church and Science

Animism characterized ancient cultures

– Belief that natural things had minds and

wills of their own (sacred spirits)

– Prevented thinking of nature as behaving

according to regular, fixed patterns

Christian belief in a transcendent God

– Nature is autonomous and operates

according to consistent physical laws

discernible by reason

Depersonalization of nature

Church and Science

The idea of a rational and orderly universe is

indispensable for scientific progress

– This was taken for granted in medieval

Catholic thought

– Throughout the Bible, regularity of natural

phenomena is described as a reflection of

God’s goodness, beauty, and order

So, the Catholic Church was essential to the

establishment of science

Plus, Catholic Church essential in formation of

the university system during High Middle Ages

– New, nothing like it in ancient Greece or Rome

– Originally established by bishops or grew out

of cathedral schools

Paris, Cambridge, Oxford, Bologna, etc.

– Began as centers of the liberal arts, as well as

theological, philosophical, medical and legal

learning and thinking

Free inquiry: Scholars debate propositions

Catholic Education

Catholic Education

Before 17th century, higher education entrusted

to the Church

– Usually priests and bishops were the most

educated

– Educational theory was influenced by

Catholic theology

17th century present

– Education, especially scientific discovery,

not influenced by Catholic theology

1) The Scientific Revolution

– Copernicus

– Galileo

– Darwin

2) Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

– Supremacy of human reason

over faith

17th - 19th

Centuries

State of Siege Mentality

The Enlightenment

Movement in Europe which held reason and

science as privileged sources of truth

Enlightenment thinkers

– Rene Descartes

French philosopher argued that nothing should be

accepted unquestioningly

– “I think; therefore, I am”

Reason as the source of human truth

– Immanuel Kant

“Courage to use your mind without the guidance

of another. Dare to know! Have the courage to

use your own understanding!”

The Enlightenment

Focus on natural world

– By experience & reason this world is known

– Supernatural world is solely in God’s hands

Rationalism

– Nothing is true unless founded on scientific

proofs based solely on reason and experience

– Obviously posed challenge to Christianity

Deism

– Belief that God created the world and then left

it to run according to natural laws

Video Clip CH7-2

Which statement do you think is correct and why?

1) “Enlightenment thinkers shook off the

suffocating dogma of Christianity and began to

examine the material world as it really exists.”

2) “Christianity equipped its followers with a

mindset uniquely disposed to pursue rather than

retreat from scientific inquiry. Inquiry into the

natural world, Christians believed, would help

them gain a clearer picture of their Creator.”

The Enlightenment

3) French Revolution

– Church property

confiscated or

destroyed

– Clergy killed

18th

Century

State of Siege Mentality

Video Clip CH7-3

Discussion Question

After the French Revolution,

why did the Catholic Church

become more reactionary and

against modern political

democracy?

18th – 19th

Centuries

Vatican Council I

Reflected Siege Mentality

– Needed a strong papacy in

age of godless, secular, anti-

Christian and anti-clerical

threats

Defined Papal Infallibility

– Pope incapable of error in

defining doctrines involving

faith or morals when speaking

ex cathedra

Cut short due to war

Video Clip CH7-4

Discussion Questions

What factors caused the Catholic

Church to have a “State of Siege

Mentality”?

It’s been said, “The solution for one

age becomes the burden for the next.”

How does this apply to the Church’s

400 years of defensiveness?

Video Clip CH7-5

Our Memories

What do you remember about the

Catholic Church on the eve of the Second

Vatican Council (before 1962)?

Or, if younger, what have you heard older

folks say about Catholic life before the

Council?

WHY the Council?

50s the “Golden Years of Catholicism”

Lots of Priests and Religious (Nuns)

Catholic Schools Full

No Real Dissent With Pope

Most Attended Mass Regularly

Pope John XXIII’s Opening Speech

“By bringing herself up-to-date where required,

the Church will better help people turn their

minds toward heavenly things”

“Council’s greatest concern is how the sacred

and central truths of our Christian faith should

be guarded and taught more effectively”

“Substance of ancient doctrine is one thing,

the way it is expressed is another”

WHY the Council?

WHO was at the Council?

Average Daily Attendance 2,400 Bishops and Other Prelates

From Around the World – Europe: 1089 – South America: 489 – North America: 404 – Asia: 374 – Africa: 296 – Central America: 84 – Oceania: 75

Non-Catholic Observers

Theologians, Laity, etc.

WHEN was the Council?

Preparations Begun June 1959

1st Session Oct. - Dec. 1962

– Pope John XXIII

2nd Session Sept. - Dec. 1963

– Pope Paul VI

3rd Session Sept. - Nov. 1964

Final Session Sept. - Dec. 1965

Video Clip CH7-6

WHAT Documents Issued?

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy – Approved Dec. 4, 1963, 2147 yes, 4 no

Dogmatic Constitution on the Church – Approved Nov. 21, 1964, 2151 yes, 5 no

Dogmatic Constitution on Divine

Revelation – Approved Nov. 18, 1965, 2344 yes, 6 no

Pastoral Constitution on the Church

in the Modern World – Approved Dec. 7, 1965, 2309 yes, 75 no

WHAT Documents Issued?

Decrees (some):

Apostolate of the Laity

Ecumenism

Eastern Catholic Churches

The Church’s Missionary Activity

WHAT Documents Issued?

Declarations:

Christian Education

Relationship of the Church to

Non-Christians

Religious Freedom

Video Clip CH7-7

Catholic Social Teaching

– Examines human society in light of the

Gospel and Tradition

Guide Christians in carrying out Christ’s mission

– Documents issued by Popes and bishops

– Started with papal encyclical Rerum

Novarum

By Pope Leo XIII in 1891

Opposed capitalism’s harsh treatment of

poor as mere pawns

Opposed Socialism’s abolition of private

property

Proposed a system based on Natural Law

– God-given need for creation to follow

what God intended it to be

Rerum Novarum

Cooperation Between Classes

– Class warfare not inevitable

Dignity of Work

– Primary purpose to provide a decent life for

families; not to be harsh or oppressive

Just Wage

– Amount sufficient to provide a decent life

Rerum Novarum

Role of the State

– Balance between capitalist and socialist

philosophies

Private Ownership of Property

– All have a right to own property; fair

distribution

Defense of the Poor

– Goal should be lifting up, not casting down

the poor

Rerum Novarum

Flourishing of Catholic labor unions

Minimum-wage laws

Established precedent for Church to

speak out on social matters

Set the stage for next 100+ years of

social action

Effects of Rerum Novarum

Catholic Social Teaching

1891 Rerum Novarum Leo XIII

1931 Quadragesimo Anno Pius XI

1961 Mother and Teacher John XXIII

1963 Peace on Earth John XXIII

1965 Church in the Modern World Vatican II

1967 The Development of Peoples Paul VI

1971 A Call to Action Paul VI

1971 Justice in the World Synod of Bishops

1979 Redeemer of Humanity John Paul II

1981 On Human Work John Paul II

1988 On Social Concern John Paul II

1991 The One Hundredth Year John Paul II

1995 The Gospel of Life John Paul II

Catholic Social Teaching

Major Themes from Catholic Social Teaching:

– Dignity of each and every human person

– Participation: Call to family & community

– Rights and responsibilities

– Preferential option for the poor

– Dignity of work and the rights of workers

– Solidarity

– Care of creation

Catholic Social Teaching

“The central message is simple: our

faith is profoundly social. We cannot

be called truly ‘Catholic’ unless we

hear and heed the Church's call to

serve those in need and work for

justice and peace.”

Communities of Salt and Light, U.S. Bishops, 1993

Discussion Question

What role do you think

Catholic Social Teaching

has to play today?

21st

Century

Video Clip CH7-8

Discussion Question

What did you learn today that you found

most relevant and interesting?

Let’s conclude our look at the long story of

our church with some closing thoughts and

a prayer

Closing Video Clip

Closing Prayer

An Overview

of the

2,000 Year History

of the

Roman Catholic Church