SCL 3

Overview of the Social Encyclicals

1. Rerum Novarum On the Condition of Labor 1891 Pope Leo XII

2. Quadragessimo Anno The Reconstruction of Social Order

1931 Pope Pius XI

3. Mater et Magistra On Christianity & Social Progress 1961 Pope John XXIII4. Pacem in Terris Place on Earth 1963 Pope John XXIII

5. Gauidiem et Spes Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World,

Vatican 2

1965 Pope John XXIII

6. Populorum Progressio On Development of Peoples 1967 Pope Paul VI

7.Octogesima Adveniens A Call to Action 1971 Pope Paul VI

8. Justice in the World 1971 Statement of the Synod of Bishops

9. Evangelii Nuntiandi Evangelization in the Modern World

1975 Pope Paul VI

10. Laborem Exercens On Human Work 1981 (Pope Leo XIII)11. Solicitudo Rei Socialis Concern for Social Realities 1987 Pope John Paul II12. Centesimus Annus 100th Anniversary of Rerum

Novarum1991 Pope John Paul II

1. Rerum Novarum - the 1st comprehensive document of social justice especially on the subject of worker’s rights; it is considered the Magna Carta of the Church’s Social Doctrine

-the important principle stated by Pope Leo about labor & employer relationship is giving the employers a major role as agents of social change

2. Quadragessimo Anno – Pope Pius XI wrote this on the 40th anniversary of Rerum

- introduced the concept of subsidiarity saying that social problems should be resolved on more local levels first; dealt on social responsibility of ownership, and unity between capital & labor

-the time of great depression during the 2nd Industrial Revolution shaking the economic & social foundation of the society; bankruptcy of major proportions creating massive unemployment among people of various capitalist nations.

3. Mater et Magistra – confirms the teachings on the value of private initiative, just wages, social function of private property & addresses for the first time the plight of non-industrialized nations

The Church is a mother who gives herself for the lowly & oppressed The Pope’s peasant background made him sympathetic with the working

class The Pope confirms the values of private property & renumeration for work Attacks the capitalist monopolization of wealth; poverty & workers should be

given a share in the company

4. Pacem in Terris – was issued shortly after the Cuban missile crisis

- the first encyclical which addresses Catholics as well as non-Catholics; the first encyclical ever to treat human rights in detail

- peace needs to be based on truth, built according to justice, charity & freedom

5. Gauidiem et Spes – deals on the duties of the people of God to scrutinize the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel; links the political issue of peace to the international economic order & human development

- links the political issues with the issues of just international economic order & proposes a concept of human development based on justice & charity

- gives the reason why countries of the Third World are poor & while those of the First World are rich; conflict between poor & rich is a form of colonization & imbalance of power

- this set as a challenge to the Church to open the way to a relinquishment of the political privileges which it had enjoyed in traditionally Catholic countries

6. Populorum Progressio – the first encyclical that dealt on the social problems & international development; furthermore, it advocates economic planning & aid to promote development

7.Octogesima Adveniens – issued as a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the publication of the Rerum; emphasizes the role of individual Christians & local Churches in responding to situations of injustices, also dealt on the problems of urbanization

8. Justice in the World – explains the fundamental relationship between Christian faith & action for justice; it teaches that gospel principles mandating justice for the liberation of all humanity as an expression of Christian love

9. Evangelii Nuntiandi – contains the Pope’s reflections on the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel to the world which is hostile to the love of God

10. Laborem Exercens – deals on the concept of work, its dignity & spirituality, the priority of labor over capital, rights of workers & unions & finally the development & refinement of the teachings on property

11. Solicitudo Rei Socialis – came on the 20th anniversary of Populorum Progressio; has an incisive critique on the new form of colonization; cited the signs of underdevelopment caused by East & West conflict

12. Centesimus Annus – clearly denounces the attitude of complete reliance on the remedies proposed by Socialism on Capitalism; it also condemns consumerism because of the harm it does on the environment