Dignity and Justice in the City

Poverty andCatholic Social Teaching

Congregation of Holy CrossFounded Notre Dame (1843)

Continued influence of charism and spirituality

“Notre Dame family”

Center for Social ConcernsAnnual theme focuses

attention on two key principles of CST

Evangelium Vitae“It is by listening to the

word of the Lord that we are able to live in dignity and justice.” (48)

Social ScripturesWhere it all begins

Social TraditionExperiences from the life of the Church

Social ThoughtKeeping the tradition up to date

Social TeachingTimeless principles of the Church

Church and the World

The Church understands Justice as rooted in Scripture Is 1:15 “Make Justice your aim.”Micah 6:8 “You have been told, O man, what is good and

what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right, and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

LK 10:34 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”

Scriptures make social demandsProphetsThe Law is for LoveMatthew 25

Social Dimension of the Scriptures

Brings together all people, place, events, and movements following the call of Scripture

The lived experience of this call

Dorothy Day Is the Catholic Church

really the “church of the poor”?

Requires work for justice

Catholic Social Tradition

Patristic and ClassicalAugustineAquinas

Reflection on what it means to live JUST livesWe need to correct our

relationship with: God, each other, creation

Ongoing Theological InquiryLiberation TheologyEco-theology

Catholic Social Thought

Official teachings of the MagisteriumPapal EncyclicalsBishops Conferences

Able to offer an unchanging light to the new problems that we are confronted with

Role of the laity

Catholic Social Teaching

Can you name some principles of the Church’s Social Teaching?

Talk to your neighbors…

Human DignityCommon GoodRights and ResponsibilitiesOption for the PoorDignity of WorkSubsidiarity and SolidarityCare for Creation

Values and Principles

Foundation of CSTHumans are created in the Image of GodAll human life is sacred, from conception to death

Gen 1:26 Then God said: “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness.”

Eph 4:23-24 “And be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.”

Dignity of Human Life

Humans are social beings

Perfect model is God’s Trinitarian (Relational) Nature

We realize our own humanity in relationship with others

Community and the Common Good

Lv 19:9-15 “These things you shall leave for the poor and alien. I, the LORD, am your God.”

Jn 13:34 “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

The existence of rights are necessarily tied to duties“With great power comes

great responsibility”We must fulfill basic

rights for dignity to existDuty to defend our rightsBut others must be able

to exercise theirs as well

Rights and Responsibilities

Mt 23:11 “The greatest among you must be your servant”

Every person, regardless of status, is welcome as ChristCorporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy – poverty of body and soul

Mt 25:31-46 “Amen, I say to you, what you did for the one of these least ones, you did for me”

Ps 41:1-3 “Happy those concerned with the poor and the lowly”

Preferential Option for the Poor

Our human vocation is to participate in the creative work of GodThis means that we are

made to labor; work is a good thing

But it must be dignifyingEvery person has a right

to fair, meaningful, decent work that respects their dignity

Dignity of Work

Complementary principlesSolidarity – global concern

We are all connectedSubsidiarity – local concern

But action should first occur at the lowest level possible

Jn 17:20-21 “I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.“

“We come not just as servants, but as their neighbors, to be with them and of them.” -Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, 13

Solidarity & Subsidiarity

All creation is a gift from GodWe are not masters but stewards with responsibilityEnvironmental poverty

Mt 6:25 “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing”

Care for God’s Creation

Our choices reflect what we believe in“Every economic decision has a moral

consequence” -Caritas in VeritateIf we believe in Christ, we must act like it

We are called to serve:The Oppressed

Relief of their sufferingThe Oppressor

Conversion of heartBut we are not taking sides against “sinful

enemies”Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, 13

What do we do?

“The mission is not simple, for the impoverishments we would relieve are not simple. There are networks of privilege, prejudice and power so commonplace that often neither oppressors nor victims are aware of them. We must be aware and also understanding by reason of fellowship with the impoverishedand patient learning.

For the kingdom to come in this world, disciples must have the competence to see and the courage to act.”- Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross 13

How do we do it?

CST is not just our mind, or heart, or soul isolated from one another, it’s about integration

Ought to be a transformative experience

Experience of CST

“The mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” - Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C.

Holy Cross Education

Education – Social Teaching = Power to Exploit

“We stand with the poor and afflicted because only from there can we appeal as Jesus did for the conversion and deliverance of all.” (Constitutions, 13)

MindIntegrating faith & reason

HeartDiscerning a vocation of service

ZealDesire to use gifts for common good

FamilyEmbracing community as context for lifelong

formationHope

Trusting in the cross and God’s promise of the kingdom

Holy Cross Principles of Education

Break into Small Groups