"Reflections" regarding THE PATH TO SOLIDARITY
                                                                               (continued)

Prayer  ~~  "Come Spirit of Love!  

Come that as a result of our CONVERSION 
AND 
COMMUNION, 
a complete unity of all the peoples 
on this great CONTINENT OF AMERICA 
may take place!

That beginning with 
The CHURCH IN AMERICA  
a 
SOLIDARITY, 
never before seen 
on the face of this earth, 
may result!

 

 

The Church's social doctrine

Pope John Paul II and the American Synod fathers discussed 
the 
 Church's social doctrine.

They acknowledged that the 
CHURCH IN AMERICA which was originally founded with great missionary charity and love, is now faced with 
grave social problems which are present throughout AMERICA.

WHAT, Exactly, IS MEANT BY THE TERM, 
SOCIAL JUSTICE?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "The Church receives from the Gospel the full revelation of the truth about man.  When she {the Church} fulfills her mission of proclaiming the Gospel, she bears witness to man, in the name of Christ, to His dignity and His vocation to the communion of persons.  She teaches {the Church} him the demands of justice and peace in conformity with Divine Wisdom." (paragraph 2419) 

The Church's social doctrine guidelines, as found in the approved
Catechism of the Catholic Church are as follows:

1.  Any system in which social relationships are determined entirely by economic factorsis contrary to the nature of the human person and his acts.

2.  A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable.  The disordered desire for money cannot but produce perverse (morally wrong) effects.  It is one of the causes of the many conflicts which disturb the social order.

3.  A system that 'subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of groups to the collective organization of production' is contrary to human dignity.  Every practice that reduces persons to nothing more than a means of profit enslaves man, leads to idolizing money and contributes to the spread of atheism.

4.  The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modern times with communism or socialism.  

(paragraphs 2423-2425)

 

The Holy Father advised that a catechism of Catholic social doctrine be written in order to be a guide for us in the "NEW" Evangelization of America.  He and the Synod Fathers fully realize that the formation of an approved catechism of this type would only serve to provide general principles that would act as a guideline in the treatment of specific issues as they occur in the various locations within the continent. 

The Holy Father states that it is necessary that 
"The CHURCH IN AMERICA is called not only to promote greater integration between nations, thus helping to create an authentic globalized culture of solidarity, but also to cooperate with every legitimate means in reducing the 
 negative effects of globalization."

 

Some of these negative effects include

1) the domination of the powerful over the weak, especially in the economic sphere

   and 

2) the loss of the values of local cultures 


in favor of a 
misconstrued homogenization.

 

 

The Synod Fathers feel that a good starting place for this "special" catechism could be where the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 talks about social doctrine in regards to the 
7th Commandment which is "Thou shalt not steal."  

 Pope John Paul II reminds us that 
we, as Christians, are all instrumental in the transformation 
of earthly realities to reflect the love of Christ. 

One way to reflect Christ's love is to give 
all our brothers and sisters 
the right to dignified labor!

The spreading of true Catholic social doctrine should be one of the priorities in our "New" Evangelization efforts, especially for Bishops, priests, teachers and all those who "hold" and teach the 
treasures 
of the 
 Catholic faith.

The Holy Father reminds us that 

"..the Church's social doctrine is a moral vision which aims to encourage governments, institutions and private organizations to shape a future consistent with the 
dignity 
 of every person." 

If we live in a world which 
practices
social justice every day, 
we are then better prepared
for the world to come~~ Heaven!!!

 

New Message of Hope 

The Encounter with The Living Jesus Christ

Encountering Jesus Christ in America Today
The Path of Conversion

The Path to Communion
The Path  to Solidarity