Download The great commission

The Church and the Social Order
Chapter 22
Lesson One
THE GREAT COMMISSION
The Great Commission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you (Mt 28:19-20).”
• Christ gives this command to the apostles:
– Spread the Gospel to all people.
– Baptize all nations—form Christian nations.
• Not only does the Church sanctify people, but it also
seeks to sanctify the nations.
– The Church “baptizes” the social order, so as to renew all
things in Christ.
Sins that Cry to Heaven for Vengeance.
• Murder:
– The taking of an innocent life.
– [Murder] is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human
being, … and to the holiness of the Creator (CCC 2261).
• Oppression of the Poor:
– Success at the cost of other’s success.
– Degrades the value of the human person.
• Sodomy:
– Non-procreative sexual activity/behavior.
• Defrauding the Laborer of a Just Wage:
– The amount needed to support a family.
Same-Sex Attraction
• Same sex acts are contrary to the natural law,
meaning that they hold no procreative powers—
thusly they are considered to be “intrinsically
disordered (CCC 2357).”
– Meaning that they do not proceed from a sexual
complementarity that could reflect the Trinitarian image
of Divine love.
• HOWEVER, those with same-sex attraction MUST
be accepted with respect, compassion, and
sensitivity. Unjust discrimination should be avoided
and discouraged.
• Those with same-sex attraction are called to live
chaste celibate lives.
Lesson Two
LIFE IS SACRED
Murder
• Murder—direct and intentional killing, considered
as gravely sinful.
– Infanticide, fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a
spouse are especially grave, because of the natural bonds
that they break.
• Moral law prohibits the refusal of assistance to a
person in grave danger.
– Further, it prohibits exposing someone to mortal danger
without grave reason.
• Even in the event of an accident, the taking of a life
constitutes a grave matter.
Clarifications
• Self-defense:
– Legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an
exception to the prohibition against murder of the
innocent that constitutes intentional killing.
– However, the act of self-defense can have a double
effect:
• “Preservation of one’s own life; and the killing of the aggressor
… one is intended, the other is not (CCC 2263).”
– “If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary
violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force
with moderation, his defense will be lawful (STh II-II,
64, 7)”
Modern Times
• In 1973, Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the
United States. Since then, 58 million babies have
lost their lives.
• From the moment of conception, each and every
human being must be given the rights of a person—
one such right is the right to life.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and
before you were born I consecrated you (Jer 1:5).”
• Latae Sententiae—by the very commission of this
offense, one is excommunicated.
– Through assisting, procurement, or performing the action
itself.
Abortion cont…
• Fetus:
– From Latin, means: pregnancy, childbirth, offspring.
• Prenatal diagnosis:
– If it respects the life of the child and is directed towards
safeguarding and healing, it is permissible.
• Corruption of the fetal human.
– It is immoral to: produce human embryos intended for
exploitation as disposable biological material.
– It is immoral to: influence chromosomic or genetic
inheritance, because they are aimed towards producing
human beings according to biological sex.
Humanae Vitae
“‘Every action which, whether in anticipation of the
conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the
development of its natural consequences, proposes,
whether as an end or as a means, to render
procreation impossible’ is intrinsically evil (HV).”
• Issued in 1968 by Pope Paul VI.
– It was such a controversial Encyclical and received so
much negative criticism, that Pope Paul VI did not
release another one—despite being pope for another 10
years.
• It’s controversy is because it forbids all
contraceptives, under any circumstances.
Euthanasia (CCC 2276-2279)
• Euthanasia—“Good death”
– Putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying
persons.
– An act or omission which causes death in order to eliminate
suffering constitutes murder.
• Even if death is imminent, ordinary care owed to a sick
person cannot be interrupted.
– Painkillers can be used in order to ease suffering, as long as
death is not willed, but rather seen and tolerated as inevitable.
• Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome,
dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the
expected outcome can be legitimate.
– This is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment.
Care in Serious Medical Cases:
• It is always wrong to take the life of a sick person.
– Suffering, while unpleasant, should be viewed as a
“cross,” that can be used to sanctify us.
• Ordinary means to sustain life are required in all
cases.
– If you have the means to save a life, do so.
• Extraordinary means are never required.
– If a person is only alive because machines are carrying
out all necessary biological functions.
• It is permissible to allow the imminent death of a
person.
– This does not mean that we should withhold all forms of
treatment.
Capital Punishment
• Preserving the common good of society requires
rendering the aggressor unable to inflict harm.
– The legitimate public authority has the right and duty to
punish criminals with penalties that are equal to the crime that
was committed.
– If bloodless means are sufficient for restoring order and the
safety of persons, then they should be used.
• State issued penalties should satisfy these requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Make amends for the crime.
Restore public order & provide for the security of citizens.
The punishment should improve the guilty party.
Punishment corresponds to the seriousness of the crime.
• Capital punishment arises when it is the only way to
protect society from a convicted criminal.
Lesson Three
JUST WAR
Just War Theory
“War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity (JP II).”
• When is the military permitted to use force?
1. Authorization by the competent authority.
•
Evaluation of the following belongs to those who have
responsibility for the common good.
2. A just cause.
•
Damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting, grave, and
certain.
3. A just purpose.
• Legitimate/lawful defense.
4. War must be the last resort.
•
Other means of putting an end to it must be shown to be
impractical/ineffective.
5. The methods used must be proportionate.
•
Use of arms must not produce evils/disorders graver than the evil to
be eliminated.
6. There must be a prospect of success.
War cont…
• Just War Theory allows for a legitimate self-defense.
– However, this must only come after every possible
attempt to resolve the issue has been tried.
– “Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are
going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over
to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put
in prison … you will never get out till you have paid the
last penny (Mt 5:25-26).”
• Even during war, the moral law must be observed.
– War should be avoided at all costs, because it often leads
to the inhumane treatment of non-combatants, prisoners,
and the wounded.
Lesson Four
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social Justice
• The purpose of social justice is to explain how
secular life among members of society should be
lived in light of Christ’s teachings.
– To promote the dignity of all mankind and the common
good of society.
– This began with Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical, Rerum
Novarum (the Condition of Labor).
• Sins against Social Justice:
– Oppression of humanity.
– Sins against life and family.
– Poverty/defrauding people.
Encyclicals on Labor
• Rerum Novarum, 1891:
– The role of the state is to promote social justice through the
protection of rights.
– Proscribes the formation of trade unions, in order to
discourage the exploitation of the worker.
– Reaffirms that private property is a fundamental aspect of
natural law.
• Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), 1981:
– Labor takes precedence over capital; people are more
important than things.
– Encourages a sense of personal contribution, rather than
being an interchangeable part without any worth.
– Promotes individual rights of the workers: just wage, rights to
form unions, etc…
Harmful Ideologies
• Both Communism and Fascism reject the immaterial
aspect of the human person and thusly deny human
dignity.
– Communism:
• Eliminates the class system (including families).
• Individualism is lost, you are an indistinguishable part of
society.
• Economic prosperity is promoted at the cost of the citizens
individual prosperity.
– Fascism:
• Embraces inequality & bases dignity off of race/nationality.
• Emphasizes the importance of the state over that of the
individual—citizens rights and freedoms are subordinate to the
good of the state.