Family LifeHuman Work

Economic Life

Political Community

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Promotion of Peace

Safeguarding environment

Economic Life

Economic activity and material progress must be placed at the service of man and society.

Wealth is meant to be shared.

The Church’s social doctrine teaches us that riches can function fully for man if they benefit

others and society

What is wealth?

What is poverty?

INEQUALITYINEQUALITY

Does this picture show us economic progress?

POWER POWER

IMBALANCESIMBALANCES

What about this? Does this show us human

economic development?

DISPARITY OF DISPARITY OF

WEALTHWEALTH

INEQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

INEQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

POWER IMBALANCES

POWER IMBALANCES

DISPARITY OF WEALTH

DISPARITY OF WEALTH

INEQUALITYINEQUALITY

INEQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

INEQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

• DEVELOPMENT

• UNDERDEVELOPMENT

They sound They sound like the like the

description description of our of our

WORLD WORLD TODAYTODAY

Why do these social problems exist today?

MARK 10: 17 - 25MARK 10: 17 - 25

17And when he had departed on the way, a certain one, running up and kneeling before him, asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I

do , so that I may secure eternal life?”

18 But Jesus said to him, “Why call me good? No one is good except the one God.

MARK 10: 17 - 25MARK 10: 17 - 25

19 You know the precepts: “Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not speak false testimony. Do not deceive.

Honor your father and mother.”

20 But in response he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.”

MARK 10: 17 - 25MARK 10: 17 - 25

21 Then Jesus, gazing at him, loved him, and he said to him: “One thing is lacking to you. Go, sell whatever you have, and give

to the poor, and then you will have the treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”

22 But he went away grieving, having been greatly saddened by the word. For he had

many possessions.

MARK 10: 17 - 25MARK 10: 17 - 25

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to

enter into the kingdom of God!”

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus said to them, “Little sons,

how difficult it is for those who trust in money to enter into the kingdom of God!

MARK 10: 17 - 25MARK 10: 17 - 25

25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, then for the rich to enter into the kingdom

of God.”

1.1.Goods even Goods even when when

legitimately legitimately owned owned

always have always have a universal a universal purpose.purpose.

2.2.Business Business should be should be

characterizecharacterized by their d by their

capacity to capacity to serve the serve the common common

good.good.

“development cannot be limited to mere economic growth…

increased possession is not the ultimate goal of nations nor of individuals…

economic well-being is essential, but it is a trap hindering true development if the person makes economic goods the supreme good”

Riches at the service of man and society

In order to be authentic, DEVELOPMENT must be complete: integral, that is, it has to promote the good of every person and

the whole person”

“Genuine development is integral; it has moral and spiritual dimensions as well as

political, cultural and economic” Sollicitudo Rei Socialis # 27-34

the relationship between the economy and morality is an important aspect

It is a grave error for economic action to aim merely at creating wealth without justice

In and of itself, the market is not, and must not become, the place where the strong subdue the weak

… Economy and finance, as instruments, can be used badly when those at the helm are motivated by purely selfish ends

These instruments, although good in themselves, can become harmful whenever moral conscience is lacking among economic players.

That is why Pope Benedict XVI is calling for the individuals to have “moral

conscience” and “personal and social responsibility.”

The urgent challenge we have today, in this global economic and financial crisis, is not just to behave in a traditional ethical manner that is transparent, honest and responsible,

but also the need to have this but also the need to have this “principle of gratuitousness and “principle of gratuitousness and the logic of gift as an expression the logic of gift as an expression

of fraternity.”of fraternity.”

Man’s economic life is a gift, but this gratuitousness seems unrecognized due to a “purely consumerist and utilitarian view of life.”

a) Lack of material necessities (misery)

b) Destroyed by selfishness

c) Oppressive social structures

d) Exploitation

Basic needs fulfilled

Knowledge & culture

Respect for dignity of others

Cooperation for common good

Desire for peaceDesire for God and Faith

LESS HUMAN MORE HUMAN

SUMMARY

Faith in Christ brings authentic social development.

Economic goods and riches can only be meaningful if they benefit man and society.

Economy and morality are always related. Moreover, economic institutions exist to serve the human person