The document provides an overview of the history and development of Catholic Social Teaching. It begins with the roots in the Hebrew Scriptures and calls for justice and love for the poor. Early Christianity saw justice as integral to Jesus' message. During the Middle Ages, figures like St. Francis of Assisi rejected wealth and lived simply with the poor. The Industrial Revolution increased urban poverty and the Church responded by founding organizations to care for the vulnerable. Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the conditions of workers and established the Church's advocacy for social and economic justice. Church leaders continue speaking out for justice today through teachings that challenge believers to manifest justice in their moral lives.

2. Introduction:
The Church, though not belonging to the world, is in the world. She (the Church)
lives in time and space with people, not in the air, or in a vacuum. So did the Son of
God who became man, like us in all things except sin, Jesus Christ. The Father did
not send his Son into the world to condemn it but in order that the world may be
saved through him (John3 :17). This is the reason why the Church as the mystical
body of Christ continues today until the end of time. In fact Lumen Gentium # 8 says
“this Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in
the Catholic Church…”As missionary disciples, we continue to share in the salvific
mission of Christ in every aspect of our lives. We continuously proclaim the joy and
hope of the Gospel into the world, not just by words but by deeds. In order to do so,
we make the Gospel teachings alive in our present realities. We get involved with
one another, walk with and listen to one another, as Christ is involved in our
everyday lives. Just as how the Gospel we will learn today will say, “what you did not
do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” (Mt 18:25)

3. This lesson will target the following Learning
Competencies:
• Understand the dynamic relationship between social
realities and the Church’s social teachings in the
formation of holistic interpersonal relations.
• Demonstrate ways to respond to the social realities
inspired by the Church’s social teachings.

4. GROUP ACTIVITY 1
Instruction: Read the article about the Transformative Education
Program founded on JEEPGY – Justice and Peace, Ecological
Integrity, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation, Gender Sensitivity
and Youth Empowerment. Answer the questions below and present it
to the class.
1.What is happening to Catholic schools in the
Philippines?
2. What is JEEPGY?

5. What is the meaning of Jeepgy?
Justice and Peace, Ecological Integrity, Engaged
Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation/
Reduction, Gender Equality and Youth
Empowerment

6. The pillar programs of Justice. And Peace,
Ecological Integrity, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty
Alleviation, Gender Equality, and Youth
Empowerment (JEEPGY) championed by the
CEAP showcase Catholic values that encourage a
strong commitment to effecting change in society.

8. ACTIVITY 1.1
WORD OF GOD BEYOND WORDS
Short Instruction: Now that we have learned about the
existing social realities, we aim to understand the
message of God for us in these realities. Read the
passage from Matthew 25: 31-46 and answer the
following questions provided for you.
Be ready to be called to share your answer.

9. Gospel: Matthew 25: 31 – 46
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his
with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations
him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd
from the
goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

10. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you
visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe
you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,’Amen, I say to you, whatever you
did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into
the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

11. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave
me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you
gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your
needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of
these least ones, you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life.”

12. Guide Questions for Reflection and Sharing
1. When do the things described happen?
2. Who does the king in the story represent?
3. Who do the servants represent?
4. What social realities persist from the time of
Jesus to this day?
5. How are we to respond to these present
realities as Jesus would?

13. Social Realities
It is in the society that the human person finds its fullness. The person
identifies herself with the community and establishes her own identity
with the people. As a social being, s/he has important role to play in the
community (family, peer, organization, church) and make clear her
commitment to where she belongs. In the church, the person
demonstrates her commitment in helping the least, last, and lost as the
fundamental call of the Gospel.

14. The church as the repository of social teachings is primarily an action-
based theological insights that confront pressing social issues of the
time. It is therefore not an ideology that promotes the interest of the
strong and the elite that manipulate the vulnerable but rather a theology
of helping to alleviating the conditions of the marginalized. Thus, the
church, as a community of persons, plays vital role in addressing social
issues as her commitment through the social teachings.

15. Nature of the Social Teachings
The Catholic Social Teachings (CST) ground itself to the pertinent
sources, revelation and social dimension. The former shapes the
formulation of the CST as the principle. The latter on the other hand
serves as the condition to be served. Simply put, the scripture
(revelation) is practically fitted to the condition of the people most
especially to the poor. Thus, through the CST, people are obligated to
“be the Bible to others” through implementing resolutions. Furthermore,
in understanding deeper the nature of CST and social realities, faith and
reason are important aspects not to be excluded in the picture. Reason,
on the one hand, studies the principles behind the existence of the social
issues while faith, on the other hand, strengthens the principles toward
praxis.

16. The rise of the human sciences is an attestation of reason-response in
addressing social problems. The church, however, serves as the
authority to formulating social doctrines by partaking principles from the
human sciences as one of the sources. The CST then utilizes reason
and faith principles in the ongoing pursuit for establishing the kingdom
of God here on earth by outreaching charity to the least, lost, and last.

17. History of the Social Teachings
The CST grounds itself from the scripture (revelation) and the teachings
of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. CST are documents of the
Church that address issues of the time and suggest subtle solutions to
resolve the issue/s in the light of the scripture. The experts of the
scripture, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, translate the Gospel
into reality through encyclicals to prompt the people awareness of the
social issues of the time that are disturbing to the life of the vulnerable
and the weak.

18. History of the Social Teachings
The first encyclical and at the same time historical is Rerum Novarum (On the
condition of labor)leaves the blueprint of the Church’s preferential for the
oppressed, wounded, vulnerable, and poor. Pope Leo XIII sees the social
problems of his time that disturbed the people, particularly the workers, that
concerns worker’s rights and responsibilities, just wage and fair treatment. From
the Rerum Novarum springs numerous encyclicals that challenge social problems
of the time. In the present, the encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ (English:
Praise be to you), talks about challenges on environmental deterioration or crises
and outlines solutions such as environmental rehabilitation and renewable
energies to address the issues CST anchors its social vision on action, that is,
solution-based approach crafted by the doctors and fathers of the Church.

19. History of the Social Teachings
Since, human science works on theory-based approach, its situation in relation to
social problems is unstable; that is, once another theory is founded, its approach
to problem fluctuates. While CST is action-based, it is stable in its approach to
social problems despite contextual or time variations. Foremost, reason has its
final say in defining the dramatic situation of the human science while faith
serves the last arbiter on the utilization of practical solutions to the social
problems of the time.

20. History of the Social Teachings
In the society, CST merges with human science for both stress great concern on
the social issues and problems. Their central subject of concern is society. Much
more clear and simplified when the human person is viewed in the picture. Both
consider with great emphasis the human person in their search for answers to
social problems arising. Nevertheless, both contribute with each other great help
in the upliftment of the conditions of the marginalized poor. Both go hand in
hand in the search for truth and practical approaches to the social problems of
the time.

21. Catholic Social Teaching History in Outline
Hebrew Scriptures:
The roots of Catholic Social Teaching are found in the Hebrew
prophets who:
1. announce God’s special love for the poor and
2. called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice.

22. Early Christianity
From its beginning, the Church has considered JUSTICE to be an
integral dimension of Jesus’ message.... in word and action. *Words of
Jesus recorded in the Gospels ring out with cries on behalf of the poor
and downtrodden members of society. The actions of Jesus
demonstrate his concern for people who are suffering or overlooked.
*Numerous accounts from the 1st Century indicate that the early
Christians saw the work of JUSTICE as a hallmark of what it means to
be a follower of Christ.

23. Middle Ages
During the late Middle Ages, taking advantage of cheap labor and
increased opportunities for trade, some people saw the possibility of
amassing great wealth. * St. Francis of Assisi rejected the rich life into
which he had been born. Instead, he chose voluntarily to live like the
poorest of the poor.
Franciscan movement:
He gained many followers for his movement – women and men who felt
drawn to live a simple life as the appropriate response to the call of the
Gospels. They radically lived out the gospel and the Christian principles
of JUSTICE.

24. Industrialization
Industrialization brought with it big city poverty. Many holy men and
women founded religious communities and Church organizations to
care for the homeless beggars, widows, orphans, the unschooled, and
the physically and mentally ill.

25. Rerum Novarum / On the Condition of Workers
(1891)
Marks an important date for modern Catholic teaching on justice. In
Europe, “the poor” especially meant factory workers and their families.
To call attention to their needs, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical letter
“Rerum Novarum” or “On the Condition of Workers”. Pope Leo XIII
made it clear that the Church intended to speak out on social &
economic issues & to serve as an advocate for the poor, as Jesus
himself was.
* Rerum Novarum began a trend that continues today. * It stands as the
1st of many official Church statements addressing issues of JUSTICE.

26. Church leaders continue to speak out for justice today. The Church
considers herself a strong voice calling for justice in the world. The
Church, in her ongoing battle against the lure of negative forces, does
not rest to be concerned with the world most especially when the
vulnerable and the weak are maltreated unjustly. She continues to be
the genuine hope of humanity through her active participation against
the injustices that the world is experiencing. Through her creative
initiatives that are fully inspired by divine promptings, the world, with all
its evil consequences, continues to survive and is able to project
charitable acts to the least, lost, and the last. Thus, the advent of CST
marks the remarkable and historic participation of the Church to the
sentiments of the world most particularly the marginalized poor. In
response, Church members are challenged to think about how
JUSTICE can manifest in living a moral life.