1) Today's society is marred by selfishness that undermines human dignity. Issues highlighted in Pope Francis' writings like economic difficulties, lack of housing, industrialization, and consumerism exacerbate social challenges.
2) Social problems include migration, abuse, violence, exploitation of the vulnerable, and spiritual poverty. The cries of the poor call us to interior change and caring for those in need.
3) True solidarity, social justice, and sharing for the common good value every human person and counter the "idolatry of money" and inequality that destroy society.
3. Today’s society is
marred by the ugliness
of selfishness
extended to structures,
institutions and society
as a whole. The dignity
of the human person is
undermined by marks
of self-centeredness
and personal gain.
4. Societal Realities
Across countries, we see inevitably the state
of our society as a whole. These are
saddening actualities evident in our social and
physical environment. Some challenges are
described in Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia:
5. Economic Difficulties
On lack of gainful employment that assures
provision for the family
At times families suffer terribly when, faced with the illness of a loved one,
they lack access to adequate health care, or struggle to find dignified
employment.
On housing
On Industrialization, Consumerism,
Overpopulation
Added to this are other factors such as “industrialization, the sexual
revolution, the fear of overpopulation and economic problems
The lack of dignified and affordable housing…(AL 44)
7. Abuse and Violence
sexual exploitation of children
violence due to
war, terrorism
the presence of
organized
crime sexual abuse
of children
spread of
pornography
commercializati
on of the body
general feeling
of
powerlessness cohabitation
8. Undermining the Dignity of the Human Person
The elderly who are
vulnerable and
dependent are at times
unfairly exploited
simply for economic
advantage. (AL 48)
The verbal, physical, and sexual
violence that women endure…
(AL 54)
9. Spiritual Battle
One of the symptoms
of the great poverty of
contemporary culture
is loneliness, arising
from the absence of
God in a person’s life
and the fragility of
relationships. (AL 43)
10. The Cries of the Poor
Pope Francis is a prime
mover in the 21st century
on Building the Church of
the Poor. Interior change
anchored on God’s
mercy is manifested by
caring for the person in
need.
11. Inequality
“Inequality is the root of all evil.”
Pope Francis tweet, April 28, 2014.
Let us say NO to an economy of exclusion and
inequality, where money rules, rather than service.
That economy kills. That economy excludes. That
economy destroys Mother Earth.
(7/9/15, Popular Movements)
12. Idolatry of money
People have to struggle to
live and, frequently, to live in
an undignified way. One
cause of this situation, in my
opinion, is in the our
relationship with money, and
our acceptance of its power
over ourselves and our
society. (Pope Francis,
5/16/13)
13. 3) Ideology
The poor person, when loved, “is
esteemed as of great value”,[168]
and this is what makes the
authentic option for the poor differ
from any other ideology, from any
attempt to exploit the poor for one’s
own personal or political interest.
15. Solidarity
Solidarity, as a moral virtue and social
attitude born of personal conversion, calls
for commitment on the part of those
responsible for education and formation.
16. Social Justice
The virtue that inclines
one to co-operate with
others in order to help
make the institutions
of society better serve
the common good.
17. Sharing for the Common Good
This is one of the essential services that
people of good will must render to
humanity. The earth, in fact, can produce
enough to nourish all its inhabitants, on
the condition that the rich countries do
not keep for themselves what belongs to
all.
Audience to seven new ambassadors to the Holy See, June 16, 2005, Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI
19. On September 1, 2016, Pope Francis has added a new
work of mercy for Catholics to perform: caring for our
common home, the planet and all its inhabitants.
“The first step in this process is to humbly
acknowledge the harm we are doing
to the earth through pollution, the scandalous
destruction of ecosystems
and loss of biodiversity, and the spectre of
climate change—which seems
nearer and more dangerous with each
passing year. And to realize that when
we hurt the earth, we also hurt the poor,
whom God loves without limit”
20. Conclusion
St. Francis of Assisi reminds us,
“Remember that when you leave
this earth you can take nothing of
what you’ve received but only of
what you’ve given: a full heart,
enriched by honest service, love,
sacrifice, and courage.”
The cure for selfishness is
sharing and a deepening sense
for the common good for one
and all (cf. Acts 2:42-47).
