The Social Teachings of the Canadian Catholic Bishops
3. The Struggle Against Poverty
- The bishops criticized the government for neglecting the care of the poorest sectors of society
- They called for immediate action to eliminate poverty
The Social Teachings of the Canadian Catholic Bishops
4. The Common Good or Exclusion: A Choice for Canadians
- In a letter to the members of new Parliament, the bishops expressed their concern for the welfare of each person, especially the poor and less-fortunate
- In 1948, the bishops of Canada established the Commission for Social Action
- Its purpose was to help the bishops and People of God spread the gospel
- The 4 key teaching documents include:
1. Words to Action
- The struggle for justice is not optional; it is an integral part of bringing the gospel to the world
2. Ethical Choices and Political Challenges
- There is a struggle for a just society
- We must act in solidarity with one another so that we can transform social, economic, and political structures that cause injustices
Unit 6 - Theme 17
By the end of my presentation, you will be able to...
- Explain the concept of the Preferential Option for the Poor
- Identify the four key social teachings of the Canadian Bishops
The Preferential Option for the Poor
"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed."
- One of the basic principles of the Catholic Social Teaching
- A common theme in the social encyclicals
- Mirrors the idea that Jesus spoke about when he said: "Whatever you do to the least of my people, you have done to me." (Matthew 25:40)
- In a world ruled by competition, those who cannot compete are left behind
- We must take care of the people who need it most, stand by the poor, and satisfy them
Preferential Option for the Poor
By: Sydney Lilja
Quiz
Works Cited
1. The Preferential Option for the Poor is a common theme in the social __________.
Preferential Option for the Poor. Prod. David Henley. Perf.
encyclicals
Glenmarian Fr. John Rausch. Youtube. N.p., 14
Nov. 2011. Web. 1 June 2014.
bishops
2. In 1948, the _______ of Canada established the Commission for Social Action.
S., Abigail. "Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable."
Catholic Social Teaching. Tangient LLC., n.d. Web. 1
3. How many key documents were included in the social teachings?
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Canadian
4. What is the name of one of these documents?
Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d. Web. 01 June 2014.
- Words to Action, Ethical Choices and Political Changes, The Struggle Against Poverty, or The Common Good or Exclusion