SAINT MICHAEL COLLEGE, CANTILAN, INCORPORATED

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

College Department

LEARNING MODULE
in
REL ED 3 – CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS AND APOSTOLIC INVOLVEMENT

I. MODULE NO. 1 : THE SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF CATHOLIC

CHURCH
II. INTRODUCTION
This module is composed of two topics. The first topic dwells on the church’s mission
and social doctrine. It starts with a discussion of the nature of the Church’s social doctrines, the
Church’s task of evangelization and the church’s social doctrine in the past and in the present
time. The second topic discusses on the principles of the church’s social doctrine. It enumerates
the principles and discusses in further detail each of these principles.

III. TOPICS
1. Church’s Mission and Social Doctrine
2. Principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine

IV. TIME FRAME : 6 hours

V. OBJECTIVES
1. Church’s Mission and Social Doctrine
1.1 Define the nature of the Church task of evangelization.
1.2 Present the nature of the Church’s Social doctrine
1.3 Describe the historical social doctrine of the Church in the past and present time.
2. Principles of Church’s social doctrine
2.1 Define the meaning and unity of the social doctrine of the Church
2.2 Illustrate each of the principles by explaining the concepts of common good,
Universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, participation, solidarity, fundamental
values of human life
2.3 Describe the social doctrine of the church as a way of love.

VI. SUMMARY OF TOPICS

1. Church Mission and Social Doctrine

The Church, sharing in mankind’s joys and hopes, in its anxieties and sadness, stands with
every man and woman of every place and time, to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God.

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 With her social teaching, the Church seeks to proclaim the Gospel and make it present in
the complex network of social relations. It is not simply a matter of reaching out to man in society
– man as the recipient of the proclamation of the Gospel—but of enriching and permeating society
itself with the Gospel. By means of her social doctrine, the Church takes on the task of
proclaiming what the Lord has entrusted to her. She makes the message of the freedom and
redemption wrought by Christ, the Gospel of the Kingdom, present in human history. With her
social doctrine not only does the Church not stray from her mission but she is rigorously faithful
to it.
The Church’s social doctrine is an integral part of her evangelizing ministry. It is itself a
valid instrument of evangelization and is born of the always new meeting of the Gospel message
and social life. The Church does not assume responsibility for every aspect of life in society, but
speaks with the competence that is hers, which is that of proclaiming Christ the Redeemer. With
her social doctrine, the Church aims at helping man on the path of salvation. The Church has the
right to be a teacher for mankind, a teacher of the truth of faith: the truth not only of dogmas but
also of the morals whose source lies in human nature itself and in the Gospel. This right of the
Church is at the same time a duty, because she cannot forsake this responsibility without denying
herself and her fidelity to Christ.

VII. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Topic 1 – Activity/Assignment (20 pts)
1. Read the Church encyclical “Sollicitudo Rei Socialis” by St Pope John Paul II
1987. You can access it in www.ewtn.com/encyclicalsollicitudoreisocialis
2. List down the concerns on social issues and discuss them based on the concerns of
the Church found in the encyclical..
3. Read the Church encyclical “Populorum Progressio” by St Pope Paul VI 1967.
You can access it in www.ewtn.com/encyclicalpopulorumprogressio
4. List down the Church concerns on social issues and discuss them based on the
concerns of the Church as found in the encyclical..

SUMMARY OF TOPIC
2. Principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine
The permanent principles of the Church’s social doctrine constitute the very heart of
Catholic social teaching. These are the principles of : the dignity of the human person, which is
the foundation of all the other principles and content of the Church’s social doctrine; the
common good, subsidiarity; and solidarity.
These are principles of a general and fundamental character, since they concern the
reality of society in its entirety: from economics and law; from relationships among communities
and groups to relations between peoples and nations. These principles in their entirety constitute
that primary articulation of the truth of society by which every conscience is challenged and

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invited to interact with every other conscience in truth, in responsibility shared fully with all
people and also regarding all people. These principles have a profoundly moral significance
because they refer to the ultimate and organizational foundations of life in society.
What are the principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine?
1. Principle of the common good as the sum total of social conditions which allow people,
either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.
2. Principle of universal destination of goods as common effort to obtain for every person
and for all peoples the conditions necessary for integral development, so that everyone can
contribute to making a more humane world.
3. Principle of subsidiarity as societies of a superior order adopting an attitude of help
(subsidium), support, promotion, development to lower order societies
4. Principle of solidarity as intrinsic social nature of the human person, the equality of all in
dignity and rights and the common path of individuals and peoples towards an ever more
committed unity.
5. Principle of participation as the free and responsible exercise of civic role with and for
others under the pillars of democratic order and permanent democratic system.
6. Principle of the fundamental values of human life as the reciprocity between principles
and values attributed to the aspect of moral good protecting social values of truth, freedom,
justice and love.
Compendium on Social Doctrine of the Church

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Topic 2 – Activity/Assignment: (20 pts.)
1. Read the Church encyclical ―Rerum Novarum‖ by Pope Leo XIII 1891. You can
access it in www.ewtn.com/encyclical rerum novarum
Identify the concerns of the Church on seven social issues and discuss them in your
reaction paper about them as found in the encyclical.
2. Read the Church encyclical ―Quadragesimo Anno‖ by Pope Pius XI 1931. You can
access it in www.ewtn.com/encyclical quadragesimo anno
3. Identify the Church concerns on four social issues and discuss them in your
reaction paper on those concerns as found in the encyclical..
4. Read the Church encyclical ―Mater et Magistra‖ by St Pope John XXIII 1960. You
can access it in www.ewtn.com/encyclical mater et magistra
5. Identify the Church concerns on five social issues and discuss them in your
reaction paper on those concerns as found in the encyclical..

VIII. SELF EVALUATION (SYNTHESIS OF THE MODULE) (20 pts.)

Write an explanation on each of the following questions/ statements:

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 1. Describe the nature of the Church’s task of evangelization
2. Explain the nature of the Church’s Social Doctrine
3. Describe the circumstances that brought about the Social Doctrine of the Church
4. Enumerate and explain the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church rooted in
the Incarnate Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer.
5. Explain how the Social Doctrine of the Church is a way of love.

IX. TEST (20 pts)

Part I Modified Multiple Choice: Choose the correct answer from the answers below that
matches the statement and write the word or phrase on the blank space before each item.
___________1. Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore has
inherent dignity.
___________2. Every person should have sufficient access to the goods and resources of society so that
they can completely and easily live fulfilling lives
___________3. All people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives
___________4. Everyone belongs to one human family, regardless of their national, religious, ethnic,
economic, political and ideological differences
___________5. Caring for the poor is everyone’s responsibility
___________6. Economic life is not meant solely for profit, but rather in service of the entire human
community
___________7. We must all respect, care for and share the resources of the earth, which are vital for the
common good of people.
___________8. All Peace requires respect for and the development of human life, which in turn
involves the safeguarding of the goods, dignity and freedom of people.
___________9. The fulfillment of God’s will in the world and its history.
___________10. The intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through their
integration in Christian in the various human cultures.
___________11. One that identified with the poor and strives to alleviate the suffering and
ignorance of the poor materially and intellectually.
___________12. An assignment by a religious organization to spread the faith to all nation.
___________13. One devoted to spreading the Gospel either to those who have not heart it or to
those who have rejected it.
___________14. Covers all spheres of life – the economic, political, personal and spiritual geared
towards the authentic development of every human person in the world
___________15. The pastoral constitution of the Church in the Modern World.
(solidarity/ common good/ stewardship of creation/ promotion of peace/ economic justice/
subsidiarity and participation/ preferential option for the poor/ dignity of the human person/
Gaudium et Spes/ missionary activity/ missionary/ mission/ inculturation/ Catholic social
Teaching/ Church of the Poor).

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Part II. Answer each of the following questions (20 pts)
1. Explain how the whole social teachings of the Catholic Church find its roots and foundation in
the dignity of the human person.
2. Explain the concept and definition of the Common Good.

X. REFERENCES
BOOKS
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Word and Life Publications. Makati. 2004

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Catechism for Filipino Catholics

Vatican Council II The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents

WEBSITE
https://www.ewtn.com/catholic-church -social-doctrines
https://www.ewtn.com/vatican II.Gaudium- et- Spes
https://www.ewtn.com/vatican II.Lumen- Gentium
https://www.caritas.org.au/about/catholic-social-teaching-values

Prepared by:

FRANTOR B FERNANDEZ, LPT, ED.D.

Instructor (smart 09474589713; globe 09169277572)
Email: [email protected] FB Frantor Fernandez

Checked by:

ISABELITA O. URBIZTONDO, MATE

Liberal Arts Program Head

Approved by:

GERMANA A. ORZALES, PH.D

Dean, Teacher Education, Arts and Sciences