UNIT 1: HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE HISTORY OF Jesus‘ words, deeds and suffering had for its aim

SALVATION restoring fallen man to his original vocation.

Lesson A: Human Dignity in the Story of This is a testament to the dignity of human beings
Creation that despite the Fall and sinful nature, God affirms,
transcends the elevated nature of humanity.
1. Human Beings as the Crowning Glory of God’s
Creation C. The Ultimate Destination of our Human
Pilgrimage:
A. First Creation Story - God Created of Man and To return to the Father: SCHEMA OF
Woman on the Sixth Day (Genesis 1:1-2:3) B. REDEMPTION
Second Creation Story - (Genesis 2:4-3:24)

2. Human Beings as Stewards of God’s Creation

- Both creation stories highlight the concept of
stewardship. D. Introductory Concepts on Man and Society
- In the first creation story, it is conveyed that - The human person is by nature a social being.
humanity is granted a role of lordship, They are relational beings, who are free and
entrusted with dominion over all of God's responsible, recognize the necessity of
creations (Genesis 1:26). integrating themselves in cooperation with
- In the second creation story, both man and fellow human beings, and who are capable of
woman are designated as caretakers in the communion with them.
garden (Genesis 2:18-23). Their creation is - They belong to various societies such as
prompted by the need for someone to till the family, civil and religious communities, and are
soil and cultivate the land (Genesis 2:5). bound together by a principle of unity and
common good.

“Man is a Political Animal” - Aristotle, Politics

“Homo Hominis Lupus Est” - Thomas Hobbes,

‘Leviathan’

1. The Individual and the Community

a. Each community is defined by its
Lesson B: Human Dignity in the Redemptive Act
purpose and consequently obeys
of Christ
specific rules; but “the human person . .
. is and ought to be the PRINCIPLE, the
PROTOEVANGELION - Genesis 3:15
Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of
SUBJECT and the END of all social
his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's institutions.”
entire life: - Catechism of the Catholic
● In Christ’s INCARNATION - The Word Church 1881
became Flesh 2. Justice vs. Injustice: Founding a Strong
● In His Hidden Life – Obedience Community
● In his preaching and teaching a. A just society can become a reality only
● In his deeds - healing and exorcism when it is based on the respect of every
● In his PASCHAL MYSTERY - In his passion, human person regardless of
death, RESURRECTION differences. “Hence, the social order
and its development must invariably
 work to the benefit of the human iii. - It helps guarantee human
person, since the order of things is to be rights.
subordinate to the order of persons, and 3. Society as a Network of Giving and
not the other way around… consider Receiving
every neighbor without exception as a. A society is a group of persons
another self, taking into account first of bound together organically by a
all his life and the means necessary for principle of unity that goes beyond
living it with dignity.” Gaudium et Spes, each one of them. As an assembly
1046-1047 that is at once visible and spiritual, a
b. Excessive intervention by the state can society endures through time... He
threaten personal freedom and rightly owes loyalty to the
initiative. The teaching of the Church communities of which he is part and
has elaborated the principle of respect to those in authority who
subsidiarity, according to which have charge of the common good. -
i. “a community of a higher Catechism of the Catholic Church,
order should not interfere in 1880
the internal life of a i. Society is a requirement of
community of a lower order, man‘s nature through
depriving the latter of its exchange, mutual service and
functions, but rather should dialogue with others. By this
support it in case of need and he develops and responds to
help to coordinate its activity his vocation – love for
with the activities of the rest neighbor and love for God.
of society, always with a view b. Both the Church and the State
to the common good.” - CCC recognize family as the most
1883 important unit of the society.
c. This “socialization” also expresses i. It is the original cell of social
the natural tendency for human life. A natural society in which
beings to associate with one another husband and wife are called
for the sake of attaining objectives to give themselves in love
that exceed individual capacities. It and in the gift of life... The
develops the qualities of the person, family is the community in
especially the sense of initiative and which, from childhood, one
responsibility, and helps guarantee can learn moral values, begin
his rights. - CCC 1882 (Mater et to honor God, and make good
Magistra, 60) use of freedom. Family life is
d. According to John Paul II, an initiation into life in society.
Centesimus Annus: Participation in - CCC 2207
Social Life expresses the natural c. Thus, the family must be helped and
tendency for human beings to defended by appropriate social
associate with one another for the measures. Where families cannot
sake of attaining capacities. fulfill their responsibilities, other
i. - It develops the qualities of social bodies have the duty of
the person. helping them and of supporting the
ii. - It brings about a sense of institution of the family.
social initiative and i. Following the principle of
responsibility. subsidiarity, larger
communities should take care
 not to usurp the family's the duty to defend and promote
prerogatives or interfere in its them.
life. - CCC 2209 c. Universal because they are present
E. Human Dignity as Inviolable and Inalienable in all human beings, without
Human dignity is considered inalienable and exception of time, place or subject.
inviolable because it reflects the inherent worth and d. Inviolable insofar as they are
value of every human being, regardless of inherent in the human person and in
circumstances. human dignity and because it would
be vain to proclaim rights, if at the
● Inalienable means that human dignity same time everything were not done
cannot be taken away or given up because it to ensure the duty of respecting them
is an inherent and fundamental quality of by all people, everywhere, and for all
being human. It is a universal aspect that people.
every person possesses simply by virtue of e. Inalienable insofar as no one can
existing, and no one has the authority to legitimately deprive another person,
remove or diminish it. whoever they may be, of these
rights, since this would do violence to
● Inviolable means that human dignity is to be their nature.
respected and protected without exception. A Brief Development of Human Dignity in
It signifies that no one should violate or Relation to Human Rights
infringe upon the inherent worth and rights of 1. dignitas by the early Romans & Cicero
individuals. This principle ensures that every 2. imago dei by St Leo the Great (mark of the
person's dignity remains untouched and that Divine)
they are entitled to be treated with respect 3. Great Chain of Beings (Hierarchy of Beings) by
and consideration at all times. St Thomas Aquinas

1. Human Dignity and Human Rights 2. The Universal Declaration of Rights

a. Persons sometimes exercise power a. The United Nations was established
in a way which dehumanizes other (1945) on accounts of horrors
persons. For this reason Christian experienced during the World War 2
ethical reflection has arrived at the particularly from Nazi regime and
category of human rights. Human Imperial Japan. It recognizes the
rights are a mechanism to control dignity of every person in Universal
the exercise of power so that it Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
does not become dehumanizing of The Preamble and first three articles
persons. of the declaration serve as the
i. Human rights may be defined foundation of succeeding rights on
as those fundamental rights the list
of human beings which are 3. The Catholic Social Teaching’s View on
essential to the exercise of Human Rights Human Dignity is the
human dignity. Foundation of Catholic Social Teaching.
b. These rights are possessed by a. - The permanent validity of the
human beings by the mere fact of Catholic Church's social teaching
their being human. They are inherent admits of no doubt. This teaching
in their nature, and far from being rests on one basic principle:
privileges by society or by the state, individual human beings are the
instead society and the state have foundation, the cause and the end of
every social institution. That is
 necessarily so, for men are by nature
social beings... On this basic
principle, which guarantees the
sacred dignity of the individual, the
Church constructs her social
teaching. - John XXII, Mater et
Magistra 218-220
ii.

Unit II: SOCIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH AND

THE COMMITMENT OF THE LAY FAITHFUL

Lesson A: The Social Mission of the Church

● The origin and foundation of the Social
Mission of the Church are rooted in the
Judeo-Christian Tradition
● Beginning of Christ mission (Luke 4: 18-19)
b.
A Christian Mandate: Jesus set an example
c. “May allow us to build a world where
for his followers to continue (John 13:15)
every human being will feel accepted
○ “The joys and the hopes, the griefs
in his/her full dignity, and where
and the anxieties of the men of this
relations among persons and among
age, especially those who are poor in
peoples are based on respect,
any way afflicted, these are the joys
dialogue and solidarity.”
and hopes, the griefs and anxieties
d. The chart depicts the levels of rights
of the followers of Christ.” Gaudium
and the relationships between them
et Spes, 1.
according to the rights theory found
● Isaiah 32:16-17 - Yahweh is a righteous
in the encyclical, Pacem in Terris.
God in the Old Testament so He encourages
Rights theory in the social tradition
His people as well to become just and
recognizes the importance of the
righteous in order to realize peace or the
social nature of the person and role
Hebrew shalom (over-all harmony) in His
that context plays in the promotion
Kingdom.
and guarantee of rights.
e. List of human Rights Cited from
the Church Documents

●
● In the New Testament, Jesus Christ
i. proclaims that the Kingdom of God is
already at hand and the Beatitudes
(Matthew 5: 3-10) are the ways to attain its
fullness. Thus the proclamation entails
renewal and righteousness by witnessing
the Gospel. God reigns where the divine will
is done. (Luke 11:2-4)
● The Gospel shows in an abundance of texts i. The Church in the Philippines
that Jesus was not indifferent or extraneous is expected to advocate
to the problem of the dignity and rights of the impartiality, reject
human person, nor to the needs of the discrimination, and foster
weakest, the neediest, and the victims of unity. It must promote respect
injustice. for diversity, allowing all to
● Jesus‘ concern was not limited to the contribute and participate.
forgiveness of sins: At all times He stressed This requires recognizing
a real solidarity with the poorest and lowliest people's potential, rights, and
(Matthew 11:28-30). He cured the sick, supportive societal structures.
lepers and blind men, and many more. He ii. "Duc in Altum" (Put out into
fed thousands of hungry people. He the deep, Lk. 5:4) signifies
personally took upon Himself the description immersion and awareness of
of the Suffering Messiah as foretold by current signs, enabling
Isaiah. individuals to draw others
● The social mission of the Church is rooted in toward the Kingdom of God.
the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ to As with Jesus' apostles, we
love and serve by promoting and protecting too are "fishers of men"
the wellbeing of the human persons. through our faith-based
● Just like the mission of Jesus Christ, the witness
mission of the Church to the society is d. ‘Respect’ versus discrimination from
threefold: ‘Me-mentality’ to a culture of Care
How can the Church through her
faithful become an advocate of
respect?
● i. The Church, as a AGENT OF
HOPE AND
1. The Church and the Questions of ‘Just TRANSFORMATION, follows
Relations’ Among People Christ's directive to disciple
a. The Church in the Philippines has all nations through baptism
been known as the forerunner of (Matthew 28:19). Baptism
truth and justice among the Filipinos calls Christian members to
regardless of ethnicity, gender and live a holiness reflective of
religion. Jesus' disciples (Metanoia).
b. It is not to be identified with any Discipleship is the core
political partisan in order to become calling giving meaning to the
a credible herald of peace, justice Church's mission.
and truth; and proponent of unawa ii. As Jesus' disciples, we unite
(understanding), awa (mercy) and with God and others and are
gawa (deeds) among people tasked with spreading the
particularly the marginalized Good News of the Kingdom.
c. ‘Respect’ versus discrimination from The Synod of Bishops
‘Me-mentality’ to a culture of Care emphasized the link between
How can the Church through her the Gospel and justice,
faithful become an advocate of declaring that advocating
respect? justice and transforming the
world are integral aspects of
Gospel preaching. The
 Church truly fulfills its Gospel
mission by teaching justice's
demands.
e. ‘Respect’ versus discrimination
from ‘Me-mentality’ to a culture of
Care How can the culture of care be
achieved?
i. Dying towards one self
(Matthew 16:24-26; John
12:24)
ii. St. Thomas Aquinas -
practical reasonableness - a
criterion in choosing - it points
towards the universality of the
second greatest
commandment according to
Jesus: Love your neighbor
as you love yourself.
2.