THEOLOGY 3:
CHRISTIAN VISION OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIETY:
THE RESPONSE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH & THE
DUTY OF THE LAY FAITHFUL TO THE SOCIETY
Bryan B. Albia Instructor
How do I respond to the Social Teachings of the Church
A. Rationalizing the Church’s Involvement
Due to current challenges and
issues that exist in our
contemporary society like massive
poverty, inequality, discrimination,
racism, gap between the rich and
the poor and environmental
degradation, the Church is called
to be involved in responding and
eradicating those social concerns
in order to become effective
herald of the Gospel.
B. Global Realities of the Church’s Involvement
Due to global concerns like
war, hunger, poverty, global
warming, climate change,
apathy; and challenges
brought about by
secularism, materialism,
neo-liberalism and
globalization, the Church is
called to be involved in
responding to those issues.
C. Local Realities of the Church’s Involvement
The Church is also called
to be involved in
promoting justice,
solidarity and the
common good through
active participation and
cooperation in community
development, promotion
of human dignity, justice,
peace, and environmental
education.
DUTY OF THE LAY FAITHFUL TO THE SOCIETY
A. As One Church
• It is the proper duty of the lay faithful to
proclaim the Gospel with an exemplary
witness of life rooted in Christ and lived
in temporal realities: the family; in the
world of work, culture, science, and
research; the exercise of social, economic
and political responsibilities.
• The lay faithful are called to cultivate an
authentic lay spirituality by which they
are reborn as new men and women, both
sanctified and sanctifiers, immersed in
the mystery of God and inserted in
society.
A. As One Church
• Prompted by such spirituality, the lay
faithful are able to contribute to the
sanctification of the world, as from
within like leaven, by fulfilling their
own particular duties.
• The role of the laity is in a special way
to “seek the Kingdom of God by
engaging in temporal affairs and
ordering them according to the plan
of God. As such, lay men and women
are in a unique position to bring their
faith into all areas of society.
In their own way, the
laity participate in
the priestly,
prophetic and kingly
mission of the
Church by virtue of
their Baptism and
Confirmation.
B. Promoting the Culture of Dialogue
• The sacred dignity of each person
and the call to love one’s neighbor as
an essential element of one’s love of
God combine to demand that all
differences be explored and all
conflicts be addressed through
respectful dialogue.
• This applies to religious differences
as well as political, economic, social
and cultural ones.
B. Promoting the Culture of Dialogue
• Only through patient, respectful
dialogue do people grow beyond
the limitations of their
experience, perceptions, opinions
and values.
• Each person is a unique part of
the tapestry of creation, of the
mosaic of the human family.
• Only through dialogue can new
level of understanding and
appreciation be achieved in the
human community.
B. Promoting the Culture of Dialogue
• The art of dialogue is effective among
Filipinos because they are used to
start small talk like: Saan ka pupunta?
(Where are you going?), Kumusta?
(How are you?), OK ka lang ba? (Are
you OK?)
• They are also comfortable to engage
with serious conversation or dialogue.
This is the reason why they have a
saying that: “Walang hindi nadadaan
sa mabubuting usapan.” Every
problem (issue or conflict) can be
settled through a peaceful dialogue.
C. Translating Faith into our Thoughts, Words and Actions
• From Curiosity to Advocacy
• As Catholics, we need to witness our faith not
only by word of mouth
but by concrete actions. Thus, we need to walk
our talk.
• The first step in translating faith into action is
by being aware of existing social problems and
concerns through series of exposures and
immersions.
• Followed by personal expression of
commitment in initiating and organizing
advocacy projects related to human promotion
and development.
C. Translating Faith into our Thoughts, Words and Actions
• b. Salamanca Congress: Dominicans in the Promotion
and Defense of Human Rights
• This congress is an integral part of this “Salamanca
Process” in bringing leaders of Dominican
intellectual institutions together for the promotion
and defense of human rights.
• Hopefully it will result in a deeper integration of the
intellectual and apostolic life of the Dominican
Family through concrete projects of collaboration
with the following objectives:
• Recover the history of the involvement of
Dominicans in the promotion and defense of
human rights;
C. Translating Faith into our Thoughts, Words and Actions
• b. Salamanca Congress: Dominicans in the Promotion
and Defense of Human Rights (continuation)
• identify and evaluate the current engagement of
Dominicans in the promotion and defense of human
rights at the academic level and at a practical level on
the ground;
• develop networks and policies that will enable the
promotion and defense of human rights to be integral
to Dominican preaching of intellectual and apostolic
life; and
• promote networks of collaboration at the zonal,
regional and international levels through concrete
projects in defense of groups whose rights are
violated.
C. Translating Faith into our Thoughts, Words and Actions
• c. UST-OCD-Simbahayanan (TOMAS) Experience
• The University of Santo Tomas, through the
Office of Community Development –
Simbahayan has conducted community
organizing through their partner communities.
• UST has been successful in utilizing TOMAS
experience in implementing its projects and
programs.
• UST offers training in organizing, management,
program and project analysis to become
systematic in the field of community
engagement.
UST IR offers training and community
building through CREED,
Aral, Asal at Dasal, among others.
Assessment:
• Write a one page reflection paper
discussing: Examine situation in
your parish, and discern how can
it be improved?
• 11” font Times New Roman, 1.5
spacing, 1x1x1x1 margins in a
short bond paper.
• To be submitted next meeting.
• Note for the Teacher: online submission can be
done using UST E-Leap.
