Questioning the efficacy of one hundred years of catholic social teaching: The intrinsic connection between faith and justice

Abstract

The issue of the value of Catholic social teaching is addressed by asking four questions: 1) Why were the documents of the tradition written? 2) What specific solutions are proposed? 3) Who is the intended audience? 4) How has the tradition altered the way people actually live? The primary conclusion is that in order to assess accurately and interpret correctly the tradition of Catholic social thought, one must always bear in mind the inseparable connection between action on behalf of justice and the demands of fidelity to the Gospel. Three practical conclusions follow from the essential unity of faith and action for justice: 1) The need to integrate social justice into the Church's liturgical life; 2) the need to unite faith and justice on a personal and structural level; and 3) the advisability of addressing and empowering the poor directly in the documents of the tradition as well as in the Church's liturgical life.