St. Peter's
Seminary

THEOLOGY 5231A / RELIGIOUS STUDIES 2234F
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL TEACHING

2012

Wednesday 9:30 - 11:20 AM
Room 102, St. Peter's Seminary

Instructor: REV. FRANK O'CONNOR, BA, MA, BTh, STM, STL, MTh

[Phone 519-432-1824 ext. 235; email tfoconno@uwo.ca]
[Office Hours by Appointment, so please contact the above number or address]

THEOLOGY 5231A [Antirequisite 231A and 211A]
ARTS: RELIGIOUS STUDIES 2234F [Antirequisite: the former Religious Studies 234F]

GOALS: 

1. To examine the meaning, content, methodologies and practical implications of Christian Social Teaching.
2. To focus our exploration principally on Catholic Social Teaching while also considering other faith based and secular approaches.
3. To give particular attention to the social, historical and methodological factors related to the development of these teachings.
4. To become aware of some of the social problems of our time and our milieu, to reflect on them in the light of the Church’s teaching, to discuss these issues and to discover possible avenues of hope-filled, just action.

A. KNOWLEDGE:

B. SKILLS:

1. To be able to understand and interpret the historical development of the Church’s Christian Social teaching in the broader ecclesial and secular historical context.
2. To be able read and analyze the Church’s Social documents.
3. To be able to understand and apply appropriately Christian and theological social principles in concrete social analysis.
4. To develop the practical skill of working with others in applying different methods of social analysis: for example “See, Judge, Act”.
5. To develop the oral and writing skills needed to articulate clearly and faithfully the Christian Social Teaching and its practical application to specific issues and problems.

C. VALUES and ATTITUDES:

1. To appreciate the importance of the Church’s Social Teaching as an integral and constitutive part of the total doctrine of the Catholic Church.
2. To develop a sense of solidarity with, and love for, the poor by making a preferential option for the poor and oppressed rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ.
3. To appreciate the need for justice and peace in our global and local world, and the urgency for those in the Church to work for these values with all people of good will.
4. To value the connection between spirituality and social justice in forming agents for social change with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ.

METHODOLOGY:

The course includes reading, lectures, discussion, student presentations and papers.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Read and study the required texts.
2. Read and be conversant with the supplementary material indicated in the class lectures, for example articles, videos, interviews, etc.
3. Enter into class discussions.
4. Complete the required papers, seminars and tests.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

The Social Attitudes of a Catholic: Revised Edition by Michael T. Ryan. Solidarity Books, 2010: 1688 County Rd. 46, R.R. 1, Woodslee, ON N0R 1V0. (Will be available for purchase at the first class or can be ordered directly from the author). 

RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL TEXT:

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church by Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: Ottawa, Ontario, 2005. (Available at UWO Bookstore).

[Note:  These three texts are used for both the first and second semesters of this course.]

CHRISTIAN SOCIAL TEACHING I
FIRST SEMESTER

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2012  

PART I:  FIRST SEMESTER - TOPIC OUTLINE

[Theology 5321A; Religious Studies 2234F]

1.	Introduction:     Social Analysis and Christian Catholic Social Teachings
2.	Magisterial Documents:    i.  Rerum Novarum 1891 [The Condition of Labour]   ii.  Quadragesimo Anno 1931 [The Reconstruction of the Social Order]  iii.   Mater et Magistra 1961 [Christianity and Social Progress]  iv.   Pacem in Terris 1963 [Peace on Earth]   v.  Caritas in Veritate 2009 [On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth]
3.	Theological Doctrine and Principles
	i. Theology of Social Action a. The Dignity of the Human Person b. The Person as the Image of God c. The Person as Social Being d. The Reign of God and the Mission of the Church ii.  The Spirituality of Social Justice iii.  Christian Social Principles a. Human Person b. Human Society c. Common Good d. Human Rights and Law iv.  Property: Meaning and Use
4.	Social Issues:  Analysis and Practice: Seminar and Paper i.  Poverty in the World ii. Canadian Social Issues
5.	Group Study and Work Involvement in group work and study with other members of the class.
6.	Personal Research: Written assignments

 PART II: SECOND SEMESTER - TOPIC OUTLINE

[Theology 5232B; Religious Studie 2235G] 

ASSIGNMENTS AND MARKING: FIRST SEMESTER

A. MARKING AND WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS 

A purely theoretical instruction in humankind's social and economic obligations is inadequate.  Practical training must also be given in the proper fulfillment of these obligations.  (Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, #230)

 1.    PAPER #1  [15 Marks]

Analysis of an assigned text from Caritas in Veritate 2009 [On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth] - Introduction, Chapters 1, 2, 3

DUE:  SEPTEMBER 26, 2012  [15 Marks]  [Paper Due at the end of Class]

This paper is based on an assigned section of the encyclical letter of Pope Benedict, Caritas in Veritate 2009 [On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth], taken from the Introduction, Chapters 1, 2, 3.

It is 2-3 pages in length.  [1000-1500 words using font 12]

The paper is to have Three parts:

Part One is an accurate summary of two teachings contained in the assigned section.  [JUDGE]
Part Two is one concrete application of the teachings to an important social issue in Canada or beyond.  [SEE and ACT]
Part Three is to formulate one question that arises out of your study.

2.    PAPER #2  [15 Marks]

Analysis of an assigned text from Caritas in Veritate 2009 [On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth]. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and Conclusion

DUE:  OCTOBER 3, 2012  [15 Marks]    [Paper Due at the end of Class]

This paper is based on an assigned section of the encyclical letter of Pope Benedict, Caritas in Veritate 2009 [On Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth], taken from Chapters 4, 5, 6 and Conclusion.

It is 2-3 pages in length.  [1000-1500 words using font 12]

The paper is to have Three parts:

Part One is an accurate summary of two teachings contacined in the assigned section.  [JUDGE]
Part Two is one concrete application of the teachings to an important social issue in Canada or beyond.  [SEE and ACT]
Part Three is to formulate one question that arises out of your study.

3.   MID-TERM TEST - (One Hour, in class) - OCTOBER 31, 2012  [35 Marks]

4.   FINAL EXAM

A.	PAPER #3 - [Only for those in Religious Studies 2234F] Take home exam will be distributed on Wednesdday, November 28th, 2012 and is due at the end of the class: DECEMBER 5, 2012 [35 Marks]
OR
B.	ORAL EXAM [Only for those in Theology 5231A] This oral exam will be during the exam period and will follow the outline distributed at the end of the course. [35 Marks]

5.   MARKING:

Theology 5231A
Paper #1	15 Marks
Paper #2	15 Marks
Mid-term Test	35 Marks
Oral Exam	35 Marks
	100 Marks

 

 

 

 

Religious Studies 2234F
Paper #1	15 Marks
Paper #2	15 Marks
Mid-term Test	35 Marks
Paper #3  [Take-home exam]	35 Marks
	100 Marks

 

 

 

  

 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS REQUIREMENTS:

1.  The Three Papers

Paper #1 is 2 to 3 pages in length.  [1000-1500 words using font 12]  [For everyone]
Paper #2 is 2 to 3 pages in length.  [1000-1500 words using font 12]  [For everyone]
Paper #3 is Take-Home Exam [Only for those in RS 2234F]

2.  Policies regarding Submission of Assignments and Tests

a. It is the responsibility of the student to organize his or her work so that the assignments can be completed on time.
b. Assignments are to be handed in at the class on the due date. Assignments may not be dropped off at King’s or submitted electronically.
c. For a serious reason, a student may be granted an extension. On the form provided, the student is to write a brief explanation of the reason for the extension. This is to be signed by the teacher, with the extended date noted. A copy of the extension notice is given to the Dean.
d. Any medical reasons will be confirmed by proper documentation as approved by the Dean’s Office.
e. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment will be deducted for each day it is overdue without permission.
f. No electronic devices will be allowed during tests or the examination, unless approved in advance by Student Services at the University or King’s. (This refers to students with disabilities who have permission to use a word processor to write their exams/tests.)
g. Students who miss tests will negotiate a "make-up" date with the professor. Any medical reasons will be confirmed by proper documentation as approved by the Dean’s Office.

3.  Internet References

If references are given from internet sites the exact designation of the site must be given along with a hard copy of the page from which the qote is taken or to which the reference is made.

4.  Academic Offenses

a. "Scholastic offenses are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offense, at the following web site: "http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf.“          

b. "All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).”

     

5. MLA Style

The MLA Style (Modern Language Association) is to be used in writing your papers: in the Bibliography/Works Cited and in the quotations in the text.

 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES

 

1. Official Church Documents

 

Documents of the Popes.  See http://www.vatican.va/holyfather

Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace: The Social Agenda: A Collection of Magisterial Texts, Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vatican, 2000 [This whole document is found atwww.thesocialagenda.org and www.thesocialagenda.com].

 

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops [CCCB]:  "The Struggle Against Poverty: A Sign of Hope for our World" [1996].  [On Reserve]  See www.cccb.ca

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops [CCCB] [Social Affairs Commission]; "Responsibility and Discernment: Election [2004]", Origins, April 29, 2004 Vol. 33: No. 46, p. 785 [On Reserve]

* Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops [CCCB]: [Permanent Council] "Pastoral Letter on Freedom of Conscience and Religion" [April 2012]  [On Reserve] See www.cccb.ca

Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario [ACBO] (Previously Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops - OCCB): Choosing a Government, [Pentecost 1998] Toronto: Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1998. See http://www.acbo.on.ca/englishweb/publications.htm

Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario [ACBO] (Previously  Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops - OCCB): Taking Stock: an Examination of Conscience (2007). See http://www.acbo.on.ca/englishweb/publications.htm

2. Other References 

Dwyer, Judith A., Editor. The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought. Collegeville, Minn.: Michael Glazier Book, The Liturgical Press, 1994.  [In the Reference Section of the Library]

Finn, Daniel K., Editor. The True Wealth of Nations - Catholic Social Thought. Oxford University Press, 2010

 

Himes, Kenneth R. O.F.M., Editor Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2005.

ISARC - Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition. Faith to End Poverty Campaign. 2011 See www.isarc.ca and www.faithtoendpoverty.ca
[Helpful material to prepare for the Provincial Election on October 6, 2011]

 

McCarthy, David Matzko, Editor. The Heart of Catholic Social Teaching.Brazos Press, 2009.

 

Pabst, Adrian, Editor. The Crisis of Global Capitalism: Pope Benedict XVI’s Social Encyclical and the Future of Political Economy.  Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2011

Ryan, M. T. Solidarity: Christian Social Teaching and Canadian Society, Second Edition, London ON: Guided Studies Programs in the Catholic Faith, 1990.  (On Reserve]

Walsh, Michael and Brian Davies, Editors. Proclaiming Justice and Peace: Papal Documents from Rerum Novarum through Centesimus Annus.   Mystic, Conn.: Twenty Third Publications, 1991. [Note: The index is more complete than in our text.] [On reserve]