Catholic Social Teaching and Culture<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConsumerism<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCaring for Our Common Home<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/div>\n\nReligion is the Foundation of Culture<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe are Experiencing a Profound Human Crisis<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRadical Secularism<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/div>\n\nAlienation<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Idols<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Most Important\u00a0Structure of Society<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe are experiencing a profound human crisis.<\/br>Our problems originate \u201cin the denial of the primacy of the human person!
We have created new idols.\"<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis, 55<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Priest](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_182832615-1024x683.jpeg\" "\\"Priest")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tKey Insight<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II established the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these -\u00a0culture is the most important<\/strong>: \"All human activity takes place within a culture and interacts with culture.\" (Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tREAD MORE<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\"Man remains above all a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth\u2026From this\u2026the culture of a nation derives its character.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0\"<\/span>At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God. Different cultures are basically different ways of facing the question of the meaning of personal existence.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Religious](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/prayer-resize-1024x760.jpg\" "\\"Religious")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntegral Human Development<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Development must not be understood solely in economic terms, but in a way that is fully human.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29) <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[A]uthentic human development concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension.\"\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 11)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[P]olitics and economy cannot be reduced to mere technical know-how bereft of ideals and unconcerned with the transcendent dimension of man...\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 10)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"The apex of development is the exercise of the right and duty to seek God, to know him and to live in accordance with that knowledge.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Churchgoers](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_240840008-1.jpeg\" "\\"AdobeStock_240840008-1\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tReligion and Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs Pope St. John Paul II pointed out:\u00a0Religion is at the foundation of culture<\/strong>.\u00a0Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching makes clear: the health of a\u00a0culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\nAbsent that, \u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cEvery good and worthwhile human activity is in some way a reflection of God\u2019s infinite beauty.\u201d (Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Homeless](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Kochi_India_slums-cropped-1.jpg\" "\\"Kochi_India_slums-cropped\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPathologies in Our Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching points out four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019 in our current culture: (Click each to learn more)<\/em><\/p>\n\n- Pathologies Overview <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Consumerism <\/strong><\/a><\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- The Ecological Question<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (distinguishing the physical and human environment)\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- Alienation<\/strong><\/a> (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 53)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Radical Secularism & Relativism<\/strong> (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, #3)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
FAQs<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: Why did Pope St. John Paul II add culture to what constitutes society?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Prior to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching viewed society as the interplay among\u00a0politics\/government and economics<\/strong>.\u00a0Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching and definition of society. It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important.\u00a0Henceforth, while continuing to address the structures of society, (our political and economic milieu) Catholic social teaching also requires we focus on the cultural elements which greatly impact on us.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What is the risk if we fail to focus on culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Failing this we are warned that \u201ccultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them, and man ends up being reduced to a cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 26)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIn many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.\u201d (Pope Francis, 62)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPerhaps the greatest danger is \u201chuman beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading\u2026The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers'.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 53)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt is a well-known fact that\u2026millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span> while our culture deadens us to the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[A] globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people\u2019s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else\u2019s responsibility and not our own.\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What role does religion play in culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Religion is at the foundation of culture.\u00a0\u00a0Pope St. John Paul II points out that at the heart of culture lay morality and at the heart morality lay religion. And by insisting on a vibrant, publicly assertive moral-cultural order, he throws down a gauntlet to the modern world and what he calls \u201cskeptical relativism\u201d and what Pope Benedict XVI has called the \u201cDictatorship of Relativism\u201d which rejects religion in the public square. This situation \u201cin the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, Response to Questions Posed by US Bishops, 16 April 08, Washington, DC)<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWithout religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or that God can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching insists that Christians cannot accept that attitude. Why? Because\u00a0\u201cFreedom\u2026demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one\u2019s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, White House Welcoming Ceremony, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u201cFidelity to the truth\u2026alone is the guarantee of freedom\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 9)<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic social teaching makes it clear that the health of a culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate. Absent that,\u00a0\u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Four Pathologies<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/h5>\nThe Church\u00a0<\/span>identifies four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019<\/b>\u00a0eating away at the cultural, economic, and political systems\u00a0<\/span>and begins to identify how to cure them<\/b>.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Consumerism<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Caring for Our Common Home<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Religion is the Foundation of Culture<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
We are Experiencing a Profound Human Crisis<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Radical Secularism<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Alienation<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
New Idols<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The Most Important\u00a0Structure of Society<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe are experiencing a profound human crisis.<\/br>Our problems originate \u201cin the denial of the primacy of the human person!
We have created new idols.\"<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis, 55<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tKey Insight<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II established the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these -\u00a0culture is the most important<\/strong>: \"All human activity takes place within a culture and interacts with culture.\" (Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tREAD MORE<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\"Man remains above all a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth\u2026From this\u2026the culture of a nation derives its character.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0\"<\/span>At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God. Different cultures are basically different ways of facing the question of the meaning of personal existence.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntegral Human Development<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Development must not be understood solely in economic terms, but in a way that is fully human.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29) <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[A]uthentic human development concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension.\"\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 11)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[P]olitics and economy cannot be reduced to mere technical know-how bereft of ideals and unconcerned with the transcendent dimension of man...\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 10)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"The apex of development is the exercise of the right and duty to seek God, to know him and to live in accordance with that knowledge.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tReligion and Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs Pope St. John Paul II pointed out:\u00a0Religion is at the foundation of culture<\/strong>.\u00a0Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching makes clear: the health of a\u00a0culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\nAbsent that, \u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cEvery good and worthwhile human activity is in some way a reflection of God\u2019s infinite beauty.\u201d (Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPathologies in Our Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching points out four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019 in our current culture: (Click each to learn more)<\/em><\/p>\n\n- Pathologies Overview <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Consumerism <\/strong><\/a><\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- The Ecological Question<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (distinguishing the physical and human environment)\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- Alienation<\/strong><\/a> (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 53)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Radical Secularism & Relativism<\/strong> (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, #3)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
FAQs<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: Why did Pope St. John Paul II add culture to what constitutes society?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Prior to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching viewed society as the interplay among\u00a0politics\/government and economics<\/strong>.\u00a0Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching and definition of society. It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important.\u00a0Henceforth, while continuing to address the structures of society, (our political and economic milieu) Catholic social teaching also requires we focus on the cultural elements which greatly impact on us.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What is the risk if we fail to focus on culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Failing this we are warned that \u201ccultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them, and man ends up being reduced to a cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 26)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIn many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.\u201d (Pope Francis, 62)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPerhaps the greatest danger is \u201chuman beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading\u2026The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers'.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 53)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt is a well-known fact that\u2026millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span> while our culture deadens us to the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[A] globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people\u2019s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else\u2019s responsibility and not our own.\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What role does religion play in culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Religion is at the foundation of culture.\u00a0\u00a0Pope St. John Paul II points out that at the heart of culture lay morality and at the heart morality lay religion. And by insisting on a vibrant, publicly assertive moral-cultural order, he throws down a gauntlet to the modern world and what he calls \u201cskeptical relativism\u201d and what Pope Benedict XVI has called the \u201cDictatorship of Relativism\u201d which rejects religion in the public square. This situation \u201cin the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, Response to Questions Posed by US Bishops, 16 April 08, Washington, DC)<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWithout religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or that God can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching insists that Christians cannot accept that attitude. Why? Because\u00a0\u201cFreedom\u2026demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one\u2019s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, White House Welcoming Ceremony, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u201cFidelity to the truth\u2026alone is the guarantee of freedom\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 9)<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic social teaching makes it clear that the health of a culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate. Absent that,\u00a0\u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Four Pathologies<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/h5>\nThe Church\u00a0<\/span>identifies four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019<\/b>\u00a0eating away at the cultural, economic, and political systems\u00a0<\/span>and begins to identify how to cure them<\/b>.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
We are experiencing a profound human crisis.<\/br>Our problems originate \u201cin the denial of the primacy of the human person!
We have created new idols.\"<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis, 55<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tKey Insight<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II established the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these -\u00a0culture is the most important<\/strong>: \"All human activity takes place within a culture and interacts with culture.\" (Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tREAD MORE<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\"Man remains above all a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth\u2026From this\u2026the culture of a nation derives its character.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0\"<\/span>At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God. Different cultures are basically different ways of facing the question of the meaning of personal existence.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntegral Human Development<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Development must not be understood solely in economic terms, but in a way that is fully human.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29) <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[A]uthentic human development concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension.\"\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 11)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"[P]olitics and economy cannot be reduced to mere technical know-how bereft of ideals and unconcerned with the transcendent dimension of man...\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 10)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\"The apex of development is the exercise of the right and duty to seek God, to know him and to live in accordance with that knowledge.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tReligion and Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs Pope St. John Paul II pointed out:\u00a0Religion is at the foundation of culture<\/strong>.\u00a0Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching makes clear: the health of a\u00a0culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\nAbsent that, \u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cEvery good and worthwhile human activity is in some way a reflection of God\u2019s infinite beauty.\u201d (Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPathologies in Our Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching points out four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019 in our current culture: (Click each to learn more)<\/em><\/p>\n\n- Pathologies Overview <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Consumerism <\/strong><\/a><\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- The Ecological Question<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (distinguishing the physical and human environment)\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
- Alienation<\/strong><\/a> (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 53)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Radical Secularism & Relativism<\/strong> (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, #3)<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
FAQs<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: Why did Pope St. John Paul II add culture to what constitutes society?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Prior to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching viewed society as the interplay among\u00a0politics\/government and economics<\/strong>.\u00a0Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching and definition of society. It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important.\u00a0Henceforth, while continuing to address the structures of society, (our political and economic milieu) Catholic social teaching also requires we focus on the cultural elements which greatly impact on us.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What is the risk if we fail to focus on culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Failing this we are warned that \u201ccultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them, and man ends up being reduced to a cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 26)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIn many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.\u201d (Pope Francis, 62)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPerhaps the greatest danger is \u201chuman beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading\u2026The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers'.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 53)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt is a well-known fact that\u2026millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span> while our culture deadens us to the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[A] globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people\u2019s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else\u2019s responsibility and not our own.\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQ: What role does religion play in culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tA: Religion is at the foundation of culture.\u00a0\u00a0Pope St. John Paul II points out that at the heart of culture lay morality and at the heart morality lay religion. And by insisting on a vibrant, publicly assertive moral-cultural order, he throws down a gauntlet to the modern world and what he calls \u201cskeptical relativism\u201d and what Pope Benedict XVI has called the \u201cDictatorship of Relativism\u201d which rejects religion in the public square. This situation \u201cin the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, Response to Questions Posed by US Bishops, 16 April 08, Washington, DC)<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWithout religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or that God can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching insists that Christians cannot accept that attitude. Why? Because\u00a0\u201cFreedom\u2026demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one\u2019s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, White House Welcoming Ceremony, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u201cFidelity to the truth\u2026alone is the guarantee of freedom\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 9)<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic social teaching makes it clear that the health of a culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate. Absent that,\u00a0\u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Four Pathologies<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/h5>\nThe Church\u00a0<\/span>identifies four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019<\/b>\u00a0eating away at the cultural, economic, and political systems\u00a0<\/span>and begins to identify how to cure them<\/b>.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Pope Francis, 55<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pope St. John Paul II established the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these -\u00a0culture is the most important<\/strong>: \"All human activity takes place within a culture and interacts with culture.\" (Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \"Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"Man remains above all a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth\u2026From this\u2026the culture of a nation derives its character.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0\"<\/span>At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God. Different cultures are basically different ways of facing the question of the meaning of personal existence.\"\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"Development must not be understood solely in economic terms, but in a way that is fully human.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29) <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \"[A]uthentic human development concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension.\"\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 11)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \"[P]olitics and economy cannot be reduced to mere technical know-how bereft of ideals and unconcerned with the transcendent dimension of man...\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 10)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \"The apex of development is the exercise of the right and duty to seek God, to know him and to live in accordance with that knowledge.\"\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> As Pope St. John Paul II pointed out:\u00a0Religion is at the foundation of culture<\/strong>.\u00a0Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching makes clear: the health of a\u00a0culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\n Absent that, \u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEvery good and worthwhile human activity is in some way a reflection of God\u2019s infinite beauty.\u201d (Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> A: Prior to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching viewed society as the interplay among\u00a0politics\/government and economics<\/strong>.\u00a0Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching and definition of society. It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important.\u00a0Henceforth, while continuing to address the structures of society, (our political and economic milieu) Catholic social teaching also requires we focus on the cultural elements which greatly impact on us.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> A: Failing this we are warned that \u201ccultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them, and man ends up being reduced to a cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 26)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.\u201d (Pope Francis, 62)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the greatest danger is \u201chuman beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading\u2026The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers'.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 53)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is a well-known fact that\u2026millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span> while our culture deadens us to the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[A] globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people\u2019s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else\u2019s responsibility and not our own.\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> A: Religion is at the foundation of culture.\u00a0\u00a0Pope St. John Paul II points out that at the heart of culture lay morality and at the heart morality lay religion. And by insisting on a vibrant, publicly assertive moral-cultural order, he throws down a gauntlet to the modern world and what he calls \u201cskeptical relativism\u201d and what Pope Benedict XVI has called the \u201cDictatorship of Relativism\u201d which rejects religion in the public square. This situation \u201cin the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, Response to Questions Posed by US Bishops, 16 April 08, Washington, DC)<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or that God can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching insists that Christians cannot accept that attitude. Why? Because\u00a0\u201cFreedom\u2026demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one\u2019s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, White House Welcoming Ceremony, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u201cFidelity to the truth\u2026alone is the guarantee of freedom\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 9)<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic social teaching makes it clear that the health of a culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate. Absent that,\u00a0\u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Key Insight<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
READ MORE<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Integral Human Development<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Religion and Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pathologies in Our Culture<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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FAQs<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Q: Why did Pope St. John Paul II add culture to what constitutes society?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
Q: What is the risk if we fail to focus on culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
Q: What role does religion play in culture?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
The Four Pathologies<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/h5>\n
The Church\u00a0<\/span>identifies four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019<\/b>\u00a0eating away at the cultural, economic, and political systems\u00a0<\/span>and begins to identify how to cure them<\/b>.<\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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