The Catholic Church in the Philippines and Social Justice

8 Questions

By giving reasons for acting in a Christian way

By developing the attitudes and dispositions of Christ

Modeling care for the poor, fidelity to His Father, and sacrificial love

By the attractive nature of the Christ of the Gospel

Our natural affective nature

Through moral life, especially works of charity, becoming a confession and witness

Parish liturgy

A confession before God and neighbors

Study Notes

Conscience is understood as an inner voice that guides us in moral life, summoning us to love the good and avoid evil.
Obeying conscience is a moral obligation, and it is our dignity; we will be judged according to it.
Freedom of conscience carries a corresponding duty to respect the same freedom in others.
Moral obligation does not destroy authentic freedom but rather guides our thoughts, words, and deeds towards true freedom.

Conscience is not automatic, but rather it is shaped gradually through experiences, family, friends, school, and other factors.
Forming a right conscience is essential, especially in situations with difficult choices and legitimate differences among Catholics.
Education of conscience is a lifelong task that requires enlightenment and information.
Forming a conscience of a disciple of Christ involves Christ's spirit, prayer, attending to the Word of God, and teachings of the Church.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines has consistently influenced social awareness and concern for justice and the poor.
Despite efforts to address poverty and social injustice, Philippine society still presents glaring contradictions, including graft and corruption, and exploitation of natural resources.
The persistence of social ills has led to widespread confusion over the role of Christian faith in moral matters.

Christian faith and moral life are not identical, but faith makes a radical difference in the moral life of Filipino Christians.
Faith influences moral life in three ways:
- Providing reasons for acting in a Christian way
- Developing attitudes and dispositions of Christ
- Inspiring "Christ-like" affections
Faith gives rise to and calls for a consistent life commitment, and through moral life, especially works of charity, faith becomes a confession and witness before God and neighbors.