The Virtue of Justice and Catholic Social Teaching (DT3040C)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit probes contemporary justice issues from the perspective of Moral Theology. A theological examination of justice draws on relevant biblical texts and writings of St Thomas Aquinas. The virtue of justice and its allied virtues are considered in some detail. An introduction to Catholic Social Teaching over the last 130 years is provided highlighting its theological foundation. From this perspective specific issues are addressed. The specific issues will be topical and may include: poverty, racism, peace, the just war tradition, social justice and liturgical prayer, property ownership, work, wages, and leisure.

Unit code: DT3040C

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Moral Theology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Present a critical description of the basic notions of justice including those in the Old Testament and New Testament;
2.

Show a sound understanding of relevant Thomistic sources on justice and the other cardinal and allied virtues.

3.

Critically analyse and evaluate the significant developments in the Catholic social justice tradition as presented in Magisterial teaching.

4.

Exhibit an ability to expound a position with regard to a specific social justice topic in the light of magisterial teaching within the Catholic social justice tradition.

Unit sequence

BS1001C; BS1002C; CT1000C & CT1001C

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials, Seminars

Indicative Bibliography

  • Australian Catholic Bishops’ Statements 1985–1995. 2 vols. Strathfield, NSW: St Paul’s, 1997.
  • Benedict XVI. Caritas in Veritate. Encyclical Letter. 2009.
  • DeBerri, Edward P., James E. Hug, Peter J. Henriot, and Michael J. Schultheis. Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret. 4th ed. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2004.
  • Dorr, Donal. Option for the Poor: A Hundred Years of Vatican Social Teaching. Rev. ed. Melbourne: Collins Dove, 1992.
  • Houston, Walter J., Contending for Justice: Ideologies and Theologies of Social Justice in the Old Testament. London: T & T Clark, 2008.
  • Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. 2004.
  • McOustra, Christopher. *Love in the Economy: Catholic Social Doctrine for the Individua*l. Slough: St. Paul’s, 2000.
  • Pieper, Josef. The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2003.
  • Schubeck, Thomas L., Love that does Justice. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2007
  • Scott, Margaret, The Eucharist and Social Justice. Mahwah NJ: Paulist Press, 2009.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

3000 word Research Essay

 3000 40.0
Seminar or Tutorial

1000 word Seminar paper

1000 30.0
Written Examination

3000 word Research Essay

 0 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 31 Dec, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2020-07-22 22:33:04 +1000