The Virtue of Justice and Catholic Social Teaching (DT9040C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 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: DT9040C

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Moral Theology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate a developed appreciation of the biblical sources for a Catholic understanding of Justice;
2.

Show a developed understanding of the Thomistic sources which are foundational to Catholic teaching on the Virtues.
3.

Articulate a competent and critical understanding of the history and development of Magisterial teaching on Justice issues;
4.

Apply the traditional theological sources to contemporary and historical Justice issues.

5.

Develop specific research topics in a sustained and self-directed manner.

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

Research Essay x 4000 words

4000 50.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Seminar Paper x 1000 words

1000 25.0
Essay

Text Analysis x 2000 words

 2000 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 20 Jul, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:49 +1000