Witnessing Faith

A Never-Ending Relationship: Catechesis and Catholic Social Teaching
by Dr. Gerard F. Baumbach photo collage

In October 1995, Archbishop John R. Roach invited about 30 persons, including me, to work together with him on a newly-formed USCC Task Force on Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Education. Archbishop Roach, Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis (Retired) and former President of the NCCB, chairs the Task Force, whose members bring a depth of experience from a wide variety of ministries. The Task Force is an initiative of the Department of Social Development and World Peace and the Department of Education.

Task Force Goals:

The Task Force has two goals:

To assess the quantity, quality and content of teaching on our Catholic social tradition in our schools and seminaries, colleges and universities and programs of religious education and formation;
To develop and begin to carry forward strategies to deepen, broaden and strengthen the sharing of Catholic social teaching in our educational institutions and efforts.

This broad agenda highlights the strength of our Catholic social tradition and provides new challenges for making Catholic social teaching (CST) more visible in catechetical ministry. This effort involves promoting the doctrinal foundations of such teaching as constitutive to a comprehensive catechesis, and then acting to ensure that such teaching becomes part of our communal and individual activity in daily life and ministry.

Such dimensions as the dignity and worth of every person; fundamental human rights and responsibilities; and advocacy for poor and vulnerable people are just some CST principles that demand "foreground" attention in programs, materials, and catechist formation.

Task Force Structure
The Task Force includes several subgroups: religious education/youth ministry/adult education, elementary/secondary schools, seminary, higher education, materials, and content (for CST principles). I was asked to chair the religious education subgroup, whose members currently include Dr. Thomas Bright of the Center for Ministry Development; Dr. Barbara Campbell of Loyola Press and formerly of NCEA; Rev. Raymond B. Kemp of the Woodstock Theological Center; Stephen Palmer of NCEA; and Neil Parent of NCCL. Current USCC Support Staff includes Sr. Maureen Shaughnessy, SC and Daniel Mulhall, of the Department of Education, and Richard Fowler of the Department of Social Development and World Peace. Sr. Elaine McCarron, formerly of the Department of Education, also has been an active member of the Task Force and Subgroup.

The subgroup began by seeking to craft some linkages between Catholic social teaching and selected catechetical and related ministries. It initiated two tracks for assessing the extent of Catholic social teaching. First, the subgroup developed reports exploring this teaching within various ministries and resources.

For its second major initiative, the subgroup conducted a limited non-scientific survey of 29 leaders in parish catechesis, diocesan catechesis, adult catechesis, youth ministry, social action, and diocesan worship offices. Respondents were asked to respond to ten questions dealing with Catholic social teaching and the ministry represented.

The subgroup found that the dignity of human life is consistently identified in most ministries; however, additional themes need more attention, such as fostering a consistent ethic of life, particularly in economic matters. Nearly half of the respondents noted the limited effectiveness of Catholic social teaching in the ministries they represent, and some noted that social justice activities are not linked to reflection on Catholic social teaching. Sacramental catechesis may or may not reflect such teaching, but it is more likely in Confirmation preparation and RCIA ministry.

Strategies for the Future
Following survey assessment, the subgroup developed seven strategies for future consideration, knowing that others from various bodies and forums might well be the ones to analyze, critique, and implement them.

Strategies spanned the broad catechetical horizon. The key, however, focused on the essential linkage between Catholic social teaching and spirituality. The life of Christian discipleship is one that demands the promotion of a consistent ethic of life, a seamless garment of complete responsiveness in faith to the call of the gospel. The integral linkage between social justice and spirituality is one that must demonstrate continuously the community’s whole life in Christ, a life rooted in the paschal mystery. Living this mystery is a powerful dimension of the spiritual life, one that fosters doing what is right, loving goodness, and walking humbly with our God (cf. Micah 6:8).

Conclusion
The subgroup is working on combinations of a number of strategies to develop some concrete ways of pursuing Catholic social teaching with proven-effective formats. Subgroup members also are looking to the "resource within" themselves to explore additional ways for promoting Catholic social teaching in their ministries and the organizations they represent. The Task Force itself developed a Summary Report of its work on behalf of Catholic social teaching and Catholic education.

As a response to the report of the Task Force, the bishops of the United States published a statement entitled Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions. This document focuses on the strength of Catholic social tradition, describing seven major themes that are intricately woven into the fabric of doctrinal teaching. It also underscores the challenge for making Catholic social teaching more visible in catechetical ministry—emphasizing the doctrinal foundations of such teaching as the basis of a comprehensive catechesis and part of communal and individual activity.

If we are true to Catholic social teaching and welcome resulting opportunities for action in ministry supportive of a just social order, then the never-ending relationship between Catholic social teaching and catechesis will bring us one step closer to the enablement and ennoblement of all God’s people.

This month's guest columnist:
Dr. Gerard F. Baumbach is Executive Vice President and Publisher of William H. Sadlier, Inc. and Chair of the Subgroup on Religious Education/Youth Ministry/Adult Education of the USCC Task Force on Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Education.

(Excerpts from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions Copyright © 1998 United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.)