Original scientific paper
The Problems of Contemporary Social Development within the Viewpoint of the Catholic Church
Siniša Zrinščak
; Zagreb
Abstract
Acknowledging, on the one hand, the council thought on the autonomy of man and the universe and, on the other hand, taking into consideration the essentially divine nature of men and its eminent spiritual personality and special dignity, and also the ever emphasized care of the Church for promoting this personality, pope John Paul II, in his encyclicals, subjects to severe criticism the contemporary social systems. In the paper the author expounds the approach toward social in the social teaching of the Church and he also documents and discusses Wojtylla's criticism. In comparison with the pope's doctrine, the theology of liberation, although based on the same fundamental standpoints, deems that sin does not originate in the individual sinner, but in the unjust social structure. It therefore developed an even more radical criticism of contemporary social orders, especially those in Latin America. The author
also refers to the movement of basic ecclesial communities which are considered by theologians of liberation as a possible alternative model of church and social organization. After commenting upon the range and limits of the theology of liberation, in the end the author considers the possible productive encounter of these two social teachings.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
154917
URI
Publication date:
30.6.1993.
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