Church in the Modern World

The Church Coming into the Modern WorldResponding to a World in RevoltRecovering from RevolutionsNapoleon had conquered much of Europe and reorganized political boundariesWith the help of Pope Pius VII (who stood up to Napoleon), legitimate authorities restored to power as much as possibleEvil effects of revolutionSpirit of revolt against the old regime / the way things used to beReligion and faith is no longer central to everyday life3 False solutionsLiberalism freedom from all governmentReturn to Catholic Orthodoxy go back to the way things were before the ReformationLook for a pure Christianity look at human religious instinct over Divine Revelation

Pius IX (1846- 1878)A liberalist concerned with missionary activity and practical charities (hospitals, soup kitchens, etc.)Also wants to engage the world which seems to have turned its back on the ChurchFollowing Italian revolution (late 1840s), Pius IX sees that democracy in Europe is a disasterSomewhat a reactionary: makes some less than excellent decisionsIneffabilis Deus (1854) Papal document defining the dogma of the Immaculate ConceptionPius IX: Syllabus of Errors (1864)A reasoned reflection based on the world & current thoughtAlmost entirely quotes from other papal documentsCorrecting the heretical and erroneous teachings of his day (shepherd keeping the flock from going astray)Naturalism, pantheism, rationalismFalse tolerance, socialism, communism, secret societies, Gallicanism, etc.Taken totally out of context, and Pius IX becomes a very unpopular person

VATICAN I (1869-1870)

VATICAN I (1869-1870)All bishops invited to attend 20th Ecumenical CouncilCatholic, Orthodox, and schismaticPresided over by Pope Pius IXDogmatic Constitution on the Catholic FaithProof for the existence of God, revelation, and FaithThe role of Faith and reason Condemned contemporary errors on those topicCondemning atheism, pantheism, rationalismVATICAN I (1869-1870)Document on infallibility of the Pope: Pastor AeternusDebated not because the fact is questioned, but because it may not be the right time; some abstain from voting for this reasonIn the end, vote is taken and bishops nearly unanimously agree: Pope is infallible in matters of faith and moralsThe Council ended before its completion because of the start of the Franco-Prussian War

Pastor Aeternus: Papal InfallibilityAfter the declaration of the Immaculate Conception, some thought that every papal pronouncement stood as official Church doctrine.The definition set specific parameters for infallible papal teachings.When the pope speaks ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals, these teachings are infallibleWithout the necessary conditions for infallibility, encyclicals, letters and homilies are ordinary teachings of the Pope, and are not considered infallible.

VATICAN I (1869-1870)Therefore, faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, to the glory of God our savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion and for the salvation of the Christian people, with the approval of the Sacred Council, we teach and define as a divinely revealed dogma that when the Roman Pontiff speaks EX CATHEDRA

VATICAN I (1869-1870)that is, when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his Church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the Church, irreformable.

The World Around the Church: The Kulturkampf (1871-1877)After unifying Germany, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck saw the Catholic Church as an obstacle to the advancement of the New German EmpireThe declaration Pastor Aeternus was understood by Bismarck as giving German Catholics the right to withhold loyalty to political powers.He passed the May Laws (5.1873) to dismantle Catholic unity within Germany (a.k.a. the Falk Laws)

The World Around the Church: The Kulturkampf (1871-1877)The May Laws included:State-supervised education of the clergy Marriages were to be celebrated in civil ceremonies Religious orders were prohibited from teaching, Jesuits were expelled (eventually all religious orders would be expelled)Many clerics were imprisoned or removed from office for their refusal to comply. Ironically, German Catholics became more unified and more influential through out this conflictWith the rise of Communism, Bismarck needed Catholic support He abandoned the Kulturkampf and a resolution was reached with Pope Leo XIIINB: this was going on elsewhere in Europe

The World Around the Church:Charles Darwin (1809-1882)Developed his Theory of Evolution and the idea of survival of the fittestHe noted in nature that only the strongest individuals survived and this helped the population.This idea was applied to many other areas such as anthropology, philosophy and economics.Social Darwinism was a philosophy used by wealthy industrialists to oppress the poor because after all, were just animals, right?Seen to be used by Hitler, et. al., because it was best for societyFull title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

The World Around the Church: Karl Marx (1818-1883)Grows up in the mess of 19th Century revolutionary EuropeSaw the destruction caused by industrialization and the widening gap between the rich and the poorSolution: COMMUNISM the culmination of human history The poor who are exploited (proletariat) would overthrow social classes by means of a revolutionAll wealth and property would be held in common, and there would be absolute equality while the government provides for all needs of the peopleSounds great, right?ONE PROBLEM: Religion is the opiate of the massesIn practice, it totally disrespects the dignity of the human person

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)He developed psychoanalysis as a method for healing emotions and giving stability in life.People are a mess as a result of the violence of poverty and widening gap between rich and poor and because people are walking away from GodHis understanding of the human person challenges the Christian notion of natural law and mans rational nature composed of body and soulHis analysis reduced the human person to a glorified animal whose all encompassing objective is sexual contentment.

Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903)Need someone to address revolutions, Karl Marx, Darwin, etc.Leo XIII is a diplomat; he focuses on healing relationshipsAlso a great teacher; did much to introduce the world to Catholicism once againPhilosophy, Theology, and Sacred ScriptureWhy would these be valuable?Willing to listen to science and modern contributionsGoing back to the master: St. Thomas AquinasEncyclicals of Leo XIIILeo XIIIs teaching the worldInscrutabili Dei (1878) stated briefly all the accumulated problems affecting contemporary society.Aeterni Patris (1879) reiterated the importance of Christian philosophy and highlighted St. Thomas Aquinas as the master to be studied.Immortale Dei (1885) shows the Popes efforts to understand liberal political movements while clearly transmitting the Churchs doctrine on the dynamics and role of civil society.Rerum Novarum (1891) outlines the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (social justice)Leo XIII: Rerum Novarum (1891)First major papal document on social doctrineConcerned with preserving the rights of workers:Right to work; unions; just wages; private property; defense of the familyResponds to some effects of industrializationConcerned with the same things as Karl Marx, but doesnt agree with him on how to accomplish the equalityThe FIRST time the Church outlined its principles on Catholic Social TeachingRefuted Communism (aka Socialism) as an attack on human freedom and dignityInterestingly doesnt offer capitalism as a solutionJust society is only possible if founded on love, rooted in God