IX. Why the Catholic Social Teachings?

Do we really need the social teachings of the Church? Are these teachings specifically for Catholics, or should they be a concern for every one? Why does the Church claim some form of expertise in secular matters like the economy, technology, and similar fields when she is clearly not an expert on those matters? Shouldn't the Church focus on what is intrinsically her domain and leave secular matters to the experts?

Human and social development lies at the core of the Church's concerns, as is clearly evident from its continuous body of teachings. This is crucial for the necessary dialogue between the Church and the world, since both are concerned with social development. Just as the Church has the duty to interpret the signs of the times, the dialogue must be reciprocal, and it cannot succeed without the secular world's openness to listen to what the Church has to say.

In this dialogue, the Church fulfills her utmost duty of evangelization. Without the Church's social action, its evangelizing efforts would amount to mere lip service. Conversely, without genuine evangelization, the Church's social action would be no different from that of an NGO.

Too often, members of the Church are polarized between 'justice warriors' and those focused mainly on devotion. The latter neglects the Church's social teachings and their application; the former reduces the Church's concerns to social action, undermining all other activities.

The Church cannot be torn apart by her social teachings. The Kingdom of God is a gift that cannot be attained solely through social activity; yet, it permeates every human dimension, including the social, which is intrinsically human. Social issues are not divorced from the Kingdom of God.

However, the Church's concern for social matters is being neglected both inside and outside the Church. Externally, anything that is not specialized, technical knowledge tends to be dismissed. As we become overwhelmed with information, our understanding, especially of fundamental questions, fades under the noise of expert knowledge.

Internally, laypersons often fail to grasp the urgency of the Church's social concerns, due to a divide between faith and life. This issue is compounded by a general lack of concern among both laity and clergy to address the root of this divide.

As the Church and its members continue to address the social problems of the world, they must not neglect the 'plank in their own eye', losing sight of internal issues that prevent them from being the true salt of the earth and light of the world."