Catholic Social Teaching
MA, PGDip, PGCert

Modules

• Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching Core

Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching (Core)

This module covers the basic principles and history of Catholic Social Teaching, drawing on the sources of the tradition in the Bible, the early Church Fathers, later theologians and papal encyclicals placing the tradition in the overall context of Catholic moral theology and its philosophical tradition.

The module will also look at the tradition’s critique of Marxism and unrestrained Free Market capitalism and the distinctions between different types of social thought and teaching.

Credits: 30

• Catholic Social Teaching Applied Core

Catholic Social Teaching Applied (Core)

This will examine in detail the many ways in which the Church has applied social teaching to particular issues: examples would be unemployment, migration, racism, homelessness, war and Europe.

It will also look at the relationship between issues of this kind associated with Catholic Social Teaching and other issues addressed by the wider moral theological tradition such as the sanctity of human life and the institution of the family. Outside speakers who are Catholics prominent in public life are a feature of the teaching of this module.

Credits: 30

• The Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology Optional

The Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology (Optional)

This module covers together the Theologies of Liberation, looking also at radical movements such as the Catholic Worker communities and also the European and North American tradition of Political Theology.

Credits: 30

• Catholic Charities and Ecumenism Optional

Catholic Charities and Ecumenism (Optional)

This module will assess the influence of teaching about social justice from other Christian communities the contribution to the issues it addresses made by other churches and religious groups; it will also look at how social teaching has inspired faith-based charities and pressure groups, examining also some of the problems faced by these organisations.

Credits: 30

• Global Development, the Environment and the Market Optional

Global Development, the Environment and the Market (Optional)

The last taught module will examine global development and care for the created order, drawing on the work of agencies such as CAFOD and Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, looking also at the Market, different economic models and business ethics in the light of social teaching and the rest of the Christian theological tradition.

Credits: 30

• Dissertation Core

Dissertation (Core)

This final phase of the full degree programme will focus on the completion of a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with those teaching on the programme.

Credits: 60