Prof. invitato: FST (USA) e UWM (Polonia)

This Seminar will work with primary Franciscan sources to reflect on some of the most compelling ethical challenges in our world. The study of the Franciscan tradition will be done in relationship with recent documents of Catholic Social Teaching to verify how Franciscan’s ethical answers keep being relevant to addressing today’s challenges.

“Catholic social teaching (CST) is a central and essential element of our faith” and so there is an urgent need of a strengthened commitment to sharing it “at every level of Catholic education and faith formation” (USCCB).

This course will study CST, with a special focus on the encyclical Laudato Si’, in order to develop skills for critically applying this teaching to present ethical dilemmas and to topics related to social justice and integral ecology.

The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition will be also a source of inspiration.

September 10:

A) Course overview: Syllabus, course description and requirements

B) Clarification of concepts: Morality and ethics; Specificity of the CST within Catholic theology, Vatican II orientations, CST major docs, etc.

- Veritatis Splendor (VS): 2, 8, 12, 15, 25-30, 83, 85, 109-117.

- Catechism (CCC): 50-114, 131-133, 1691-1748, 2052-2063, 2083-2087, 2090-2093.

The necessity of the Moral Law: 1959, 2070, 2242.

A) The truth about man: theological anthropology & CST.

B) Other anthropological theories: how CST differs from social, political, and economic ideologies.

- CSDC n. 105-151.

- Pope, Stephen J. Natural law in CST (MCST 41-71)

- The social nature of the human person (CCC, 1878-1889, 1929)

- Trinitarian communio & social life (CCC 267, 738, 1693).

A) Background and Foundations of Modern CST

- Biblical Roots and historical development - Sources, Methodology, Principles & Application

- Key documents

- Encyclical Mater et Magistra, (Mother and Teacher)

- Mich, Marvin L., Mater et Magistra (MCST  191-216).

- CSDC n. 160-170.

- Schuck, Michael J, Early Modern Roman CST 1740-1890 (MCST 99-126)

- USCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics.

A) CST guiding principles: subsidiarity and solidarity (fraternity)

- Preferential option for the poor & Universal destination of goods

- CST fundamental social values

- CST most important documents.

- Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World)

- Hollenbach, David, Gaudium et Spes (MCST  266 – 291).

- CSDC n. 171-208

- U.S. Catholic Bishops, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, 1998.

- Mcn2 40-46 - CSDC n. 488-520.

- USCCB, A culture of Life and the Penalty of Death.

- USCCB, The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and our Response

- Curran, Charles E., The reception of Catholic approaches to Peace and War in the USA (MCST 493-521)

- USCCB, A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty

- USCCB, Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice.

- Apostolic letter Octogesima adveniens, (A call to action)

- Gudorf, Christine E., Octogesima adveniens (MCST 315-332)

- CSDC n. 152-159

- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, The Church and Human rights.

- Statement of the Synod of Bishops, Justice in the World, 1971.

- Carbajo Núñez M., «The contribution by religions to peaceful coexistence in society», in Studia Moralia 53/1 (2015) 83-101.

- Different types of justice (CCC, 2411-2412, 1807): Distributive (CCC, 2236-2411), Legal, Commutative, Social (CCC, 1928-42)

- Himes Kenneth R., Justitia in Mundo (MCST  333-362).

- MCN 51-55; Mcn2 68-83 (Religion in a time of economic change)

- CSDC n. 377-450 - USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2015.

- Evangelii Gaudium, §§50-75, 176-258.

- Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Doctrinal Note on some question regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life.

- Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail (Role of Churches on social justice issues).

- Encyclical Laborem exercens (On human work)

- Mcn2 48-55; 101-106 (Labour)

- CSDC n. 255-322.

- USCCB, Respecting the Just Rights of Workers.

- Pontifical council for Justice and Peace, The Universal Purpose of created things, (22011) (original 1979) - USCCB: “Economic Justice for All”, 1986, Intro & Chapter 2

- USCCB, Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope, 2003.

- Delio, Ilia, “Evangelical life today living in the ecological Christ”, in Franciscan Studies 64 (2006) 475-506.

- Warner, Keith, “Franciscan environmental ethics. Imagining creation as a community of care”, in Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 31/1 (2011) 143-160

- Kim, Yeongseon, “St. Francis of Assisi and ecological conversion”, in Catholic Theology and Thought 78 (2017) 47-86.

- Encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth - Ef 4,15).

- Carbajo Núñez, Martin, «Ecological sin and the Sacrament of Reconciliation», in Verdad y Vida 280 (2018).

- CSDC n. 323-376. - Gaudium et Spes, §§ 63-76; CCC, §§2401-2463. - Curran, Charles E., The reception of Catholic Social and Economic Teaching in the USA (MCST 469-521).

- Pontifical council for Justice and Peace, Social and ethical aspects of economics, 22011.

- USCCB, Renewing the Earth Edwards, Denis, “Ecological theology: Trinitarian perspectives”, in Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) proceedings 72 (2017) 14-28.

- Damonte, Marco, “God, the Bible and the environment. An historical excursus on the relationship between Christian religion and ecology, in Relations 5.1 (2017) 27-45.

This course deals with ethical issues associated with Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), along with other topics related to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). ICT are reshaping our lifestyles, our perception of reality and our symbolic understanding of the world. For many people ICT are "the chief means of information and education, of guidance and inspiration" (RM 37).

In the light of Catholic social teaching (CST), this course will reflect on how to inhabit responsibly the new cultural environment that the ICT have created. We will also explore how to use them in running the parish, celebrating the liturgy and evangelizing.

This course will focus on ecotheology with a special attention to indigenous cultures. We will assume that these cultures can improve the Western approach and help us to properly address the current ecological crisis. So far, indigenous communities have been under-represented in Catholic theology, but the 2019 Amazon Synod proposes new pathways for the Church in that region so that she may have an Amazonian and indigenous face. The Church has thus shown the need to promote a deeper inculturation of the faith in the various indigenous cultures. Indeed, our faith is diverse and at the same time unified; consequently, local theologies as well as culture are important for the Church, also in addressing ecological issues.

The openness of the Franciscan intellectual tradition to universal fraternity and to the individuality of each being lays the basis for ecotheology and for a harmonious integration between Western scientific knowledge and the wisdom of indigenous peoples.

In the light of Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and more specifically of the encyclicals Laudato si' (LS) and Fratelli tutti (FT), this course will study the current ethical challenges about integral ecology and universal fraternity. In the common house, "everything is connected" (LS) and we are all connected (FT).

The Pope recognizes that Francis of Assisi inspired him to write both encyclicals, so we will explore also their Franciscan roots. Indeed, “it was the evangelical witness of St. Francis, with his school of thought, that gave the term ‘fraternity’ the meaning it then preserved over the centuries,” says the Pope

This course will focus on the relevance of the Franciscan Spirituality in addressing today’s ethical challenges, such as integral ecology (cf. Laudato Si’), economy, peace, communication and dialogue. Pope Francis affirms that interaction and communication are essential aspects of all that exists. Humans are dialogical beings and “everything is connected”.

The Franciscan perspective can help greatly to build this new relational paradigm that the Church is promoting, setting the theological and ethical bases of both communication and integral ecology. In doing so, the course will also underline that the new Media are gifts of God that can contribute decisively to strengthening the bonds of fraternal communication and to assuming a more responsible lifestyle. However, they also present ethical challenges that must be addressed.

The Church “would feel guilty before the Lord” (EN 45) if she did not utilize the new media for evangelization, because for many people they are "the chief means of information and education, of guidance and inspiration" (RM 37).

This course will study the ethical challenges in communication technology that are also boundless opportunities for evangelization. We will explore the new role of Parish priests, catechists and teachers in educating the “mobile-born” generations and facing some specific problems as cyberbullying and exhibitionism in social networks.

We will also study the possible use of the new technologies in running the parish and celebrating the liturgy. Our analysis will be inspired at Catholic Social Teaching and Franciscan Spirituality.

- Francis, “Communicating the Family: A - Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love”

- John Paul II, “Television and family: guidelines for good viewing”

- John Paul II, “The Media and the Family: A Risk and a Richness”

B) Current relevance of the Franciscan spirituality and charism (part 1)

- “The Internet: Between Theology and Technology” (Spadaro 1-19)

- “Orality and Literacy” (Mooij 41-62) USCCB, “Family Guide for using Media“

B) Current relevance of the Franciscan spirituality and charism (part 2)

- PCCS, “Pastoral instruction Communio et progressio”

- “The Technology of the Book… Evolution of the Species” (Lynch 19-42)

- John Paul II, “The Communications Media at the Service of Authentic Peace in the Light of 'Pacem in Terris’”

- Benedict XVI, “The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation”

- "In intimacy, new solitudes“ (Turkle 151-186; 241-264)

- PCCS, “Pastoral instruction Aetatis Novae on Social Communications”

- Carbajo Núñez, Martin, «Digital Age Challenges and Consecrated Life», in Studia Moralia 53/2 (2015) 269-291.

- “Talk about Technologies” (Gardner 15-34)

- “Ethics after the Information Revolution” (Floridi 3-19)

B) Communication, communion and community

- MCN 57-66 (Unity in diversity) 

- Education… Technological Fast (Lynch 63-76)

- Rainie Lee - Kathryn Zickhur, "Americans' Views on Mobile Etiquette," Pew Research Center, 2015.

- Hussain, Ishad et al., "Getting closer Being Apart: living in the age of information and communication technologies,”in New Horizons 2/1 (2017) 1145-147.

- John Paul II, “Cinema: Communicator of Culture and of Values”

- XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Preparatory Document: “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment,” Jan. 13, 2017, LEV, Vatican City 2017.

- Carbajo Núñez, Martín, «Hyper-connected generation and discernment. A Franciscan perspective»

- John Paul II, “Mass media: a friendly companion for those in search of the Father”

- On the diminishing empathy: Konrath Sara -Edward H. O'Brien - Courtney Hsing, “Changes in Dispositional Empathy in American College Students over Time: a Meta-analysis,” in Personality and Social Psychology Review 15/2 (2011) 180-198.

- Hussain, Irshad et al., “Getting closer being apart: Living in the Age of Information and communication technologies”, in New Horizons 11/1 (2017) 145-160.

- New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, On the use of Ipads, tablets, mobile phones etc in liturgy (1 page)

- Quinn cap 2: “Introduction to Ethics” and cap. 9: “Professional Ethics

- Benedict XVI, “The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word”, (44th World Communications Day), 2010

- Whittier, David, “Cyber-ethics in the Googling Age”, in The Journal of Education 187/2 (2006) 1-86.

- "Liturgy, Sacraments, and Virtual Presence" (Spadaro 71-92)

B) Franciscan contribution to Science and technology

- Whittier, David, “Cyber-ethics in the Googling Age”, in The Journal of Education 187/2 (2006) 1-86.

- “Social Media”, in Valkenburg, Patti M. – Piotrowski, Jessica T. Plugged in, Yale University Press, Yale 2017, 218-243.

November 6:

A) Ethical principles to regulate the Media

B) The Franciscan principle of Freedom

- MCN 121-131

- The Obstinacy of the Physical (Lynch 43-62)

John Paul II, “Social Communications in the Service of Responsible Human Freedom”, (15th World Communications Day), 1981.

- Benedict XVI, “Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization”, 47th World Communications Day, 2013.

- Rosen, Christine, “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism”, in The New Atlantis 17 (2007) 15-31.

- Benedict XVI, “The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service. Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others“.

B) The Spirit of Assisi: Dialogue to face the current ethical challenges

- Francis, “Communicating Hope and Trust in our Time” (51st World Communications Day), 2017

- Benedict XVI, “Message to Bishop Domenico Sorrentino on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the interreligious meeting of prayer for peace”, 2-09-2006, in AAS 98 (2006) 749-754.

- Francis, “Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter” (50th World Communications Day), 2016.

- Britton, Karla, Constructing the ineffable: contemporary sacred architecture, Yale Univ. press, New Haven CT 2011.

- PCSC, “Ethics in advertising.”

B) The Franciscan principles of fraternity & Common Good

- “Pornography in Cyberspace and Content Controls” (Spinello 65-78).

- Lipton, Jacquelin D., “Combating Cyber-Victimization”, in Berkeley Technology Law Journal 26/2 (Spring 2011) 1103-1155.

- John Paul II, “The communications Media: At the service of understanding among peoples”, (39th World Communications Day), 2005.

December 4:

A) Evangelization in the Digital Era

B) Media and the Church: seven reasons of a complex relationship

- Benedict XVI, “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization”

- Benedict XVI, “Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization”

- John Paul II, “Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel”

- Benedict XVI, “The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation”, (40th World Communications Day) 2006.

- John Paul II, “The Communications Media and the Unity and Progress of the Human Family”, (25th World Communications Day), 1991.

- "Social media and the problem of community,” in MILLER, Vincent, Understanding Digital culture, Sage, Los Angeles 2011, 184-205. .

A) Cyberbullying, exhibitionism, and other online addictions

B) Current values in line with the Franciscan tradition

- Benedict XV: “Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education” - Francis, “Communication at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter”

- MCN 159-167

- Hong, Fu-Yuan – Chiu Su-Lin, “Influencing Facebook Addictive Tendency in University Students”, in Sites and Health 32 (2016) 117-127.

- Costa, Elisabetta, “Visual posting: Showing off and shifting boundaries between private and public”, in Social Media in Southeast Turkey  https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1g69z14.7

- Rodgers, Rachel F., “Internet addiction symptoms, disordered eating, and body image avoidance”, in Cyberpsychology. Behavior, and Social Networking 16/1 (2013) 56-60.

- Chiang, I-Ping, - Su, Yung-Hsiang, “Measuring and analyzing the causes of problematic Internet use”, in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 15/11 (2012)

- Gardner, Howard – Davis, Katie, The App generation. How today’s youth navigate identity, intimacy and imagination in a digital world, Yale Univ. press, London 2013.
- Kruse, John V., Discovering the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition: a life-giving vision, Franciscan Institute publications, St. Bonaventure NY 2017.
- Lynch, Jonah, The scent of lemons: technology and relationships in the age of Facebook, Darton Longman & Todd, London 2012.
- Blum Christopher O. - Joshua P. Hochschild, A Mind at Peace: Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in the Age of Distraction, Sophia Institute Press, Manchester 2017.
- Miller, Vincent, Understanding digital culture, Sage, London 2013 (reprint).
Quinn, Michael J., Ethics for the Information Age, 7th Ed., Pearson, Boston 2016.
- Spadaro, Antonio, Cybertheology: thinking Christianity in the era of the Internet, Fordham Univ. Press, New York 2014.
- Spinello, Richard A., CyberEthics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace, 6th edition, Jones & Barlett Learning, Burlington, MA 2017.
- Turkle, Sherry, Alone Together Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, 3rd ed., Basic Books, New York 2017.