Option for the Poor

Since its first publication in 1983, this book studies Catholic social teaching. The general aim of the book is to examine how this teaching developed since the latter decades of the 19th century and to determine in what sense, and to what extent, a consistent organic tradition has been developed. The more specific aim is to examine the extent to which, during this period, the official teaching of the Church was a defence of the poor and powerless in society and an encouragement to them in the struggle for justice. In this revised edition, new material on colonialism, decolonization and on the concept of development is included. A chapter covers the period 1982-92 and includes an extended treatment of the two social encyclicals "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis" and "Centesimus Annus" as well as a shorter account of the encyclical "Redemptoris Missio", the two Vatican documents on Liberation Theology, the papal documents on ecology and women and a variety of other material.
 
Since its first publication in 1983, this book studies Catholic social teaching. The general aim of the book is to examine how this teaching developed since the latter decades of the 19th century and to determine in what sense, and to what extent, a consistent organic tradition has been developed. The more specific aim is to examine the extent to which, during this period, the official teaching of the Church was a defence of the poor and powerless in society and an encouragement to them in the struggle for justice. In this revised edition, new material on colonialism, decolonization and on the concept of development is included. A chapter covers the period 1982-92 and includes an extended treatment of the two social encyclicals "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis" and "Centesimus Annus" as well as a shorter account of the encyclical "Redemptoris Missio", the two Vatican documents on Liberation Theology, the papal documents on ecology and women and a variety of other material.