WORLD CHURCHAnguish in an Era of World Wars

Church lost secular power which enabled it to gain more moral and spiritual authority

Church rededicated itself to its mission of embodying Jesus in the world through teaching, preaching and ministering

Papacy gains moral stature Pope becomes a spokesperson for Catholicism

and moral advocates for the whole world

POPE PIUS X

Pastor Warm, gentle man Wanted to make the sacraments more

available to Catholics Wanted Mass and Eucharist to be close to

laypeople Lowered the Communion age to 7 Encouraged frequent reception of communion

POPE PIUS X

Encouraged a movement called Catholic Action Associations of laypersons doing charitable work

Catholics all over the world loved him

A WORLD GEARED FOR WAR, A CHURCH GEARED FOR PEACE

WWI began in 1914 New type of war

1. Fought on land, sea and air2. New technologies3. Entangled nations outside of Europe as well

A POPE AS ADVOCATE FOR PEACE

Pope Benedict XV Used diplomatic skills to try to end the war Condemned the war as unjustified (ignored) Gave away vast sums of money for relief Depleted Vatican treasury

THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR: A TIME OF DISILLUSIONMENT

Germany surrendered in 1918 Millions lost their lives Harsh conditions placed on Germany with the

Treaty of Versailles would plant the seeds for WWII

POPE BENEDICT’S SUGGESTION

Warned the Allies not to humiliate Germany “Remember that nations do not die; humbled

and oppressed, they chafe under the yoke imposed on them, preparing a renewal of the combat, and passing down from generation to generation a mournful heritage of revenge.”

Benedict’s wisdom was ignored Germany’s economy broke down People were starving Citizens were humiliated Anger boiled

REFLECTION

Describe what most people think and feel while being humiliated.

How do they feel toward the person who is/has humiliated them?

How do they think and feel afterward?

“FREE YOURSELF FROM RELIGION”

Psychology-study of the mind Sigmund Freud

contribution to psychology was huge view of religion was biased and hostile

Religion was societies means to control people Religious faith childish at best-harmful at worst

GUILT: FREUD CONDEMNED UNHEALTHY GUILT

When can guilt be unhealthy or harmful? What would people be like if they never felt guilty

about their harmful actions? When is it a good thing to feel guilty? Freud seemed to think there were far too many

laws and rules that oppressed people. But can laws and rules be helpful in developing our identity and in keeping society a worthwhile place to live?

“WIN ALL YOU CAN”

Capitalism: “Get all you can while the getting is good.”

Darwinism: “Survival of the fittest” had been distorted into social Darwinism

THINK:

What are some of the problems of uncontrolled capitalism?

What do workers deserve?

A VISION OF JUSTICE FROM US BISHOPS

1919 wrote Program of Social Reconstruction Advocated

Wages Insurance through entire life Medical care

THINK

Do you think these standards are being met in the workplace today?

Should religious values enter into business decisions?

TOTALITARIANISM

A total all encompassing system that orders national unity through political ideology

All aspects of life are controlled by a single party

Control media and education

COMMUNISM

In a classless workers state, religion was unnecessary

Justice for poor, oppressed workers Happiness and justice were present in this

life No longer could practice Christian faith

FASCISM

Stressed the dominance of one group Germany, Italy, Spain Oppressed religion

PIUS XI Condemned the errors of communism Communism was unacceptable because it

was totalitarian and atheistic Response to Fascism in Italy was complicated

Lateran Treaty Quadragesimo Anno: criticized the absolutist

state Diplomatic skills Wrote a letter to German Catholics

condemning Nazi brainwashing

WRITE ON LOOSE LEAF:

Should the pope criticize governments? Explain.

Your response should be in complete sentences and approximately 1/2 page to one full page in length.

COOPERATION OF CHRISTIANS

Remained silent German Catholics endorsed Nazis Trade unions Schools taught party line Nazi’s destroyed church organizations and

the Catholic press

WORLD WAR II

1939-1945 Hitler turned sites outside of Germany Japan joined Germany and Italy U.S. joined in 1941 after Pearl Harbor

POPE PIUS XII

Feared that speaking out would endanger Catholics

Remained neutral 400,000 Jews Felt they couldn’t stop Hitler Seen as a hero after war

What are moral issues facing the world today?

What is the Christian response? Are we doing enough?

CATHOLIC RESISTANCE

Franz Jaegestaetter Corrie ten Boom Edith Stein Maximilian Kolbe Bishops and others spoke out Nazis persecuted lower ranks

END OF THE WAR

War ends in Europe August 1945 US drops the atomic bomb Japan surrendered

THE COLD WAR AND ARMS RACE

USSR vs. US Nuclear arms race: creating the biggest and

most destructive MAD kept the countries from using them on

one another 1965 Vatican II condemned the use of

weapons of mass destruction

COMMUNIST PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH In the USSR and Eastern Europe

Persecution of the Church increased Pg. 296 strategies against the church Write a paragraph reflection explaining how you

see some of these same strategies used against the church today

In China Mao stressed need for Chinese nationalism and

destruction of all that was foreign and corrupt Eventually Catholic worship would be permitted

PIUS XII

Confronted communism Excommunicated Catholics involved in

communist activity Denounce persecution of the church Encouraged efforts to resist

ON THE EVE OF CHANGE

Pius XII Two encyclicals

Scriptures: approved modern scientific and historical methods for interpreting the scriptures

Mystical Body of Christ: emphasizing the importance of all members of the church

Movement toward early Church liturgy

CONCLUSIONS

Church had to constantly discern what the vision of Jesus would be in the midst of conflict

IMPLICATIONS The Cold War has ended, but the world is not

free of danger. Must resist evil like the Holocaust. We must

also resist nuclear weapons and arms races. Given the kinds of weapons available today,

Catholics are required to ask, Can war ever be justified?