INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

The focus of the third year of religious studies is the teaching of the Catholic Church in regards to social justice and various life issues from “the womb to the tomb”. As someone once said, “Catholic social teaching is the best kept secret of the Catholic Church”. It is something that many people, even within the Church, are not aware or familiar with. During the year it is our goal to help students learn and understand what the Church’s teachings are in regard to social justice and life issues. Some of the areas we will examine and discuss are:

• The problem of evil.
• An overview of Catholic social teaching.
• Examine justice in regards to: the virtues, society, right to life, prejudice, racism, poverty, peace, war, work, environment, sexuality.
• Key social documents issued by the popes and bishops since Pope Leo XIII (Pope from 1878-1903) up to the present.
• Both testaments of the bible will be used to examine how social justice is dealt with there, with emphasis on the teachings of Jesus on social justice.

NEEDS AND RESOURCES

Required Materials

To successfully complete this course, you will need:

• Text – Catholic Social Teaching: Learning and Living Justice – By Michael Pennock
• New American Bible
• Various Articles will be assigned during the course of the year.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

General Rules:

1.)     Students are expected to be in class on time and in uniform. Any student who is late must have a school pass.

2.)     Food and drink, including gum, are not allowed in class.

3.)     Students are not to write on desks or throw paper on the floor.

4.)     Students are asked to raise their hand and not speak out in class.

5.)     Students are expected to have all necessary materials for class every day, as well as any assignments that are due.

6.)     When absent any work missed is to be handed it within one day of return to school. Students are expected to find out what they missed. Make up test and quizzes are to be taken at 2:30PM only.

7.)     All assignments are to be either typed or neatly written in blue or black ink only.

8.)     There is to be no going to lockers.

9.)     For every assignment that entails questions and answer, the questions should always be written.

10.)The heading for each assignment or class work should be at the top on the right side of the paper: Name, period, class color code, date due.

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Grading Policies:

Students will be graded as follows:

Tests – 40%

Projects - 20%

Homework – 20%

Quizzes – 10%

Class work 10%

Students need to keep in mind that their grade is not a grading of their faith, but academic work only.

CONTACT INFORMATION