[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Video” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color=”#054368″ height=”35px” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”35px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” max_height=”35px” max_height_tablet=”” max_height_phone=”35px” max_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”35px” height=”35px” max_height=”35px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” make_fullwidth=”on” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/culture\/#newsletter” button_text=”Join our Newsletter” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600|||||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”font-family: %22Playfair Display%22″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”30px||0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”||30px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Mosaic (5)” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” animation_style=”fade” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Grid” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”90%” max_width=”90%” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”0||50px||false|false” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”90%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”M-5_grid” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (1)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item1 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/movie-presentation-crowd-audience-watch-show-performance-culture.jpeg” text_orientation=”center” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ background__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%”]<\/p>\n
Consumerism<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (2) – Gap Fill” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item2 grid-item_gap-fill” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover=”50%”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (2)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item2 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/landscape-tree-horizon-cloud-black-and-white-architecture-757898-pxhere.com_.jpg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”250ms” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” content__hover_enabled=”off|hover” content__hover=”<\/p>\n
Caring for Our Common Home<\/p>\n
“]<\/p>\n
Caring for Our Common Home<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (3)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item3 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/eucharist-adoration-crowd-group-youth-people-men-women-catholic-faith-God.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on|hover”]<\/p>\n
Religion is the Foundation of Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (4)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item4 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/crowd-people-hands-men-women-culture-audience-performance-camera.jpeg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″]<\/p>\n
We are Experiencing a Profound Human Crisis<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (5)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item5 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/human-skull-bones-dead-death.jpeg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”550ms” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%”]<\/p>\n
Radical Secularism<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (6)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item6 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/kevin-lee-96419-unsplash.jpg” background_position=”bottom_right” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%”]<\/p>\n
Alienation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (7) – Gap Fill” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item7 grid-item_gap-fill” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover=”50%”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (7)” module_class=”M-5_grid-item M-5_grid-item7 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/night-recreation-amusement-park-stage-performance-fair-carnival-culture-fun.jpg” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”on” filter_opacity__hover=”100%”]<\/p>\n
New Idols<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ custom_padding=”0px||0px” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”50px||50px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#eb7432″ custom_padding=”||10px” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||20px|” link_option_url_new_window=”on” inline_fonts=”Open Sans” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Pope Francis, 55<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_position=”bottom” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ make_equal=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” link_option_url_new_window=”on” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_182832615-1024×683.jpeg” alt=”Priest celebrate wedding mass at the church, showing the vibrant culture of the Church” title_text=”Priest celebrate wedding mass at the church” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||30px|40px” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”29px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Pope St. John Paul II established the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these –\u00a0culture is the most important<\/strong>: “All human activity takes place within a culture and interacts with culture.” (Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n “Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.”\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”READ MORE” icon_color=”#ffffff” open_icon_color=”#ffffff” module_class=”hover-btn-border read-more” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font=”Open Sans|600||on|||||” title_font_size=”14px” title_line_height=”1.7em” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”|||40px” custom_margin_tablet=”|||0px” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”|0px||” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Man remains above all a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth\u2026From this\u2026the culture of a nation derives its character.”\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 51)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0“<\/span>At the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God. Different cultures are basically different ways of facing the question of the meaning of personal existence.”\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”20px||50px|” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/prayer-resize-1024×760.jpg” alt=”Religious Christian girl praying with her mother indoors, symbolizing how human development plays into culture” title_text=”Religious Christian girl praying with her mother indoors” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”30px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”50ms” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||30px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Development must not be understood solely in economic terms, but in a way that is fully human.”\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29) <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n “[A]uthentic human development concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension.”\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 11)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n “[P]olitics and economy cannot be reduced to mere technical know-how bereft of ideals and unconcerned with the transcendent dimension of man…”\u00a0(Pope Francis, 10)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n “The apex of development is the exercise of the right and duty to seek God, to know him and to live in accordance with that knowledge.”\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_240840008-1.jpeg” alt=”Churchgoers provide an example of religion and culture” title_text=”AdobeStock_240840008-1″ force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”30px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”50ms” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||30px|” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n As Pope St. John Paul II pointed out:\u00a0Religion is at the foundation of culture<\/strong>.\u00a0Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching makes clear: the health of a\u00a0culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\n Absent that, \u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEvery good and worthwhile human activity is in some way a reflection of God\u2019s infinite beauty.\u201d (Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Kochi_India_slums-cropped-1.jpg” alt=”Homeless people’s tents contrast with skyscrapers, showing a severe pathology in our culture” title_text=”Kochi_India_slums-cropped” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”30px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”50ms” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||30px|” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]Catholic social teaching points out four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019 in our current culture: (Click each to learn more)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”FAQs” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”50px||50px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||20px” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Q: Why did Pope St. John Paul II add culture to what constitutes society?” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ _builder_version=”4.16″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”||||||||” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#084369″ background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”||20px” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”100ms” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A: Prior to Centesimus Annus, Catholic social teaching viewed society as the interplay among\u00a0politics\/government and economics<\/strong>.\u00a0Centesimus Annus is extraordinary in the way it reconfigures the basic framework of Catholic social teaching and definition of society. It establishes the need to maintain vibrant and critical interaction among economics, culture, and politics, emphasizing that of these three, culture is the most important.\u00a0Henceforth, while continuing to address the structures of society, (our political and economic milieu) Catholic social teaching also requires we focus on the cultural elements which greatly impact on us.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Q: What is the risk if we fail to focus on culture?” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ admin_label=”Q: Is the Church limiting the state\u2019s ability to effect needed changes and numerous goods?” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”||||||||” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#084369″ background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”||20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A: Failing this we are warned that \u201ccultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them, and man ends up being reduced to a cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 26)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.\u201d (Pope Francis, 62)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the greatest danger is \u201chuman beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a ‘throw away’ culture which is now spreading\u2026The excluded are not the ‘exploited’ but the outcast, the ‘leftovers’.”\u00a0(Pope Francis, 53)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is a well-known fact that\u2026millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span> while our culture deadens us to the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[A] globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people\u2019s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else\u2019s responsibility and not our own.\u201d (Pope Francis, 2017 World Food Day Address to Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Q: What role does religion play in culture?” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ admin_label=”Q: Is the Church limiting the state\u2019s ability to effect needed changes and numerous goods?” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”||||||||” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#084369″ background_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A: Religion is at the foundation of culture.\u00a0\u00a0Pope St. John Paul II points out that at the heart of culture lay morality and at the heart morality lay religion. And by insisting on a vibrant, publicly assertive moral-cultural order, he throws down a gauntlet to the modern world and what he calls \u201cskeptical relativism\u201d and what Pope Benedict XVI has called the \u201cDictatorship of Relativism\u201d which rejects religion in the public square. This situation \u201cin the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, Response to Questions Posed by US Bishops, 16 April 08, Washington, DC)<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Without religion society creates an illusion that God does not exist or that God can be restricted to the realm of purely private affairs. Catholic social teaching insists that Christians cannot accept that attitude. Why? Because\u00a0\u201cFreedom\u2026demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one\u2019s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, White House Welcoming Ceremony, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u201cFidelity to the truth\u2026alone is the guarantee of freedom\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 9)<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic social teaching makes it clear that the health of a culture demands that religious values be part of the democratic debate. Absent that,\u00a0\u201cpublic life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 56)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”50px||0px||false|false” make_fullwidth=”on” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” admin_label=”Pathology Widget” module_id=”issues-slider” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#084369″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_module=”30885″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_slide heading=”Consumerism” button_link=”\/consumerism\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/icon3.png” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” background_color=”#ffffff” link_option_url=”\/consumerism\/” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n \u201cThe exclusive pursuit of material possessions prevents man’s growth as a human being and stands in opposition to his true grandeur.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI, 19)<\/span> A person who is concerned solely or primarily with possessing and enjoying \u2013 who can no longer subordinate his instincts – cannot be free.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Environmental Degradation” button_link=”\/environmental-degradation\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/icon1.png” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_font_size=”30px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”center” body_text_color=”#054368″ background_color=”#ffffff” transform_translate_linked=”off” link_option_url=”\/environmental-degradation\/” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Both our physical and human environment are at risk and the Church insists we ignore neither! \u201cIt is contradictory to insist that future generations respect the natural environment when our educational systems and laws do not help them to respect themselves. The book of nature is one and indivisible: it takes in not only the environment but also life, sexuality, marriage, the family, social relations: in a word, integral human development.”<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Alienation” button_link=”\/alienation\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/icon2.png” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” background_color=”#ffffff” link_option_url=”\/alienation\/” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n We are losing the \u201cauthentic meaning of life\u201d!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>When we\u00a0<\/span>refuse to transcend ourselves \u201cand to live the experience of self-giving”.<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span> when society \u201cis marked by a \u2018globalization of indifference\u2019 that makes us\u2026closed in on ourselves.\u201d (Pope Francis, 1)<\/a> \u00a0both the individual and society are alienated.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Radical Secularism” button_link=”\/under-development\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/icon4.png” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” background_color=”#ffffff” link_option_url=”\/under-development\/” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n \u201cThe greatest challenge of our time is secularization\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 3)<\/em><\/span>\u200b<\/a>\u00a0Why? Radical secularism holds that there is no such thing as an objective truth. But, \u201cWithout truth, without trust and love for what is true, there is no social conscience and responsibility, and social action ends up serving private interests and the logic of power.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/em>\u200b<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|” animation_style=”fade” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”50px||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/structures-of-society\/” button_text=”The structures” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”|0px|50px|” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/CAPP_Icon_Politics.png” url=”\/politics\/” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”30px||15px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 130px;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/politics\/” button_text=”Learn more” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#eb7525″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#eb7525″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CAPP_Icons_Economics.png” url=”\/economics\/” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”30px||15px|” custom_css_main_element=”width: 130px;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/economics\/” button_text=”Learn more” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#eb7525″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#eb7525″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CAPP_Icons_Culture.png” alt=”An icon of a quill pen and a book symbolizes culture” url=”\/culture\/” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_padding=”30px||15px|” custom_css_main_element=”width: 130px;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/culture\/” button_text=”Learn more” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#eb7525″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#eb7525″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||10px|40px” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”29px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nKey Insight<\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_margin=”||12px|||” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nIntegral Human Development<\/h2>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_margin=”||12px|||” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nReligion and Culture<\/h2>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nPathologies in Our Culture<\/h2>\n
\n
FAQs<\/h4>\n
The Four Pathologies<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/h5>\n
The Church\u00a0<\/span>identifies four dangers or major \u2018risks and problems\u2019<\/b>\u00a0eating away at the cultural, economic, and political systems\u00a0<\/span>and begins to identify how to cure them<\/b>.<\/span><\/h5>\n
Politics<\/h2>\n
Economics<\/h2>\n
Culture<\/h2>\n
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