The Implementation of Catholic Social Teaching in Taiwan

Abstract

Three aspects of the implementation of social teachings are investigated in this chapter. Four major findings emerged. Firstly, the organizational-ecological profile of the Church, namely too many too small organizations, has seriously limited aspects of the implementation; secondly, church authority and religious piety are the major positive forces on its assertion of Life/Family values, regardless of the strength of state regulations. It is the model of the Church’s civil engagement from the early 1960s till today. Thirdly, an appreciable level of Human Rights-related participation is also found. The major factor is church authority and the laity’s support. A healthy interaction pattern among external and internal actors is identified to be the major social mechanism in this aspect. Fourthly, implementation related to Social Justice is quite limited and the Church’s future stance on this is still ambiguous.