THE ISSUE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE DISCUSSED AT THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL

LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN CONTRIBUTIONS

Abstract

The agenda of Vatican II was progressively delineated from the consultation proposed by John XXIII, in 1959-1960. The contributions of Latin American and Caribbean protagonists collaborated in  putting it together. Among other aspects, they drew attention to multiple issues related to the so-called social doctrine of the Church. This article offers an overview of the proposals and, subsequently, presents and analyses the interventions in the conciliar hall (1964-1965), concerning the debates on the topic of socio-economic-life” and on its corresponding chapter in the drafting of Gaudium et spes. The itinerary al­lows us to visualize the growing development of an ecclesial and socio-cultural awareness, some changes in the course of things and, also, seeds of developments that would appear in the post-conciliar period regarding the theological-pastoral method and theological categories such as liberation and option for the poor, which had been absent until then.

KEYWORDS: Social Doctrine of the Church. Gaudium et spes. Social Justice.