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The Family as Basic Social Unit
Living Out Catholic Social Teaching
Foreword by John S. Grabowski
Imprint: Catholic University of America Press
The Family as Basic Social Unit provides a theologically rooted account of the family's social roles and responsibilities. As a basic social unit, the family is both internally social and socially interdependent with other social communities. Reflecting on the family's internally social character, Schemenauer proposes that Catholic social teaching applies to family interactions. He analyzes household labor using papal teaching on work and sibling violence with more recent theological analysis of peacemaking, and he argues that families can complete works of mercy when they feed hungry and care for sick family members. In the second part of the volume, Schemenauer describes the social interdependence of families. He analyzes the relationship between families and the Church, civil society, the economy, and the state. Schemenauer proposes that the question for families is not whether to engage with other social communities but how to do so well. He explicitly highlights how consumer capitalism creates obstacles for families attempting to live as a basic social unit. Then, employing the categories of infused simplicity and moral cooperation, he provides a framework for discerning family engagement with broader society. Finally, Schemenauer analyzes the relationship between family commitments and social ministry. Working from the family outward, Schemenauer describes how family commitments can motivate broader social service, but then employs the example of families involved in the Catholic Worker Movement to reflect on the joys and dangers of balancing commitment to one’s family with social ministry focused on the urgent needs of those outside of one’s household.
Kevin Schemenauer is associate professor of systematic theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, IN. John S. Grabowski is associate professor of moral theology and ethics at The Catholic University of America.
"Applies critical, serious moral theological thinking to the everydayness of the family's internal and external social character and responsibilities. His application of traditional CST principles to the quotidian workings of the family itself is a novel, important contribution. Schemenauer can do so because the family is authentically a social community already. Taking that fact seriously allows for such a refreshing project."
~Kent Lasnoski, author of Vocation to Virtue: Christian Marriage as a Consecrated Life
"Too often Catholics reduce social doctrine to politics and planks in a party platform. But it really begins with the family. If we get the family right, we succeed. If we fail to get the family right, we fail in everything. This book situates the family where it belongs — at the center — and moves us from problem to solution and from theory to practice. It will be useful as a textbook for Catholic social thought and a guide for pastors who want to understand the households that make up their parishes. Serious Catholic families, too, will find in these pages inspiration for a renewed sense of mission."
~Mike Aquilina, author of The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
"We live in a time when family units often seem inwardly turned, so busy with daily life that it seems too difficult to get to know next door neighbors. At the same time, we live in a culture that is often hostile to family life, which in turn makes it all the easier to want to turn inward. Yet the Church calls families to engage in society and to practice Christian discipleship. How do we do this in a faithful way? Kevin Schemenauer deftly shows us a way forward, through deep theological reflection and discussion of both Catholic moral theology and Catholic social teaching. Throughout, Schemenauer offers some very practical ideas for living as Christ’s disciples both in the family and in society at large."
~Jana Bennett, University of Dayton
"In The Family as Basic Social Unit, Dr. Schemenauer has provided a great service for Catholic theologians and families trying to live out the gospel. He presents the Catholic Church’s teaching on the social dimensions of the family and then builds upon this teaching by using the works of mercy and the virtues. The result is a compelling vision for how families can care for themselves and for others."
~Jason King, Center for Catholic Studies, St. Mary's University, TX
"This book is a big consolation! Our culture —ravaged by expressive individualism and the sexual revolution —urgently needs to focus on the social role of the family. Schemenauer has done a great service to Catholic social thought."
~Msgr. Martin Schlag, editor of Handbook of Catholic Social Teaching: A Guide for Christians in the World Today
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