Octogesima Adveniens:

An Apostolic Letter
A Call to Action - Paul VI, 1971

•Calls for political action for

economic justice
•Develops the role of individual
local churches in responding to
unjust situations and acting for
justice
An apostolic letter, not encyclical
• Shift from universal authority to local solutions
• trade unions must not abuse power; concern
that they could demand more than society can
afford
• applications to be worked out region by region
• Unions—acceptable element of social life;
contribute to well-being of community; calls for
new forms of cooperation; workers should be
able to contribute to company
• • Paul VI, 1971, A Call to Action
(Octogesima
• adveniens)
• – Human dignity and its relationship to an
aspiration to equality and an
• aspiration to participation
• – Central Tenet of CST: preferential
treatment of, or option for, the
• poor.