Theological Foundations new file

219 A Theological Evaluation come his weaknesses and external threats. As we continue our evaluation of this teaching, we should not over- look Father Papczynski’s and Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz’s involve- ment in social issues. These issues were a matter of concern especially close to their hearts and stood out as signs of the times pointing to vari- ous shortcomings in the lives of their contemporaries. In their teaching they tried to remedy these deficiencies and show a way out. Social issues play such an important role in Father Papczynski’s teaching that E. Jarra devoted an entire monograph to this subject. He wrote in its conclusion: “Here is an outline of Father Papczynski’s social thought which emerges from his works, presented in a systematic and comparative manner. A striking and prevailing characteristic of this thought is the author’s progressiveness. He not only rises above the ignorant milieu of 17th century Poland but also surpasses many of the political writers of the time:” 46 This emphasis is very important because, in his treatment of social issues, Father Papczynski was able to rise above such names as Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro (1621-1679), Andrzej Chryzostom Zaluski (1650-1711) or Lukasz Opalinski (1612- 1662). The first of these writers demanded the preservation of liberum veto, the second never brought himself to condemn this evil, either, and the third, a supporter of the traditional freedom of the nobility, held the middle class in contempt. Meanwhile, Father Papczynski condemned liberum veto in two of his works and refused to give any rational basis to privileges based on a person’s birth. 47 Such an attitude is all the more noteworthy insofar as his times were characterized by a reluctance to deal with social issues and by a deterioration of the community aspect of Christian morality. 48 E. Jarra, quoted above, also spoke about Father Matulaitis- Matulewicz and his involvement in social issues. He expressed his great appreciation of Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz’s work as he remembered his participation in the lectures on political economy: “Prepared in this manner, Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz became actively involved in the Christian social movement defined at the time and broadly understood