Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre speaking on the See-judge-Act Model.

The 2024 Annual Cardinal Bernardin Lecture, featuring Papal Nuncio and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, was held on the evening of 11 April 2024 at 7 p.m. in the McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, at Loyola University Chicago.

Cardinal Pierre suggested that the "tiredness" of this post-secular time in the church is also a kairos moment, "a time for renewal." His suggestion focused on three themes: See, Judge, and Act.

The Cardinal's emphasis on the See-Judge-Act model, a cornerstone of Pope Francis and the papal diplomatic core, resonates with the church's need to find a language to proclaim the Good News in these challenging, post-secular times. His suggestion to use this method for dialogue with the world today is particularly relevant. 

Using the See-Judge-Act model will help us develop the necessary language of mercy that must be continuously learned anew to bring about the kingdom of heaven here and now.

The Cardinal emphasized that if we examine Jesus' teachings, we see a focus on the person. All the attention is on the specific person, and using the See-Judge-Act method should help us discern the greater good and lead us to act in the world's best interest of humanity.

See: The world needs a method to employ to understand how to live the gospel. 

Judge: The world struggles in the art of discernment, the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that could be more obvious and straightforward.

Act: The world needs support and encouragement to act. One of the most frustrating things we experience as human beings is knowing what we want to do, thinking about it constantly, but never actually making it happen.

Unfortunately, way too many people choose to stay where they are, in comfort. 

This is where you and I come in. We need to focus on educating people about the model. 

Repitatio est mater memoriae

The See-Judge-Act model is a way to develop critical judgment about situations, events, and structures. It involves:

Seeing: Gathering information about social situations. Talking with people who experience the issues at hand.

Judging: Discernment is about analyzing the situation in light of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) principles. This will require education on the encyclicals, supporting documents, oral tradition, and the stories told by those who have lived the model. Be reflective, Seek more information through theories and faith teachings, and examine the world and their experience again. Keep in mind: The Currency of human contact is stories! People remember what they "see" in their minds.

Acting: Taking action to promote justice and improve the situation of those served is the greater good.

Remember that the model is never a finished process; it is a process of ongoing improvement (POOGI) as social realities constantly change. Solutions to social problems are not easy; progressing on one issue may mean people's focus turns to another.

Study the models used by the Franciscans and the Jesuits, and you will see tweaks that assist people in using the model. Develop your tweaks; I have done this for my work in technology and teaching. Here is an example: 

(When the video link is posted from the lecture, I will share it with everyone.) 

Photo: Loyola University Chicago