In the fourth quarter, students in Dr. Tony Melito’s and Mr. Gerald Ursin’s Religion III classes participated in games of Monopoly to stress the lesson of the Catholic Social Teaching, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable..
Students started out with various amounts of money, ranging from $110 to $2,000. On the first day, the game was played with normal Monopoly rules; however, on the second day, students had to create rules to ensure that no players were taken out of the game.
The Religion III students focused their studies on the issue of social justice. The lesson incorporated Catholic teachings on life, family, and care for the poor and the working poor. Students also learned that as Catholics they must care for the vulnerable and ensure all people are treated with the respect with which God intends them to be treated.
Specifically, the Monopoly game allowed students to better understand Catholic teachings on justice for the poor. The disparity of wealth at the start of the game helped students to make real the actual wealth disparity that exists in our world today. Additionally, the rules on the second day helped students better understand the Catholic Church’s teaching on the “preferential option for the poor” that calls on Catholics to ensure that the poor receive adequate supplies and are thus kept in the game of life.
