Introduction: “Catholic Social Teaching (CST) offers a way of thinking and how a community visualises the world. It provides a vision for a just society in which the dignity of all people is recognised, and those who are vulnerable are cared for” (CSSA, 2017). CST has made a great impact on increasing more compliant and sympathetic communities over the centuries (Australian Catholic University 3.1.1). The Common Good: The common good, one of nine Catholic social teachings, is achieved when a group of people work together together to increase the wellbeing of individuals in local communities (Australia, 2017). The term “The common good” can produce several dimensions (Australian Catholic University 3.2.2). It represents that all people’s needs …show more content…
It is stated that putting the poor and vulnerable needs first is for the common good as a society. Subsidiarity: Subsidiarity is the contribution of people who form or make up a community or company (Australian Catholic University 3.3.1). It ensures that when making a decision, those who will be affected personally will be able to participate in that decision making procedure (Australian Catholic University 3.3.1). The Universal Purpose of Goods: This CST states that “the goods of the world are meant for all” (Peace, 2011). CST consistently upholds the right to private property as an important human right that respects the greater principle of universal purpose of goods (Australian Catholic University 3.4.1). Stewardship of Creation: The definition of this CST defines that “humanity should use the earth’s resources responsibly to facilitate the flourishing of peoples whilst respecting creation in light of its Creator” (Scott, 2014). This quote intends that Humans were put on earth to facilitate everyday human needs whilst respecting the earth and all of Gods …show more content…
If we are not at war, we must be at peace” (Vogt, 2013). This quote suggest that war is that common in modern society and that the definition of peace is when the world absent from war. It is evident that without war there will be peace, but the promotion of peace in the perspective of CST is much more than the absence of war. It should be about striving towards something more positive. The term Peace develops communities and personal lives as it guides to embrace diversity and show support to the highest extent possible (Greene, 2017). Participation: The catholic social teaching “participation” gives all humans a right to participate in society and seeking the wellbeing of all. It is stated that participating in building a community is one of the ways Catholics preach and live their lives at the service of the dignity of an individual (Poulsom, 2017). Golden Rule: The golden rule can be found in many different beliefs, faiths and moral systems (Australian Catholic University 1.3.2). The rule has the capability to be a moral foundation that human family’s can collaborates together to build a peaceable, fair and maintainable
Around the world,, there are those who don’t have access to food, shelter or even clothes. Although most people wouldn't lift a finger to help the situation, the work of Caritas, Oasis and the Brotherhood of St. Laurence has a major impact on the lives of these people and although they may come from different denominations, they still work towards a common goal: helping all those in need. Their work reflects the teachings of the New Testament as well as the Catholic Social teachings, this essay will have a look at how they do that.
This incorporates the idea that people band together for mutual help and safety, essentially to protect their own interest. By doing this, however, they in turn protect the interests and safety of society.
Wojtyla, Karol. "On Social Concern." Catholic Social Teaching. Office For Social Justice. 1 Nov. 2004 www.osjspm.org/cst/srs.htm
Another theme of Catholic Social Teaching is the theme of The Common Good. This theme ensures that no sections of the population is excluded and have the right to benefit from the welfare of the community; this applies on a local, national and international level for people who are marginalized such as people experiencing homelessness. This is therefore linked to the ideas of human dignity and human development, making them the fundamental aim of all societies. Seen from the point of view of Catholic Social Teaching the idea of distribution is based on the genuine love of freedom and desire to spread this freedom to people who are experiencing homelessness and are able to gain such benefits from the community around them.
We often view war as a disastrous chaos stemming from the fact that wars are fought to kill other people. However, when we look back on our history, all the wars that have been fought are a part of one greater war ever since the start of humanity, the war against peace. In the novel, A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, readers realize that is impossible for a separate peace to exist because as products of nature, humans naturally gravitate toward war since it connects them to their survival instincts, ultimately leading humans to the conclusion that war is the natural order and that peace is a threat to humanity's bloody, yet unsettling harmony.
“War may well be the worst way imaginable to create larger, more peaceful societies, but the depressing fact is that it is pretty much the only way” (Morris 1). To elaborate, war sadly is the only method that works, even though that a lot of things happen that are unfortunate. Some examples of war being necessary are The Revolutionary War, World War II, and The French and Indian War.
War is a hard thing to describe. It has benefits that can only be reaped through its respective means. Means that, while necessary, are harsh and unforgiving. William James, the author of “The Moral Equivalent of War”, speaks only of the benefits to be had and not of the horrors and sacrifices found in the turbulent times of war. James bears the title of a pacifist, but he heralds war as a necessity for society to exist. In the end of his article, James presents a “war against nature” that would, in his opinion, stand in war’s stead in bringing the proper characteristics to our people. However, my stance is that of opposition to James and his views. I believe that war, while beneficial in various ways, is unnecessary and should be avoided at all costs.
This treatment lead to WWII and many other conflicts. The Golden Rule or treat other as you would like to be treated is an overall rule that can change the mindset of many. Most people think of only themselves and this rule opens their minds to understand others and opens their eyes to see that what they are doing can hurt. The Golden Rule also prevents violence and conflict with feeling the emotions or physical pain of the opposing side. These rules together shall create an equal, opinionated, and kind society.
Massaro, Thomas, S.J. Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action. Plymouth, UK: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012. 70+. Print.
This is where the social contract comes into play; the only way for a society to run successfully is if people agree on rules to govern their actions. The social contract requires one to set aside their self-centered desires, and agree upon rules that benefit everyone as a whole. The essence of the “contract” is that everyone agrees to do the same thing and act in the same ways. In the sense of the social contract, “morality consists in the set of rules, governing behavior, which rational people will accept, on the condition that others accept them as well.” (Rachels 83)
This chapter began by introducing the concept of a civil society. Chirico (128) described it as people organising outside of government channels to meet social objectives. She pointed out that social movements in the past have focused on communities within nations while the current movements focus more on involving people from diverse parts of the world in order to promote human welfare regardless of where in the World they happen to be. Chirico shared a quote from Simmel (128) that really resonated with me and, in my opinion, captured such a complex concept into a short and simple sentence. He said that “Humanity is the collective life, the same people who from other perspective are organized into societies, polities economies, families, and so on”. I take this to mean that we are all, basically, the same; we are all humans who are trying to make it through whatever life we have been given to live. People are just people. I think the concept of civil society is one that I wish more people would understand and embrace instead of holding on to prejudice, judgement, and ignorance. According to Chirico (128), individuals who help do so out of a sense of shared experience by recognising that everyone is a victim of global problems and that anyone can help. There are endless ways to participate whether it be through a formal organisation such as NGO’s, The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and The Peace Corps, through non-profit organisations and advocacy, or more individually by making donations, sponsoring a child, mentoring, volunteering in their communities. These are regular people who volunteer, and sometimes risk their lives, to fight for equal rights and treatment for all.
This “relationship” previously stated is the basis for the second key theme of Catholic Social Teaching. “The Catholic social encyclicals teach that to be human is to experience not only rights but also obligations to others” (Massaro, p.84). A strong advocate for solidarity, Pope John Paul II stated “To be human is to be a social being, one whose very life is and should be bound up with those in close proximity and even distant strangers (Massaro, p.84). Solidarity exists when individuals are contributing towards a common good, which is simply a goal in life that is held above the private benefits of those individuals. Catholic Social Teaching states that when the individuals of today make sacrifices for the common good of a ...
Peter Singer said; “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (Famine, Affluence, and Morality). As human beings, we have a moral compulsion to help other people, despite the verity that they may be strangers, especially when whatever type of aid we may render can in no approach have a more significant consequence on our own life.
Modern Catholic social teachings trace its beginnings to the writings of Pope Leo XIII. His insight on Christian philosophy, politics and the social order and applies to teachings in current injustices in the economic order. Leo XIII’s teachings were also critical participation in the developments of modern social and economic life. He rooted his social ethics in the supreme value of the human person and added that all political and social structures need to respect and respond to this primary and moral claim of human dignity. While the Church and the political community are autonomous and independent of each other in their own fields, the Church is “at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human person”.
As the practical influence was the more important of the two, the Catholic Church developed an extremely large practical role in the social services before it evolved. Today this order is being reversed. The church’s role as a service provider was deteriorating mainly because falling vocations left the church without suitable persons to sustain their roles. The reputation of the Catholic Church has also been stained by the found information of the shocking abuses committed by members of the Catholic Clergy on vulnerable people, particularly children, whom had been placed in their care. Despite the effects of these scandals, the new means of influencing social policy debate has a substantial effectiveness and may well offer a means by which the church can play an important role in the development of social policy in the future (Socialjustice.com. 2014).