Catholic Social Thought and the Common Good PDF

Understanding CST Catholic Social Thought (CST) Seal of the and the Common Good Society of Jesus By Fr...

Understanding CST Catholic Social Thought (CST) Seal of the and the Common Good Society of Jesus By Fred Kammer, S.J. “The Catechism notes three essential elements of the common good: respect for the individual, the social well-being and development of the group, and peace…” Critical to Catholic thinking is the society. Essential to this is ensuring the A Global Duty fundamental concept of the common good. accessibility to each person of “what is Common good responsibility is not The Catechism, following Pope John needed to lead a truly human life: food, just about “my country.” The Church XXIII in Mater et Magistra and Vatican II, clothing, health, work, education and speaks of a universal common good defines the common good as: “the sum culture, suitable information, the right to resulting from the increasing human total of social conditions which allow establish a family, and so on.”5 interdependence of globalization.8 people, either as groups or as individuals, The third element of peace and According to Pope Benedict, this to reach their fulfillment more fully and stability of a just social order presupposes common good and the effort to achieve it more easily.”1 The common good applies that “authority should ensure by morally must assume “the dimensions of the to each human community, but its most acceptable means the security of society whole human family, that is to say, the complete realization occurs in the and its members.” community of peoples and nations, in political community where the state’s such a way as to shape the earthly city in role is “to defend and promote the common good of civil society, its citizens, Whose Responsibility? unity and peace, rendering it to some degree an anticipation and a prefiguration and intermediate bodies.”2 First of all, everyone has of the undivided city of God.”9 responsibility for the common good as an embodiment of charity and justice. In Three Essential Elements Pope Benedict’s words, “The more we ENDNOTES The Catechism notes three essential strive to secure a common good 1 Cathechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1906, elements of the common good: respect for corresponding to the real needs of our citing Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, the individual, the social well-being and neighbors, the more effectively we love 1961, no. 65 and Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes, 1965, no. 26. development of the group, and peace which them. Every Christian is called to results from the stability of a just society. practice this charity, in a manner 2 Catechism, no. 1910. The common good’s conceptual roots lie corresponding to his vocation and 3 Rev. Charles E. Bouchard, OP, STD, Catholic in Greek and Roman philosophy as the according to the degree of influence he Healthcare and the Common Good, Health goal of political life, the good of the city wields in the pólis.”6 The pontiff Progress, May-June 1999, pp. 34-40, at 34. (pólis), and the task entrusted to civic indicates that this is the “institutional 4 Catechism, no. 1907. leaders.3 path” of charity—addressing juridical, 5 Ibid., no. 1908. Regarding the first essential of civil, political, and cultural institutions. 6 Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009), individual respect, the Catechism notes When animated by true charity, this path no. 7. that all “public authorities are bound to has greater worth than a merely secular respect the fundamental and inalienable and political stand. 7 Catechism, no. 168. rights of the human person.”4 This means The state shares responsibility for 8 Ibid. far more than the utilitarian “greatest the common good since “the common 9 Ibid., no. 1911. good for the greatest number,” but insists good is the reason that the political authority 10 Pope Benedict, op. cit., no. 7, emphasis in that majorities respect individual rights. exists.”7 The State must ensure the original. The common good’s second coherency, unity, and organization of element—the group’s social well-being civil society “in order that the common and development—maintains that good may be attained with the authority’s proper function is to arbitrate contribution of every citizen.8 between various particular interests in Loyola University New Orleans 3