Human Dignity
Belief in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic social teaching. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the starting point for a moral vision for society.
The principle of human dignity is grounded in the idea that the person is made in the image of God. The person is the clearest reflection of God among us. We are require to honour the human person, to give priority to the person.
Community and the Common Good
In a culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. Human dignity can only be realized and protected in the context of relationships with the wider society.
How we organize our society –economics and politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute the good of the whole society to common good.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things for human decency – food, shelter, clothing, employment, health care and education.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A basic moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation.
The obligation to evaluate social and economic activity from the view point of the poor and the powerless arises from the radical command to love ones neighbour as one’s self.
The option for the poor is an essential part of society’s effort to achieve the common good. A healthy community can be achieved only if it’s members give special attention to those with special needs to those who are poor and on the margins of society.
Participation
All people have a right to participate in the economic, political and cultural life of society. It is a fundamental demand of justice and a requirement for human dignity that all people be assured a minimum level of participation in the community.
It is wrong for a person or a group to be excluded unfairly or to be unable to participate in society.
Dignity of Work/Rights of Workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organize and join unions.
People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limit. No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life.
Stewardship of Creation
Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the creator by our stewardship of creation. The goods of earth are gifts from God, intended for the benefit of all.
We humans are not the ultimate owners of these goods, but rather, the temporary stewards. We are entrusted with the responsibilities of caring for these gifts and preserving them for the future generations.
Global Solidarity
Catholic social teaching problems that we are our brothers and sister keepers, wherever they live. We are one, human family whatever our nation racial, ethic, economic and ideological differences. Solidarity means that loving our neighbours has global dimensions is an
Constructive Role of Government
Because we are social beings, the state is natural to the person. Therefore, the state has a positive moral function. It’s an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights and build the common good. One of the key functions of government to assist.
Promotions of Peace Catholic Peace
Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action oriented concept. In the words of Pope John Paul 2, “Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements”.
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