Principles of Catholic Social Thoughts
Discuss about the Principles of Catholic Social Thoughts.
The Catholic Church says that the human life is sacred. The human dignity is the basic aspect for a society. Catholic Church believes in divinity in moral life and internal dignity of the individuals. Human dignity is a basic aspect for all the principles of catholic social thoughts (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Community and the Common Good
The tradition of Catholic Church says about the human beings who are not only sacred by human dignity but also social. Social beings are created the society, economics, politics and law which affects the human dignity and community. The Catholic Church teaches about the government rules and other policies of the institution. This is used to protect the life and dignity of human beings. And also develops the common good, which is related with the principle of human dignity and solidarity (Anon, 2016).
The Principle of Respect for Human Life
The main idea of Catholic community is the principle of respect for human life. The catholic tradition says that, “All the human beings are sacred from the natural death”. Catholic tradition gives special appreciation to the person who are weak, poor, physically challenged, elder, unborn or dying (Anon, 2016) (Www3.nd.edu, 2016).
Principle of Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Society was damaged by extending divisions between rich and poor. Catholic tradition teaches about the story of the Last Judgement (Mt. 25.31-46) and also instructs the people to put the requirements of poor people and helpless first (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Participation
In modern society, all the human beings have rights to participate in all the fields or should participate in minimum level of fields. On the other hand, it is not right to reject any person without a proper reason in the society (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Stewardship
In the Catholic tradition, they respect the creator by creation of stewardship. They protect their stewards and teaches them about the faith in God’s creation (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Solidarity
The Catholic social thoughts say that all are brothers and sisters in the world. Also states that all the human beings are one family. Solidarity means loving our neighbour. Pope John Paul II said about the Solidarity (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is a Latin word (subsidium). The meaning of subsidium is to help, aid or support. This principle is used to protect individuals or groups but generally it is used for the relationship between particular nation-states and worldwide public authorities. The main aim of this principle is used to reduce the whole task of the state and also for other large scale institutions (Anon, 2016).
Principle of Promotion of Peace
The thoughts of Catholic develops peace and action- oriented concept. In Catholic teaching, there is a relationship between peace and justice. In conclusion, peace is a fruit of justice (Anon, 2016).
Interrelationship between ‘Self’ and ‘Community’ in the Principles of Catholic Social Thoughts
Figure -Interrelationship between ‘self’ and ‘community’ (Catholic Social Teaching, 2016).
Community
At the beginning, God created man and woman. God designed man and woman, so that they should live in a community. Human beings are said to be in a community. They are combined together by economics, politics and cultural structure. The relationship of community and self gives strength to the social beings. According to the principles of CST, community is a gift of God and the Christians are constructing a social, economic and political life that correlates to God’s plan (Catholic Social Teaching, 2016).
Self-Service
The main reason for self- service is a bridge between community and the common good. The Self- service is used to make good political, social or cultural relationship. Self-mortification is an easiest form of humility. The interpersonal mortifications are more useful than a little self-inflicted one. The best act of self-mortification is stated by John Paul II that, “I would be to resign when I knew I was not able to carry out his ministry” (Catholic Sensibility, 2010).
Problems Related to the Dignity of Human Person
In Ireland, Mette Lebech from department of Philosophy says about the problems in human dignity. The textual evidence results in the issues which are related to human dignity. The four contexts in textual evidences are, the Classical, the Christian, the Modern and the Contemporary. The life and dignity of human beings should be protected and respected in all the stages. The human dignity is the first principle of Catholic Social Thoughts (Socialconcerns.nd.edu, 2016).
The problems in human dignity plays a major role in political agreement, in moral theorizing and in social policy. In Christian context, the human beings are dignified based on the ranks. But Gospel said that, “The image of God is used to refer the human beings”. The principle of Human Dignity in Catholic Social Teaching considers the issues of the starting and ending of human life. The Christians consider a dignity of human beings as reclaimed by Christ through baptism. But, for Jews and Muslims, the dignity will not restore by the death. Pope Benedict XVI says that, “The Catholic Church can maintain the link between life ethics and social ethics. Catholic community keeps the values of the dignity of a person, justice and peace”. Various plans are used to achieve the human dignity such as education, prayer and policy. Apart from human dignity, Catholic Community focuses on the issues such as HIV and AIDS patients, all rights of human beings, poor people, physically challenged people and -maintains peace (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, 2016).
Realization of Common Good
Common good is considered as an organization for the welfare of human beings. Common good is one of the principle of Catholic Social community. Common good needs the basic rights for the life in society. In common good, all the people should share the advantages of society. The organization (common good) should be recognized by the government (Catholic Social Teaching, 2016) (ed, 2008).
From Gaudium et Spes, #26, “As a result of common good, the conditions of social life allows social groups. The members of the group access their fulfillments. Common good helps in increasing the rights of human life. The main objectives of the common good are as follows:
- Common good always respects the human who are made in God’s image.
- It is used for the development of the society.
- It is used to maintain peace, stability and security.
- Common good also explains the principle of human dignity and solidarity.
The below figure shows about the objectives of common good. 
Figure- Functions of Common good (Catholic Social Teaching, 2016) (ed, 2008).
Presentation of Common Good
During 1890, the rise of the industrial revolution created a major social disturbance. The Common good helped the people and also submitted a document called Condition of Labor by Pope Leo XIII 1891.
During1930, the Great Depression was a major problem in U.S. The common good submitted a paper called The Reconstruction of the Social Order by Pope Pius XI 1931 and also helped the poor people.
During 1980, the Cold war between Eastern blocs and western blocs countries. The common good submitted a document called On Social Concern by Pope John Paul II 1981 and also helped the injured people.
During 1990, the events of Eastern Europe. The common good submitted a document called One Hundred Years by Pope John Paul II 1991 (ed, 2008).
References
Anon, (2016). [online] Available at: http://meetingpoint.org.au/assets/mp_s17_tpocst.pdf [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Anon, (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.cctwincities.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Key-10-Principles-of-CST_1-pager.pdf [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Catholic Sensibility. (2010). On Self-Mortification. [online] Available at: https://catholicsensibility.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/on-self-mortification/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Catholic Social Teaching. (2016). Further Explanation. [online] Available at: http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/themes/community-participation/explanation/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
ed, J. (2008). The Principle of the Common Good. The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Though.
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation. (2016). Human Dignity. [online] Available at: http://omiusajpic.org/issues/human-dignity/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Lebech, M. (n.d.). On the Problem of Human Dignity. National University of Ireland.
Socialconcerns.nd.edu. (2016). An Introduction to the Principles of Catholic Social Thought | Center For Social Concerns. [online] Available at: http://socialconcerns.nd.edu/content/introduction-principles-catholic-social-thought [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Usccb.org. (2016). Human Life and Dignity. [online] Available at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/index.cfm [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
Www3.nd.edu. (2016). An Introduction to the Principles of Catholic Social Thought: Center for Social Concerns. [online] Available at: http://www3.nd.edu/~socconcn/mission/cst/cst_into.shtml [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].
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