Key Principle of Catholic Social Teaching

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 required to honor 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 realised and protected in the context of relationships with the wider society.

How we organise our society, in economics and politics, in law and policy, directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. The obligation to "love our neighbor" has an individual dimension, but it also requires a broader social commitment. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the good of the whole society, to the common good.

Rights and Responibilities
Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency-starting with food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care, and education.


Option for the Poor and the 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 viewpoint of the poor and the powerless arises from the radical command to love one's neighbor as one's self.
The option for the poor is an essential part of society's effort to acheive the common good. A healthy community can be acheived 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 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 un fairly or to be unable to participate in society.

Dignity or Work/Rights of Workers

The economy ust serve the people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive work, decent and fair wages and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organise and join unions.

People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limits. No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basci 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 the 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 intrusted with the responsibility of caring for these gifts and preserving them for future generations.

Global Solidarity

Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. Solidarity means that "loving our neighbour" has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

John Paul II has called solidarity a virtue. It is the virtue, he says, by which we demonstrate "a firm and perservering determination to commit oneself to the common good...because we are all really responsible for all."

Constructive Role for Government

Becausewe are social beings, the state is natural to the person. Therefore, the state has a positive moral function. It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build the common good.

One of the key functions of government is to assisst citizens in fulfiling their responsibility to others in society. Since, in a large and complex society these responsibilities cannot adequately be carried out on a one-to-one basis, citizens need the help of a government in fulfilling these responsibilities and promoting the common good.

Promotion of Peace

Pope John Paul II, "Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collabration and binding agreements."

1.       List the 5 issues social justice aims to cover

5 social justice issues that social justice aims to cover are;

·         Poverty

·         Child Labour

·         Refugees

·         Homelessness

·         Hunger

2.       In your own words explain what is meant by human dignity

Human dignity is believing that everyone is of worth and that have self-respect. Every human is made in God’s image and made by God.

3.       What is meant by a moral vision for society?

Aiming to do well for all levels in society.

4.       Which of the 5 social justices relates to human dignity?

All of the above issues relate to human dignity.

5.       Give an example of a community that you are part of.

Stella Maris College community

6.       How is this community both Sacred and Social?

Stella Maris College is a catholic girl’s school and we uphold the catholic faith. It is social because of our connection with our friends here.

7.       What is the major test of a moral society?

How a community treats their most vulnerable members of society.

8.       In what way does our community look after the poor?

Vinnies, Salvos, Red Cross, World Vision, Caritas, Medicare, soup kitchens, meals on wheels, mission beat and the church.

9.       What are every human’s fundamental rights?

Every human has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency-starting with food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care and education.

10.   What is the role of the government in maintaining human rights?

To promote human dignity, protect human right and build the common good.

11.   Who is responsible for assisting the government to achieve its goals?

All people are responsible by voting.

 

A Social Injustice issue task

Our global issue is WATER!

Water is the essence of life; we use water in our day to day lives without it the human race would die out aswell as the millions of animals that inhabit the earth.  Water covers more then 70% of the worlds surface yet many billions of people die every year because they cant get access to fresh drinking water. Some people in the world don’t have easy access to water that is clean and healthy. Water is necessary for sanitation and consumption, without it, it is impossible to survive. Many people, mostly living in developing countries, only have access to dirty water which would be contaminated with germs and diseases.  If people are ill from drinking bad water, they aren’t able to attend work; school etc therefore those people would not be able to make money.

As water becomes scarcer, people begin to start arguments about who gets the water. It is necessary for water to be shared equally and resourcefully otherwise people will not be getting the water they need and or getting extremely sick from the water they are drinking. Natural disasters also affect our water systems in bad ways. Flooding can contaminate the drinking systems or a drought could wipe out the water altogether.

·         1 billion people don’t have safe drinking water

·         2.8 billion Don’t have good sanitation

·         1.8 million People die each year from diarrhoeal dieseses and 90% those people are children under the age of 5!

Australia’s government is trying to target certain problems including this water issue. Their aim is to reduce poverty and raise the living standards in developing countries. The government e:

1)         Water Governance-managing the sustainable use of water

2)         Delivery Systems-improving the efficiency of existing water systems while increasing the access to water and sanitation services.

We can donate to charities such as world vision and caritas who are doing tremendous work in 3^rd world countries to try and get water pumps in towns.

We can make people more aware of the challenges that the people that live in 3^rd world countries have to face every day.

Water

A summary of the background of the issue:

Some people in the world don’t have easy access to water that is clean and healthy. Water is necessary for sanitation and consumption, without it, it is impossible to survive. Many people, mostly living in developing countries, only have access to dirty water which would be contaminated with germs and diseases.  If people are ill from drinking bad water, they aren’t able to attend work; school etc therefore those people would not be able to make money.

Details about the Issue/why the situation occurs:

As water becomes scarcer, people begin to start arguments about who gets the water. It is necessary for water to be shared equally and resourcefully otherwise people will not be getting the water they need and or getting extremely sick from the water they are drinking. Natural disasters also affect our water systems in bad ways. Flooding can contaminate the drinking systems or a drought could wipe out the water altogether.

What can be done about the issue (who is currently doing something?):

Australia’s government is trying to target certain problems including this water one. Their aim is to reduce poverty and raise the living standards in developing countries. The government e:

1)      Water Governance-managing the sustainable use of water

2)     Delivery Systems-improving the efficiency of existing water systems while increasing the access to water and sanitation services.

Lady Justice



The Lady Justice



The Lady Justice is most often depicted wearing a blindfold and holding some scales and a sword.

Lady Justice wears a blindfold to show that the judicial system does not judge depending on someones race, age, origin, sex etc.

She holds scales to represent the balance between good and bad.

She carries a double edged sword in her hand to symbolise the power of reason and justice which can be brandished at any side, for or against.

Issues of Injustice in the World

The issues of injustice in the world include:

• Poverty-the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support
• Malnutrition-lack of proper nutrition; inadequate or unbalanced nutrition.
• High unemployment rates-Countries with many unemployed people
• High crime rates-Countries with many crimes
• Discrimination-treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit
• Political Injustice-When governments do something bad to benfit them
• Economic Injustice-The inequality between countries
• Slavery-the condition of a slave; bondage
• Access to fresh water-lack of access to water in countries
• Homosexual rights-Not dicriminating against homosexuals
• Racism-hatred or intolerance of another race or other races
• Child Labour-Employing children to do work for minimal or no pay
• Homelessness-Not having a home
• Gender equality-The equal value of women and men
• Certain violences, such as child abuse-The physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of children.

What is Social Justice?

A fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law, that all persons irrespective of race, religion, ethnic origin, gender and possesion are treated equally and without prejudice.