Catholic Social Thought Principles
The Principles of Catholic Social Thought
Catholic Social thought Significantly impacts society with the developing of a more peaceable and sympathetic world of societies over the times. Catholic Social Thought focuses on nine main areas which are Dignity of the human person, common good and community, subsidiary, universal purpose of goods, stewardship of creation, promotion of peace, Global solidarity, participation, and preferential option for the poor. The Catholic social thought principles have the purpose of demonstrating to individuals that there is a strong an intentional interrelationship between the concepts of self and community.
Dignity of the Human Person
The dignity of the human person described by (Mckenna, 2013) that humans …show more content…
can be extremely robust or incredibly fragile, therefore we have to have the responsibility to understand how our actions may affect the dignity of a self or another human person. The dignity of the human person is a principle which assigns value to each individuals life. Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person creates a starting point in the work for a moral vision for society.
The Common Good
When speaking of the common good, this refers to what belongs to each individual by virtue of their common humanity, which means that the common good is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as individuals or in groups, to reach their fulfilment easier. (Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, 2010) It is said that everyone has a responsibility to assist in contributing to the wellbeing of society as a whole, to the common good.
Subsidiary
The core idea of subsidiary implies a proper limit on government by insisting that no higher level of organisation should perform any function that can be maintained at a lower level of human beings who are closer to the problems. (Bryon, 1998) The only time a higher authority should be involved is when an issue is not able to be dealt with by any of the authority below. The principle of subsidiarity fosters life within humanity as a group, without excessive social control.
Universal Purpose of Goods
The universal purpose of goods, is that so human beings can have the ability to flourish through the use of the goods that the world has to offer, mankind flourishes through having access to these materials.
The goods of the earth are meant for all. (Catholics in Coalition For Justice and Peace, 2011) Catholic Social Thought principle of universal purpose of goods teaches individuals and community that no one is justified in keeping anything for his/her exclusive use for what he/she does not need when other individuals or community’s lack necessities. (Catholics in Coalition For Justice and Peace, 2011)
Stewardship of Creation
A sign of showing respect for the Creator is by the stewardship of creation. As human beings, we have the responsibility to care for the worlds goods as stewards and trustees. (Anon., n.d.) How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, as without a healthy environment, human beings would not be able to flourish.
In the way of Catholic Social Thinking, the goods of the earth are representing as gifts from god, as they are intended to the benefit of all beings. (Devitt, n.d.)
Promotion of Peace
Peace in Catholic Social Thought means more than the absence of war, it promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept, which involves mutual respect and confidence between the peoples and nations. (Devitt, …show more content…
n.d.)
Peace is required for the development of human life, with this the protection of the goods, dignity and the freedom of people is established. For order to be maintained among human beings, peace needs to be established. (Caritas Australia, n.d.)
Global Solidarity
Global solidarity is one of the main principles in social catholic thought and this principle demonstrates the accountabilities of people to each other notwithstanding human differences. For example race, geography, culture, religion, nationality. As we are one human family. (Devitt, n.d.) Through this respect is created and promotes personal, economic, social, cultural and political rights. (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, n.d.)
Participation
The principle of participation encourages the view that people have a right and duty to participate in society, which encourages to common good and well-being of all, mainly the poor and vulnerable.
(Bryon, 1998)
Catholic Social Thought works mostly through participation, thus making this a core component of Catholic Social Thought.
Preferential option for the poor
Preferential option for the poor is an important principle as it encourages societies that are flawed by a deepening division amongst the wealthy and the poor, our tradition instructs us to place the needs of the poor and vulnerable before the wealthy. (Bryon, 1998) This preference is mainly to improve the flourishing of the poor, which in turn encourages flourishing for communities as a whole. This principles is practically a moral test of society of how it treats its most vulnerable members.
Interrelationship between self and community.
In understanding the study of the principles of Social Catholic Thought, it is also essential to understand the interrelationship between self and community. The interrelationship of self and community is recognised all around the world. For example, the golden rule is a highly-recognised idea and the Africans have the notion of
Ubuntu.
Flourishing
When attempting to understand the interrelationship between self and community, it is essential to understand the idea of flourishing. “To flourish is to live within an optimal range of human functioning, this connects goodness, growth, generativity and resilience.” (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005) Understanding and promoting flourishing of human people is extremely important to maintain a healthy and positive psychology. (Fredrickson, 2006)
Flourishing is importantly more important and meaningful to the human person then short term happiness, as this helps the individual grow.
A community will begin to flourish if individuals (self) begin to flourish, as a positive self with then continue to lead to a positive flourishing community.
Principles of CST, Individual and Community Flourishing
Through the use of the nine catholic social thought principles, catholic social thought seeks to make the individual human and community strengthen and maintain structure, with the overall objective of increasing the development of human flourishing.
The golden rule; is to treat others how you would want to be treated. The social catholic thought principles all touch base and lead back to the idea of the golden rule, as this rule is also essential to human flourishing.
For a society to function, flourishing is essential, the human person is what makes this possible, and catholic social thought attempts to encourage this, through their nine principles catholic social thought guides individuals to understand and achieve flourishing, to benefit individuals, and community’s as a whole.
Catholic Social thought Significantly impacts society with the developing of a more peaceable and sympathetic world of societies over the times. Catholic Social Thought focuses on nine main areas which are Dignity of the human person, common good and community, subsidiary, universal purpose of goods, stewardship of creation, promotion of peace, Global solidarity, participation, and preferential option for the poor. The Catholic social thought principles have the purpose of demonstrating to individuals that there is a strong an intentional interrelationship between the concepts of self and community.
Dignity of the Human Person
The dignity of the human person described by (Mckenna, 2013) that humans …show more content…
can be extremely robust or incredibly fragile, therefore we have to have the responsibility to understand how our actions may affect the dignity of a self or another human person. The dignity of the human person is a principle which assigns value to each individuals life. Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person creates a starting point in the work for a moral vision for society.
The Common Good
When speaking of the common good, this refers to what belongs to each individual by virtue of their common humanity, which means that the common good is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as individuals or in groups, to reach their fulfilment easier. (Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, 2010) It is said that everyone has a responsibility to assist in contributing to the wellbeing of society as a whole, to the common good.
Subsidiary
The core idea of subsidiary implies a proper limit on government by insisting that no higher level of organisation should perform any function that can be maintained at a lower level of human beings who are closer to the problems. (Bryon, 1998) The only time a higher authority should be involved is when an issue is not able to be dealt with by any of the authority below. The principle of subsidiarity fosters life within humanity as a group, without excessive social control.
Universal Purpose of Goods
The universal purpose of goods, is that so human beings can have the ability to flourish through the use of the goods that the world has to offer, mankind flourishes through having access to these materials.
The goods of the earth are meant for all. (Catholics in Coalition For Justice and Peace, 2011) Catholic Social Thought principle of universal purpose of goods teaches individuals and community that no one is justified in keeping anything for his/her exclusive use for what he/she does not need when other individuals or community’s lack necessities. (Catholics in Coalition For Justice and Peace, 2011)
Stewardship of Creation
A sign of showing respect for the Creator is by the stewardship of creation. As human beings, we have the responsibility to care for the worlds goods as stewards and trustees. (Anon., n.d.) How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, as without a healthy environment, human beings would not be able to flourish.
In the way of Catholic Social Thinking, the goods of the earth are representing as gifts from god, as they are intended to the benefit of all beings. (Devitt, n.d.)
Promotion of Peace
Peace in Catholic Social Thought means more than the absence of war, it promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept, which involves mutual respect and confidence between the peoples and nations. (Devitt, …show more content…
n.d.)
Peace is required for the development of human life, with this the protection of the goods, dignity and the freedom of people is established. For order to be maintained among human beings, peace needs to be established. (Caritas Australia, n.d.)
Global Solidarity
Global solidarity is one of the main principles in social catholic thought and this principle demonstrates the accountabilities of people to each other notwithstanding human differences. For example race, geography, culture, religion, nationality. As we are one human family. (Devitt, n.d.) Through this respect is created and promotes personal, economic, social, cultural and political rights. (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, n.d.)
Participation
The principle of participation encourages the view that people have a right and duty to participate in society, which encourages to common good and well-being of all, mainly the poor and vulnerable.
(Bryon, 1998)
Catholic Social Thought works mostly through participation, thus making this a core component of Catholic Social Thought.
Preferential option for the poor
Preferential option for the poor is an important principle as it encourages societies that are flawed by a deepening division amongst the wealthy and the poor, our tradition instructs us to place the needs of the poor and vulnerable before the wealthy. (Bryon, 1998) This preference is mainly to improve the flourishing of the poor, which in turn encourages flourishing for communities as a whole. This principles is practically a moral test of society of how it treats its most vulnerable members.
Interrelationship between self and community.
In understanding the study of the principles of Social Catholic Thought, it is also essential to understand the interrelationship between self and community. The interrelationship of self and community is recognised all around the world. For example, the golden rule is a highly-recognised idea and the Africans have the notion of
Ubuntu.
Flourishing
When attempting to understand the interrelationship between self and community, it is essential to understand the idea of flourishing. “To flourish is to live within an optimal range of human functioning, this connects goodness, growth, generativity and resilience.” (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005) Understanding and promoting flourishing of human people is extremely important to maintain a healthy and positive psychology. (Fredrickson, 2006)
Flourishing is importantly more important and meaningful to the human person then short term happiness, as this helps the individual grow.
A community will begin to flourish if individuals (self) begin to flourish, as a positive self with then continue to lead to a positive flourishing community.
Principles of CST, Individual and Community Flourishing
Through the use of the nine catholic social thought principles, catholic social thought seeks to make the individual human and community strengthen and maintain structure, with the overall objective of increasing the development of human flourishing.
The golden rule; is to treat others how you would want to be treated. The social catholic thought principles all touch base and lead back to the idea of the golden rule, as this rule is also essential to human flourishing.
For a society to function, flourishing is essential, the human person is what makes this possible, and catholic social thought attempts to encourage this, through their nine principles catholic social thought guides individuals to understand and achieve flourishing, to benefit individuals, and community’s as a whole.