The foundational principle of Catholic Christian Social Teaching in respect for human dignity which includes human life, human solidarity (love your neighbor), and preferential protection for the poor and vulnerable (powerless).
Social teaching relevant to human "solidarity" (O.S.V., p. 11) that involves societal structures such as government and equality follow logically from the foundational principle of respect for human dignity and the other principles cited in paragraph one.
"The principle of association" (Ibid.) teaches that the human person is by nature a social being So, the organization of the society in which we live including economics, politics, law, and policy are all directly related to human dignity.
The family unit is the basic societal unit of both church and state society. The stability and well being of the family structure must be fostered to enhance the common good and assist persons to become all they were meant to be.
"The principle of participation" (O.S.V., p. 10) is directly related to economic activity and social justice. The economic activity of work is a duty as the human person's participation in God's creation by fulfilling God's purpose for him in becoming all that the person was meant to be - his "best" self. To achieve his goal of the work especially meant for a person, that person has "a right to productive work" (Ibid.) that contributes to his/her own and the common good. This right includes "fair wages" (Ibid.) sufficient to support his/her family, the right "to organize and join unions, to private property, and economic initiatives" (Ibid.) like starting a business of his/her own.
"The principal of human equality" (O.S.V., p. 12) applies to justice, "treating" equals equally. It is all about equal opportunity to use whatever talents a person possesses. "Differences in talents are part of God's plan" (Ibid.) for each unique human soul he breathes into the body created from his parents' act of love.
"The principle of subsidiarity" (Ibid.) is a hot political issue in 2011 between our two major political parties. This principle is built in to our federal system by our national and state constitutions. The bottom line is that "no higher level of organization should perform any function that can be handled efficiently and effectively at a lower level of organization of human persons" (Ibid.) collectively or as an individual. This principle is directly linked to the dignity of each person, and that person's inalienable rights granted to him by his creator. The principle of human dignity entitles each person to membership in the human family that is on its own collective conversion journey.
Bibliography:
1. "The Ten Commandments of Catholic Social Teaching", Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Indiana, March 14, 2010, pp. 10-12.
Dr. Bernard J.Fleury's lifelong interest in History from the perspective of the people who lived it is evident in A Bee in His Bonnet, Print, Kindle E-Book, Audio Book, on website: http://www.greatgeneration.net. His firm belief in the synthesis of faith and reason (theology and science) as two aspects of a single reality-The Light - God, is clearly evident in his book Called into Life by the Light, Print, Kindle E-Book, Audio Book, on website: http://www.intolifebylight.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernard_Fleury
