The welfare of humanity can be rooted down to the Catholic social teaching which lays the foundation by analyzing the needs of even the “poorest members” of the community. Through the Rerum Novaram (an encyclical issued by Pope Leo Xlll on May 15, 1891), themes such as the dignity of a person, value of family, rights, concern of the poor, value of work, solidarity and the environment are all carefully examined. The Catholic society attributes the highest value for its people and the respect for each person. In this perspective, human life is valuable from the point when the person is formed in the womb to the point that the person dies through natural death. Ethical issues such as abortion and euthanasia are strongly argued as being the immoralities done to life. The respect for each of the individuals particularly form the respect towards a family or community. The catholic church holds account for its principle that family is the basic form of the society. Of the basic societal unit, family, branches off the rights and responsibilities of each person. Catholic church advocates the principle that each person has the right to own property up to a certain extend and also each person has responsibilities of his/her own . These responsibilities also include looking after the poor. The church also teaches that maintaining the social mortgage, one should perceive his poor brothers/sisters as equal to him and has the responsibility to fulfill his/her needs in all ways. The work structural should also maintain its terms of personal equality towards all its workers, without considering the superiority of the person. Through this the principle of solidarity can also be upheld. Solidarity calls in unity all its members to work together as a group to maintain the universal peace and structure. Lastly care for god's creation. Catholic teaching also include the aspect of protecting one's surrounding from his/her own actions. The environment is the gift of God and no human activities which can destruct the resources can be tolerated. All these teachings compose the universally divine tone and peace which is responsible to continue the relationship between the creator and its creation.
I like how you emphasized the sanctity of all creation. These aspects of social and personal responsibility really should be taken up by all of humanity, not just Catholics. I feel like we have a great need to practice what we preach. I was at the Newman Center yesterday for some guys fellowship, and we touched upon the point that it's not enough to "talk the talk", but we also need to "walk the walk." I would not be surprised to find out that most atheists have chosen their perspective on religion based on hypocritical and contradictory actions of the faithful. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the Gospel daily, and when necessary, use words." I believe that our actions are far more important than whatever faith we have. There's no point in having faith, in my opinion, without putting it into action. It's no good for us to walk around thinking we're right and everyone else is wrong. I have met Hindus, Jews, Agnostic, Muslim, and secular people who have structured themselves to live the right way, according to much of the principles you highlight in this post. Being Christian does not make us special if we don't put it into practice. Like a hymn goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love."
ReplyDeleteAgree! No matter whatever we say or preach, the question is that if we are really putting those words into action. And thats the only way we as believers in Christ can make this world a better place.
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