Sunday, February 20, 2011

Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Human Dignity

Belif 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 realized and protected in the context of relationships with the wider society.

How we organize our society-- in economics and politics, in law policy -- directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in the community. The obligation to "love our neighbour" has and 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 Responsibilties

Human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilites are met. Every person had 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. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilites -- to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

Option for the Poor and 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 option for the poor is a perspective that examines personal descisions, policies of private and public institutions, and economic relationships in terms of their effects on the poor - those who lack the minimum necessities of nutrition, housing, education, and health care. Those who are marginalized and whose rights are denied have privelleged claims if society is to provide justice for all.

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 neighbour as one's self.

The option for the poor is an essential part of society's effort to achieve the common good. A healthy community can be achieved only if its 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 a 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 unfairly or to be unable to participate in society. In the words of the U.S bishops, " The ultimate injustice is for a person or group to be treated actively or abandoned passively as if they were non- members of the human race. To treat people this way is effectively to say they simply do not count as human beings.

Dignity of Work/Rights of Workers

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organize 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 basic necessities of life.

Stewardship of Creation

Catholic tadition insists that we show our respect for the creatorby out 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 entrusted 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 sister' 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 persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good... because we are all really responsible for all"

Constructive Role For Government

Because we are special beings, the state is natural to the person. Therefore, the state had 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 assist citizens in fulfilling their responsibilty to others in society. Since, in a large and complex society these responsibilites cannot adequately be carried out on a one- to - one basis, citizens need the help of government in fulfilling these responsibilities and promoting the common good.

According to the principle of subsidiarity, the functions of governments should be performed at the lowest level possible, as long as they can be performed adequately. If they cannot, then a higher level of government should intervene to provide help.

Promotion of Peace

Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positivie, action- oriented concept. In the words of Pope John Paul II, " Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutal respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements".



Questions:
1.       List the 5 issues social justice aims to cover
Poverty
Child labour
Refugees
Homelessness
Hunger

2.       In your own words explain what is meant by human dignity
Human dignity relates to things people are proud of; we are made in the image of value and see ourselves as value and value others.
3.       What is meant by a moral vision for society
It is aiming for all levels of society to behave in a appropriate way and equal manner so that you feel safe.
4.       Which of the 5 social justice issues relates to human dignity
Poverty
Child labour
Refugees
Homelessness
Hunger

5.       Give an example of a community that you are part of
I am in the Stella Maris community.

6.       How is the community both sacred and social community.
It is a catholic girl school we uphold the catholic faith and we aim to live a moral and religious significant life.
7.       What is the major test of a moral society
The greatest moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.
8.       In what ways does your community look after the poor
Donate to salvos and vinnies and redcross get involved with public hospitals. 
9.       What are every humans fundamental rights
Every person had 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
It is an instrument to promote human dignity , protect human rights, and build on common good.
11.   Who is responsible for assisting the government to achieve its goal
All people

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The name of the Issue-
Children’s rights
A summary of the background of the issue-
Children in Sri Lanka in white uniforms sitting a tables in school canteenChildren’s rights are fundamental to a single person’s existence, they are not luxuries. Everybody is entitled to have their human rights respected. Human rights look to protect all people and provide for their fulfilled development. With rights come responsibilities to ensure that we do not offend on the rights of others. There are various international legal documents charactering human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreed to without dissent by the United Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948, sets out the basic rights and freedoms of all people. Children have the right to special protection because of their defencelessness against mistreatment and abuse.   

Details about the issue/ why the situation occurs-
Boys playing rugby at a sports carnival in South Africa
Around 11 million children die each year from largely preventable diseases caused by lack of clean water and inadequate health care. Through improved access to clean water, food and immunisation, the lives of many children are being saved. Children’s rights surround the fact of 101 million primary school age children worldwide are not enrolled in school, mostly all girls. A million more children are enrolled in schools now than at any time in history.  Another negative issue that sounds unfairness around children that one in six children aged from five to 14, 16% of this age group, are working around the world, close to 2 million children have been killed in armed conflicts in the past decade. 
What can be done about the issue (who is currently doing something?)-
Teenage boys in Nepal sitting on floor working with wood and tools
Governments that have signed the CRC must report every five years to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on what they are doing to provide children with their rights under the Convention. In many countries the lives of children have improved, but many children still do not have all they need to survive and develop fully. The more we know about rights, the more we are able to ensure that everyone has access to them. Nearly all countries in the world have signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and committed themselves to promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Lady Justice

What is the significance?
of the:

Blindfold- Lady Justice is often seen wearing a blindfold. The blindfold signifys objectivity, in that justice is meted out objectively, without fear or favour, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and blind impartiality.

Scales- Scales represent fairness and balance.The scales that she holds signify the impartiality with which justice is served and the sword signifies the power that is held by those making the decision.

Sword-  Lady Justice being well known for her clear sightedness, she is commonly seen holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other. The sword represents power that is held by those making the decision.

Origins and Significance - The origin may be Themis, a Greek mythological goddess. In depictions of her, she carries the scales of justice in one hand and a sword in the other, her eyes covered. She became an oracle at Delphi, and became known as a goddess of divine justice. Representations of the Lady of Justice in the Western tradition occur in many places and at many times. She sometimes wears a blindfold, more so in Europe, but more often she appears without one. She usually carries a sword and scales. Almost always draped in flowing robes, mature but not old, no longer commonly known as Themis, she symbolizes the fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, avarice, prejudice, or favor.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

List social injustice issues;

Poverty - is a long term vicious cycle of the matter of life and death, people find themselves unable to break away from.  In most cases many are deprivedfrom food, education, shelter and employment.

Discrimnation of the basis of sex- Womens rights in developing countries are poor and are treated unequally, men usually have the better of them referring to over less property. Also towards the means of the work force men over rule womens rights.

Racial discrimination - is another kind of social injustice, people who are black are considered inferior to the whites. There is no basis for this theory, yet racial discrimination is a reality which many African Americans live with everyday.

Sexuality - Nowhere is social injustice more obvious than in the case of homosexuals. People openly declare homosexuality to be unnatural and against religion! Denying homosexuals the right to get married and live a life of dignity is nothing but social injustice.

Domestic violence/ violence against women and children Women in undeveloping are treated unfairly relating to their status, they are not equal to men and resulting in domestic violence.

Fair wages/ Living wages - With women struggling for education, men usually have the benefit of living wages that relate to working structures and patterns.

Access to Health Care - There are no main access to health care, then are underprivelleged to recieving health care.

Social Justice

What is Social Justice?
A fair and proper admininstration of laws conforming to the natural law, that all persons irrespective of race, religion, ethnic orgin, gender and possession are treated equally and without prejudice.