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LINKING HUMAN RIGHTS to CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

This text explores the two approaches to morality - the traditional Catholic social teaching and the human rights approach. It discusses the evolution of Catholic social teaching and its emphasis on the common good, solidarity, and concern for the poor. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of incorporating human rights principles into Catholic social teaching and the need for reconciliation between individual rights and the common good.

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LINKING HUMAN RIGHTS to CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

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  1. LINKING HUMAN RIGHTS toCATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Donal Dorr

  2. TWO APPROACHES to MORALITY: 1. The First Approach: Focused on what is GOOD Goes back to Aristotle Emphasis on the Common Good, Solidarity, Concern for the Poor Natural Law – prior to human laws This is the basis of the older tradition of Catholic Social Teaching

  3. BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS INTO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING HOSTILE: ‘What about the Rights of God!’ RADICAL CHANGE: John XXIII 1963Pacem in Terris(Peace encyclical) Vatican II: Scriptural Basis Paul VI: To the U.N. (1965)Populorum Progressio (1967)John Paul II: Rights of Oppressed Workers; Cultural and Economic Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  4. Major Developments: 1. Emphasis in CST on Right to Participate in Decision-Making. This allows one to Demand that Other Rights be Respected 2. Declaration on Religious Freedom of Vatican II in 1965 Freedom of Conscience replaces ‘Error Has No Rights’ 3. Synod 1971: Rights in the Church freedom of expression; right to be heard;a legitimate diversity; judicial procedure – know the accusers, and proper defense

  5. 4. Synod 1971: Rights of Women in Society and in the Church 5. Synod 1971: Right of Poor Countries to a Fair Share of Limited Resources; Protest Against Environmental Exploitation

  6. 6. Medellín 1968. Puebla 1979Preferential Option for the Poor, taken up by the popes Not just about our Lifestyle but also about major political, economic, and cultural changes. Closely linked to this is the Theology and Spirituality of Liberation – empowering people to stand up for their own rights, solidly based in O.T. and life of Jesus – see Pagola, Jesus, A Historical Approximation

  7. 7. TRAFFICKING: POPE JOHN PAUL II, 2002 “Trade in human persons a shocking offence … & a grave violation of fundamental human rights … an affront to fundamental values” Pope Francis, Easter 2013: “human trafficking is the most extensive form of slavery in this twenty-first century!” Pope Francis: May 2013: “I reaffirm here that the ‘trade in people’ is a vile activity, a disgrace to our societies that claim to be civilized!”

  8. 2. Second Approach to Morality Focused on HUMAN RIGHTS: Enlightenment, French and USA Revolutions National Laws & International Conventionsto Specify and Defend/Enforce these Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Civil and Political Rights: e.g. right to life, to security, to freedom of conscience Economic, Social & Cultural Rights e.g. Work, Equal Pay, Disability …

  9. Two Covenants to put Universal Declaration into law 1966-1976 Convention Against Torture Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention against Transnational Organized Crime e.g. Trafficking

  10. WEAKNESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH Focus on MY Rights: Individualism versus the Common Good What Basis? Which are Genuine? How Reconcile Rights which Clash?

  11. Catholic Corrective: SOLIDARITY Part of a Family, Local Community, Human Community, Community of Nature - Animals, Forests, Cosmos Link Rights to Common Good and Care for Natural Environment Liberation theology Raised Our Awareness of Structural Injustice and emphasis on empowerment of the poor – struggle for their own rights, not just doing things for them

  12. ‘NATURAL LAW’ NEEDS CORRECTION Not Organs in Isolation The People Who Have the Organs, the Human Community, the Community of Nature Not ‘Book of Rules’ of Particular Objects but Holistic - See the System as a Whole ‘Grammar of Nature’: Evolution

  13. When Corrected, Both Approaches Converge Human Rights Approach: Outrage about Torture, Abuses, Discrimination Natural law / Common Good Approach: Negotiate Clash of Claimed Rights Respect for Animals and Nature Rather than ‘Animal Rights’

  14. CONCLUSION: Key Words: Respect for Human Dignity, Solidarity, Concern for Common Good, Participate in Decision-Making, Empowerment The Ecological Dimension is Vital: Defend Rights of Inhabitants of Islands and Forests – sacrificed to Greed of a Few, Insensitivity of Us Nourish Ourselves by Awe before the Mystery of Creation and Evolution and by Insight into ‘The New Story’ We will be Inspired by the Holy Spirit to Cry Out with Jesus in Wonder and Gratitude to the Creator

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