Principles of Catholic Thought for Human Dignity- myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about thePrinciples of Catholic Thought for Human Dignity. Answer: The Catholic Social Thought is perceived as a set of doctrines that are concerned with the society's common good as well as human dignity. The CST thus comprises nine fundamental principles. These principles draw from various sources including papal documents, Bishops' statements in conferences, and conciliar documents (Australia Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016). These documents are well understood by paying attention to the emphasis on the principles on lives and works of Christians as well as the scriptures. The development of the CST continues up to date not only in practice but also a theory. Fundamentally, the principles of CST stand as independent principles but are intrinsically related. In this sense, therefore, the primary role of this paper is to discuss the nine principles of the Catholic Social Thought. The paper will also explain the concepts, self, and community, and also show how they relate. Despite the increase in avariciousness and disregard for human dignity, the CST strongly supports human dignity. Hence, the principle of the dignity of human person connotes that all human beings have intrinsic dignity and natural inviolable human rights (FTPbroadcasts, 2013a). In other words, every human being is entitled to some rights by virtue of being human (Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 2016). For this reason, it is expected that all people value and uphold rights and self-respect of others. It is so because the dishonor of human dignity/ self-respect of a human person lead to the decrease of the dignity of humanity (FTPbroadcasts, 2013a). According to the Catholic Church, human life is sacred hence the dignity of the person is an expression that there is morality in the society (Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 2016). Moreover, the belief in the sacredness of human life and the innate dignity is the foundation for the principles of the catholic social teaching. Another principle that also supports human dignity is the community and the common good principle. The principle agrees that a person has dignity and is sacred as well as social (Center of Concern, 2008). Consequently, a person has various needs including emotional, physiological, social and emotional. Every person in the community possesses these common needs. As a result, there is the need to examine how the economics, politics, policies or law are organized in the community. According to the Center of Concern (2008) whatever changes take place in the community affects every individual. Therefore, government and other institutions have a responsibility of advocating and facilitating human dignity and common good for the community. The CST also comprises the principle that gives an option for the poor and vulnerable. Todays community is defined by the big gap between the have and the have nots.. However, this principle is centered on promoting Christian charity towards CST (Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 2016). Poverty, in this case, is perceived as a major setback that impedes human prosperity. The principle according to the Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis (2016) tackles the problem of poverty by prioritizing on those options that benefit the vulnerable. Notably, even as the principle advocates on helping the impoverished, the community benefits wholesomely. Another equally important principle is the principle of subsidiarity. Subsidiarity principle examines the social difference created by the decision makers while making decisions and those that are likely to be affected by those decisions (BlogactivTV, 2010). The principle supports that it is critical to ensure that the perso ns affected by the decisions also take place in the decision-making process. The participation also allows communities and individual persons in managing their affairs thereby preventing or resting external influence (BlogactivTV, 2010). The act of participating in the cultural, political, and economic activities of the community is a requirement for human dignity as well as the demand for justice. The universal purpose of goods is another CST principle which is in support of the accessibility to possessions/goods and resources by all people. According to this principle, the goods and materials in the world should be used for human prosperity. Again, the principle supports the notion that there should be the fortification of the dignity of work. The protection of the dignity of work is similar to the reverence of the workers' elementary rights. These are rights such as entitlement to better wages, ownership of private property, productive work, and right to compose and join unions. Furthermore, the principle of the stewardship of creation connotes the importance of people caring for God's creation (FTPbroadcasts, 2013b). One of the Catholic traditions maintains that people show respect to God through caring for the creation (FTPbroadcasts, 2013b). Maintain a healthy environment also play a significant role in ensuring that people living in the world prosper. Catholic Church in its social teachings underpins the need for promotion of peace which is also one of the CST principles. Peace, according to this principle is founded on the dedication to common good, justice and human dignity (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004). Hence, interference with these foundations results in interference with peace. Peace as understood and as echoed by Pope John Paul II is not the absence of war. Peace entails respect and development of confidence not only among people but also nations. It also involves collaboration and binding of agreements. Similarly, human dignity is also enhanced through the practice of global solidarity (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004). The principle of global solidarity borrows from the biblical notion that people should be their brother's and sister's keeper. Therefore, the principle underlies the need for personal responsibility towards each other regardless of one's race, background, religion or cultur e. The Interrelatedness Between Self and Community In its totality, the CST provides a common ground on which the self and community are interlinked. The interrelated between the two, as will be demonstrated below, depict how one cannot do without the other. Human beings are intrinsically social (Australia Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016). Consequently, the survival of each person within the community is dependent on others (Boudreau, 2012). Similarly, a community does not exist in the absence of the self. The person lives and acts within the society. Conversely, the community must exist to serve the self. The central theme of flourishing plays a primary role in exemplifying how the self and community are interrelated. The relationships that the self develops throughout the life are essential determinants of the nature of humanness. The absence of these relationships diminishes the aspect of humanity thereby inhibiting flourishing. Humanness is also defined through the connection that the self forms with the community (Australi a Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016). Therefore, the correlation between the self and community is based on mutual flourishing. The two are dependent on each other in the sense that when the self flourishes, the community also flourishes. The vice versa also happens. In other words, when the self fails to prosper, the community faces a similar fate. The self is said to flourish when it successfully achieves the physiological, emotional, social, and psychological needs are met (CAFOD, 2010). The flourishing therefore is the source of happiness for human (CAFOD, 2010). Moreover, when human achieves happiness the community also enjoys the same. In conclusion, it is evident that the principles of the Catholic Social Thought are primary in ensuring that human dignity is upheld. These principles, despite their composition in about a hundred years ago remain relevant in the modern day. Additionally, the CST principles help in the structuring, reinforcement as well as fostering the relationship between persons and their community. Principally, the established mutual relationship between the two increases both human and community flourishing. It is also important to note the significance of each principle and the role it plays in the community. Notably, no principle is superior to the other. Each principle is as important as the other. Despite playing a distinct role, the principles relate to each other. The Catholic Social Though thus seeks to demonstrate how the self relates to the community. The emphasis, in this case, is that the self and community are naturally interrelated such that when one entity is affected the other is also affected. References Australia Catholic Social Justice Council. (2016). Catholic Social Teaching. Accessed onSeptember 5th 2017 from https://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/socialteaching BlogactivTV. (2010, June 16).What is subsidiarity and why is it important? [Video File].Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFWKUzHO2UEfeature=youtu.be Boudreau, J. (2012). Ubuntu" I am what I am because of who we all are". Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.motivationinspirationandlife.wordpress.com CAFOD. (2010). Headline findings from a survey of the public conducted on behalf of CAFOD, Theos and Tearfund. Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CAFOD-Theos-Topline-Findings_Oct-2010-3.pdf Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. (2016). Catholic social teaching. Accessed onSeptember 5th 2017 from https://www.cctwincities.org Center of Concern. (2008). The principle of the common good. Accessed on September 5th 2017 from www.coc.org/files/principle.pdf FTPbroadcasts. (2013a, June 26).UNCC Dignity of the human person [Video file]. Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8zjSGTYq14 FTPbroadcasts. (2013b, June 25). UNCC100 Stewardship of creation [Video File]. Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w0FK4cTM2I Pontifical Council For Justice And Peace. (2004) Compendium of the social doctrine of the church. Accessed on September 5th 2017 from https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendiodottsoc_en.html#Origin and meaning