The Principles of the Catholic Social Teachings - Essay Example

Catholic Social Teaching Thesis ment: Impact of the Catholic Social Teaching on the current American Society According to the Catholic Social teachings there is a commitment to the Catholic Church to protect the human life from the time when the woman conceives up to the point of natural death. It is important to note and mention that the outstanding principle of the consistent ethic of life seems to uphold human dignity, subsidiarity and solidarity (Benestad 2). The Catholic Social teaching anchors on the modalities and guidelines that should lead a Catholic’s life. It stipulates that a person or a voter ought to examine a politician’s performance, philosophy, and integrity before electing the politician into office. It is to say that a Catholic ought to consider a politician beyond the veil party positions and go the extra mile to analyze the politician’s viewpoint as it relates to human life. In principle and retrospect, it is important to note that the findings of this paper will assess the impact of the Catholic Social Teaching on the contemporary society. Introduction In the recent past, the American clergy and part of the Bishops have been involved in attempts and endeavors to shape the social thought process of the society. It is the line with the idea and principle that recognizes that man is continuously facing obligations that may vary and mutate with each passing day (Keenan146). There are dynamic moral issues in the human environment which have occasioned the American Catholic Bishops to take a position accordingly. As a matter of fact and principle, there are unique roles and positions that the Catholic Bishops in America have assumed additional to their primary call. For instance, in most countries in the world today, there is the notion of religious liberty where all the religions of the world are expected to coexist. The Bishops have innately expressed the legitimacy of the Catholic religion while acknowledging the presence of other faiths. It is not to imply in any way that the other faiths and religions are illegal or improper; rather Catholicism is the one true religion in the world (McCarthy 158). In retrospect, this paper will delve and analyze the impact of the Catholic Social teachings on the contemporary society and the role of the American Bishops relative to the dynamic cultural inclinations of the society. How the Roles of the Catholic Bishops have changed in society The role of the Catholic Bishops has in the recent past changed to give opinion and direction to the things happening around in the society. The changed rules however derive their moral obligations and founding from the USCCB priorities. The priorities include promoting family life, social justice, enforcing global solidarity and public realm. It is a slight depart from the conventional role where the Bishops were required to preach, evangelize and save the human race (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace 11). Intuitively, there are pressures that are placed on the Catholic Social Teaching by the culture of Americans. Culture in its innate sense and simplest meaning refers to lifestyle and way of life of a people or a society as a whole. The way they eat, how they talk, their dress codes, how they marry, what is right and proper for them amongst many others. It is to say that culture gauges how one group of people act in relation to their mates, peers, and other people. It is important to note and mention that the culture is a dynamic phenomenon that is learned from one generation and passed to the next. The way and manner in which the cultural happenings ad dynamics have changed in the society have forced and influenced an equal measure in the role of the American Bishops. It is to say that the Bishops have modified their religious guidance and duties against the social realities of the contemporary days and ages. A practical sense and instance are the fact that American Catholic Bishops have been in the forefront of advocating adherence to the Bible teachings while shunning social misdeeds which may appear to be in fashion or to trending. The cultural transgressions and misbehaviors of one generation may not necessarily be the same shortcomings that the next generation would be exposed to. However, the American Bishops have taken a firm position to ensure that the society as a whole is cautioned and directed in the light and line of truth relative to Bible teachings. It is also imperative to note and mention that the social sphere and circumstances which the people live in change with time and seasons. However, the tenets of the Christian foundation remain static, and it is the role of the Bishops to contextualize the social happenings into the lives of the Catholic faithful. A good example is the invention and subsequent growth of the social media, where the Bishops have been forced to educate the congregation on the proper principles of using the social media so as to realize positive results and findings. In the ordinary sense, there is some degree and level of changing the roles of the American Bishops in the past and contemporary society. Role of Bishops in civil society A practical sense is the fact that the American Catholic Bishops have also taken roles as subsidiaries and partners in the civil society. The primary function of the Bishops, as outlined above, is to preach and guide humanity in the spiritual realms. However, the ills and excesses of the society have forced them to partake in the struggle for social justice and movement. According to the source and text Compendium of social doctrine (239), the clergy ought to inject a new perspective into service of men in sectors such as culture, economic, politics, and family. In the conventional and natural sense, one expects that these areas (culture, family, politics, and economics) of the society would be acrimonious, emotive or adversarial even to be discussed by the common ordinary people. However, the Bishops have showed that the sectors of humanity named included here ought to be served with signs and expression of love (Compendium of social doctrine of the Church, 243). It refers to the active role that the Bishops have taken in matters relating to social justice and activism. The society especially the United States of America has experienced changes and clamor for expansion of those rights and spaces. In reality, change can only be effected if there is some reasonable level of agitation from the people in a society. For instance, when American demanded equal rights based on race and expulsion of segregation laws.It required that the supporters of an equal society and country demonstrated in the streets and cities to raise awareness on their grievances. The Catholic Bishops may not have marched on the streets with them, but they provided an enabling environment where they added their moral support for the activist. It is to say that the Bishops provided moral support and care to the movements and in turn fulfill their role in light of social justice and activism. Catholic Social Teaching on the consistent ethic of life Naturally, there is the aspect and notion of politics in the human society which Catholics cannot avoid or ignore in their lives. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops thus documented the guidelines for the faithful to operate within as far as politics is concerned. In practice, it would be expected that the members of the Catholic Church would view the political and civic duties or responsibilities with a guided view (McCarthy 162). Subsequently, Catholics would not exclusively rely on the tenets of Catholic teachings and practices while electing leaders into political offices. Instead, the faithful ought to base their political principles in line with public debate. The irreducible minimum however as put forth in the form of guidance is that the Catholic faithful ought to engage their religious doctrines and teachings as regards to politics. It is so because the magnanimity of public offices and duties have a moral dimension that cannot be considered or discussed without any religious foundation (McCarthy 162). A practical example and instance is the concept of violence and truth which implies that it is wrong for a human being or a society as a whole to direct any form of violence or seek to silence people who do not share the same opinion or doctrine. During political discourse or engagement, opponents may assume acrimonious and adversarial positions or stances. Be that as it may, the American Bishops have held that it is worthy for faithful and the society as a whole to recognize the inalienable right of those who are our opponents (Mcarthy 163). The baseline in this argument and line of thought is that there is a free will for each person to think without any form of intimidation or coercion. Thus, the Catholic Social Teaching relative to the consistent ethic of life at the very minimum requires that Catholics and the society as a whole give respect to political opponents while respecting their freedom of thought. The Constitution itself requires that all people are accorded equal respects because they have inalienable rights and privileges. Inalienable rights and freedom refer to those entitlements that a person cannot lose under any circumstance or situation, and no other person can limit such benefits. It is the inalienable right of an individual to think freely, without coercion or intimidation. Thus, during political engagements, it is required that a person should have the liberty to vote or think as he or she wishes, and the next person should respect the rights of the person. Accordingly, it would suffice that Catholics are guided to comply with the political opinions and views of other people regardless of whether the Catholics share such views or not. Catholic Social Teaching regarding Abortion The Catholic social teaching relative to abortion has been given a different view and perspective. It begins with the primary and objective role of a family where it is defined as the smallest unit of the society. It is the duty and function of family to bring forth new members into the society. If abortion is allowed, it will follow that the very logic and purpose of family would be defeated (Benestad 274). Subsequently, the Catholic Social teachings are express and clear that abortion is a social and moral ill or excess which should be condemned. It is to say that the consistent ethic of life prohibits abortion. Instead, the church supports the protection of human life from the point of conception up to natural death (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace 9). The principle argument is that life is a gift from God, and all efforts must be taken to protect it. It is proper to understand that abortion refers to the forceful and voluntary expulsion of a fetus or an unborn baby from the womb of its mother. The reasons given for abortion range from social where the mother fears perception and perspective of society to medical where there exists a real life threat to either the mother or the unborn baby. The Catholic Social Teachings are very categorical and express on the conditions which abortion may be permitted. Specifically, if there lay real-life danger and health threat to either the mother or the unborn baby, then, under guidance and permission of a medic could abortion be granted. It may be counterproductive to risk and jeopardize the health and life of the mother by forcing her to carry the pregnancy to term and then lose her life or that of the baby. However, the church supports that proper preventive medical interventions ought to be taken to save and protect the life of the mother or baby even if the fetus would be expelled from the womb. The church does not however support abortion because the mother fears shame or what the society would say about her. Under such a scenario, the mother is advised that children are gifts from God, and they should be embraced and cared for and not be aborted. Catholic Social Teachings as it regards to capital punishment Capital punishment in its part relative to the Catholic Social teachings is opposed categorically. An example of the capital punishment is a death penalty against grave offenders. The underlying principle and argument is that the death penalty does not in any way deter future or subsequent instances if crime, plus it does not give the offenders a chance to reform. If a criminal offender is executed, there is no certainty that future crimes would be deterred due to the execution. There is no empirical record to confirm that capital punishment has ever eliminated crime in the human society. Therefore, there is no need to do the same thing and expect a different result, and capital punishment has never eliminated crime; thus, alternatives ought to be explored. The consistent ethic of life stipulates that the society especially the church should pray for the criminals and lead them to Christ where they can find forgiveness and not the grave. The Bible being the guiding benchmarks stipulates that it is the duty of the Christians to lead the offenders to Jesus Christ where they can find forgiveness. On the contrary, capital punishment does not give the offenders the benefits of a second chance in life, and that is why the Catholic Church opposes it. It stems from the fact that capital punishment has not shown how it can deter crime in the future or the present society. Therefore, there is no need for the society to commit two wrongs in the name of correcting character and behavior. There is no requirement for the government or the society to put offenders to death which is a sin against God in the name of punishing the offender who also must have offended God and the human society. In brief, the Catholic Church opposes the pursuance or the use of capital punishment because it does not give the offender a second chance in life or deter crime in its entirety. Catholic Social Teaching on euthanasia The irreducible minimum as far as euthanasia is concerned is that the right to life is a God given gift that no person should take away. It is to say that whether a person is a terminal patient and is in a great deal of pain or suffering, it is the duty of the society to take care of the patient. Human life in this world is riddled with pain and suffering which Christians must persevere. Pain may come in different forms such as illnesses or the burden of caring for a terminally ill person. The aim of the pain and suffering in the human world is that the name of God may be glorified, and His power manifested. However, if humans opt for the easy way out, then God’s name would not be glorified in that aspect. For instance, many terminally ill patients have been healed, and the name of God has then been glorified. If people choose euthanasia, the prospects of the person being treated are eliminated. In principle, it articulates that it is only God who has the sole and unique prerogative to either give or take away life. Thus, the consistent ethic of life opposes the notion of “merciful death” or euthanasia. It is important to highlight the fact that euthanasia refers to mercy death where a person is killed without his or her consent especially in ties of health problems. If, for instance, a person was terminally ill or in a coma, then euthanasia permits that the relatives and friends of the patient may decide that the patient be put to death. In most cases, the relatives and friends of the patient assume the patient may never recover to full health despite the fact that he or she must be undergoing pain. Secondly, there is the issue of finances where the relatives may feel that the illness or conditions costs them a lot yet it is an exercise in futility. The church, however, opposes all these claims because human life can only be decided upon by the giver who is God. There is no way that people can decide for another person whether or not he or she will live or if the pain is unbearable to the patient and thus the easy way out is the better option. Conclusion The above essay has articulated and discussed the principles of the Catholic Social Teachings and their impact on the current society. It has also considered how the role of the Bishops has changed over the years due to the cultural changes that have taken place in the society. For instance, the USCCB has been forced to partake in civil movements of the society thereby complementing their role as preachers and evangelists of the gospel. Accordingly, the whole human race is expected to show care and compassion or reverence to other people through speech or action. It is anticipated that the same respect that a faithful would expect to be shown in is the same one he or she should show to others (Novak. 7). A practical case and instance are where a Catholic faithful handles a political opponent or rival or a person who does not share similar doctrines. The Catholic Social teachings as it regards ethic of life demands that the individual is accorded respect for his or her inalienable right and freedom of thought (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship 4). Works Cited Benestad, J. Brian. Church, State, and Society: An Introduction to Catholic Social Doctrine. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2011. ISBN: 0813218012, ISBN: 978-0813218014. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: Chapters 8, 12, and Conclusion “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” Retrieved from: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf Keenan, James F. A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century. York: Continuum, 2010. ISBN: 0826429297, ISBN: 978-0826429292. McCarthy, David Matzko. The Heart of Catholic Social Teaching: Its Origin and Contemporary Significance. Waco, TX: Brazos Press, 2009. ISBN: 158743248X, ISBN: 978-1587432484. Michael Novak, “Three Precisions: Social Justice:” http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2009/12/three-precisions58-social-justice Michael Novak, “Three Precisions: Common Good” http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2009/12/three-precisions-common-good Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Washington, DC: USCCB Communications, 2005. 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