Catholic Social Doctrine - Term Paper Example

• How Does Minimum Wage Affect Human Life
• INTRODUCTION

A. Thesis Statement. The paper intends to review the theological response associated with Catholic social teaching and relating it to the workers’ condition as well as life of humans.

B. Key Points.

1. The basic tenets of John Mill's utilitarianism

The central idea behind utilitarian principle that John Stuart Mill proposed is to understand the moral theory. Based on the proposed principle, it can be mentioned that actions of humans have two sides. In this context, the idea of Mill promoted that the right actions of humans produces happiness. On the other hand, the erroneous action of humans is likely result unhappiness. The existence of happiness indicates pleasure, while pain refers to unhappiness. The principle associated with utilitarianism further reflects the fact that goal achievement of the individual is associated with happiness. Mill has further argued that utilitarianism has been originated from the social nature of the human beings. Thus, in this respect, it is worth mentioning that within the society, utilitarianism can be regarded as ethical principle, which enables people to bind morally. Morality is associated with the happiness of the human beings. Mill further highlighted that all the aspects that the humans desire are some way or the other related to happiness. Additionally, the basic principle of Mill also reflects that utility is related to justice. Thus, under law, human rights have been framed because it protects the civil liberties associated with human happiness.

2. Catholic Social Teaching

• a) The dignity of work and the rights of workers

According to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), there are seven principles associated with Catholic teachings. Work has been considered the most important under the Catholic social teachings. Work is a medium, which not only enables human beings to earn, but also facilitates towards the involvement with God. Based on the teachings and associated principles, work contributes in human dignity. The contribution of employer in creating job opportunities is noteworthy, as it enables the workers to maintain their dignity. Based on Catholic teachings, the rights of the workers comprises of ‘right to productive work’, ‘decent and fair wages’, ‘organization and joining of unions’, and ‘to private property and to economic initiative’ (Catholic Relief services, “The dignity of work and the rights of workers”).

• b) Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Based on Catholic teachings, human beings have been created as an image of God. Thus, it can be considered that each individual is unique and blessed in him/her. Since, God has given life to human beings; no one has the right to take away the life of other. Following dignified life by all the individuals would enable creation of moral visualization within the society. People residing in the society face number of threats, which are not acceptable morally. The Catholic social teaching reflects threat to human before and after birth. Precisely, before birth, threat to life in womb, and after birth risk associated with unjust war, racism, and poverty that have been focused in the catholic teachings. For Right to Life, nation is responsible to take the effective measures to combat against war and terror. However, it has been further argued that peaceful means are mostly preferred to resolve the conflicts and issues faced that are associated with right and dignity of human beings (Diocese of Austin, “Right to life and the dignity of the human person”).

3. Catechism of the Catholic Church

• a) Economic Activity and Social Justice

Economic activities are not only associated with growth of nation, but also fulfilling the requirements of individual person. In Catechism of the Catholic Church, it has been further argued that the prime goals of economic activities are not only meant to maximize profitability and produce goods but to contribute in human lives. True meaning of economic activities is associated with fulfilling the service needs of a person. The fulfillment of person’s needs is further followed by meeting all his/her requirements. This would finally meet the needs of total human community. Furthermore, moral order and social justice has to be kept in mind to follow plan of God and accomplish the goal of economic activity (Trinity Communications, “Catechism of the catholic church”).

• BACKGROUND

A. Parts of the Moral Act.

1. Object of the Action

In Roman Catholic Moral Theology, human acts have been categorized into two different parts, wherein one is performance based on intelligence and the other is based on free will. The moral act reflects that the greedy nature of people influences the object of actions. Teachings of Church reflect that some acts of humans are immoral like the employers intention not to pay enough money to the workers for the work performed. The nature of these acts is inherently associated with evil and thus considered immoral (Kreeft 7-8).

2. Intention

Intention is the planed action of human person. In Roman Catholic Theology, intention is the main reason behind the act chosen. The workers should be paid at least minimum wage so that they can purchase the required basic amenities of life. The intention of act motivates the human person involve in particular activity. Thus, the employers act also defines their intention towards the workers. However, it has been further arguable that if the intended act performed by the human person is against the God’s love, than the act is immoral. Furthermore, bad intention of human person is a sin and needs change (Kreeft 7-8).

3. Circumstances

Circumstance is the situation under which the act is performed. The employer’s act of not playing the employees (workers) signifies that the employers want only self-benefit. The consequences of act performed are measured based on the God’s love. On the other hand, consequences signify the end-result of the act performed by the employers, which is against the God’s love. Thus, to become a good human person the employers should take case of his/her employees (workers) and pay the minimum basic wage to support their life. Humans are regarded as the main reason circumstances. Besides, the nature of consequences (good or bad) is determined based on the particular act chosen (Kreeft 7-8).

B. Historical / Political Background.

1. a) Wagner Act, Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

Concerning the principle of John Mill's utilitarianism, it is worth mentioning that the employers must do well by providing proper wages to the workers for the work performed. In this regard, to protect the right of the workers the US Congress established the Fair Labor Standards Act (or Wages and Hours Act) in the year 1938. The act was formulated to provide minimum living standard to the employees engaged in different trade and commercial activities. The three important standards covered under the act include ‘minimum wage for the workers’, ‘overtime’, as well as ‘protection of child labor’. Additionally, the act only covers the interstate commerce in which yearly sales should be above $500,000. Additionally, rest of the enterprises are exempted from the benefits, yet employees of the respective enterprise are entitled to facilities under the act are individually involved in interstate commerce respectively. One of the most vital provisions under the act was the minimum wage fixed for the workers, which as per the new amendment (2014) is $10.10 an hour. The act has been amended repeatedly to improve the wage of the workers as well as encouraging involvement of the new workers with better pay scales (Mayer, Collins, and Bradley 1-4; National Grocers Association, “Labor & Employment”). However, the intention of the employers sometime results into immoral act, which act as a cause of unhappiness among the workers. The kind of act performed can be related to not paying proper wage to the workers for the work performed.

• 1. b) Labor Union to Protect Worker's Right

To protect the dignity and rights of the workers in organization, the Labor Unions play the most vital role. The collective bargaining power of the union’s enables them to make workers happy and do well by implementing changes in the working situations. In US, the Department of Labor (DOL) is responsible to enforcing necessary federal law associated with the protection of the workers’ rights. The protection of the employees not only includes offering better work condition, but also to ensure getting proper compensation for the work performed. In the year 1959, the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act was established to retain effective relation between union leaders and its members. Furthermore, the act controls the activities of union officers to maintain mutual relation with the employers of the organizations (United States department of Labor “Summary of the Major Laws of the Department of Labor”).

• 2. Ethical Responses

The paper focuses on utilitarian principle of Mill and the central idea behind happiness. From this principle, it has been understood that right actions of human, which is ethical brings happiness. On the other hand, incorrect acts are likely to harm and result into unhappiness. The desires of individual must be ethical, as it supports individual in gaining the real pleasure of life. The Catholic Social Teaching and the associated principles enable understanding lot about human dignity and workers right to get minimum wages. The employers employ humans as workers, and thus under Catholic teachings the employers has been considered contributor of human dignity. However, if the contributors (employers) does not offer appropriate compensation to the workers with respect to the work performed than it is said to be against the wage act and role performed by the labor unions. Humans have right to life, despite the fact that they face a number of risks for instance, racism, terror, and war among others. The economic activities performed within the nation should be designed in such a manner, which contributes both in human life as well as in dignity. The Roman Catholic Moral Theology has defined the three principles associated with Object of the Action, intention, and circumstances, which determines whether the act performed is ethical or not. Furthermore, the historical background has enabled examining various acts to promote the workers’ condition as well as defining the rights of the workers at workplace.

• PHILOSOPHICAL RESPONSES

John Mill. The philosophical response of John Mill was the principle of moral, which was an extension to utilitarian theory discussed in the above section. The moral philosophy was modified and proposed that right actions of humans are those, which has the potential to bring great happiness for large number of individuals at a time.

Assumptions and Biases. It has been assumed that philosophical response and moral philosophy of Mill are associated with the human actions that are directed toward one desire that is happiness.

Theological Response. John Mill has played the vital role in transformation within the society. Theological response put forward by Mill mainly focused on replacing society based on theology with humanity. Thus, it indicates shift from the classical liberalism to humanity. Mill’s theological response was associated with replacement of God (spiritual beliefs) with that of humanity (Raeder 4-5).

Relationship between Employers and Employees. In Bible, the relation between employers and employees has been explained using the instance of slaves and masters. However, the only difference is that the employers are liable to pay to employees for the work performed. Bible teaches that the employees (slave) should be dutiful towards masters (employers). Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the masters (employers) to treat the slaves (employees) fairly to improve performance (Cohn and Friedman 1).

Pope Leo XIII (Rerum Novarum 1891). In the year 1891, Pope Leo XIII proposed the rights and duties of the employers who have capital and employees who are employed as laborers. The encyclical letter by the Pope was known as Rerum Novarum. This in turn provided the foundation for understanding the relation between labor and capital. This was the principle to maintain dignity of human beings (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, “ACSJC summary and discussion guide: Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labor)”.

Catholic Social Teaching. From the above discussion, it can be understood that each workers has the right to dignity and get the fair minimum wage. The social teaching reflects that the employers must treat the employees equally and proper ethical work condition must be provided.

• COMPARE & CONTRAST

The economic activities must ensure fulfillment of needs of customers along with following the path of God. By comparing the Catholic Social Teaching and Catechism of the Catholic Church, it can be mentioned that human person have the right to dignity and for this, the employers are also responsible to provide better working environment. “The Church believes that work is important. It’s more than just a way to earn money—it’s a way to participate in God’s creation” (Catholic Relief services, “The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers” 2). Thus, participating in the God creation needs humans to remain faithful to work performed and actions must be decided accordingly. “Every social decision and institution must be judged in light of whether it protects or undermines the life & dignity of the human person” (Diocese of Austin, “Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person”). From this particular statement, it is evident that human person should involve only in those acts, which does not affects the dignity as well as life of individuals.

• CONCLUSION

This particular study has enabled understanding the Catholic social teaching, Catechism of the Catholic Church, moral acts, workers’ protection acts, Philosophical Responses, and Theological Response among others. From the John Mill's principle of utilitarianism, I have understood that the actions of humans (employers) must direct towards happiness of the workers (employees). Based on the Catholic teachings, conflicts and issues among humans must be solved considering social justice. Additionally, the workers (employees) must be paid proper wages according to the provisions under the act and rights to workers. The historical background enabled me to understand that the Fair Labor Standards Act 1938 (or Wages and Hours Act) was established to protect the rights of the workers. Additionally, the Labor Union also plays the vital role in safeguarding the rights of workers with respect to getting the fair minimum wage, which would ensure the capability to afford the basic amenities of life. Furthermore, from the teachings of Bible, I have understood that the employers (masters) have the responsibility towards employees (slaves) to ensure dignity and equality at work as well as must be given minimum wage as per the act of 1938 for fulfilling their minimum requirement of happiness.