Do we have a Catechetical Problem?
"Economic Justice for All" is a landmark pastoral letter issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1986. It addresses the moral dimensions and human consequences of American economic life, focusing on issues such as poverty, unemployment, housing, and the financial relationship between the United States and developing nations. The pastoral letter "Economic Justice for All" is about the 10-point summary of their teaching on the applicability of Catholic social principles to the economy.
The pastoral letter addressed why Catholic social teaching is underappreciated, undercommunicated, and poorly understood.
The bishops then, in 1986, understood the principles on which the doctrine is based are not clearly articulated and conveniently condensed. They were not "packaged" for catechetical purposes like the Ten Commandments and the Seven Sacraments. Think about it: even growing up with the Baltimore Catechism, where did we find an emphasis on social teachings? Today, in our educational processes, how much emphasis is placed on Catholic Social Teachings? Or is it just treated like a shooting star in the sky: you see it, and now it is gone?
While many Catholics can name a few of the eight Beatitudes, how many would be willing to list the four cardinal virtues? Not many, I would guess, these days.
What are those Catholic social principles to be accepted as an essential part of the faith? Do we ever ask about them? How many of our clergy could answer those same questions?
The next question, of course, is how we, as laity involved in Catholic Social Teachings, can personally appropriate (SEE), internalize (Judge), and act upon the Ten Principles so that they can lead to meaningful action.
So, using these documents as my source, I will opine on the ten principles of Catholic social teaching, which should not be seen as a rewriting of the documents but as a guide to help us transform our understanding and application of these principles through the lens of See, Judge, and Act.
The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around. Human dignity and the capacity to develop one's potential should be central to economic life.
All people have a right to participate in economic life. This includes the right to productive work, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
All members of society have a special obligation to the poor and vulnerable. Their needs should come first in national and economic policies.
Human rights are the minimum conditions for life in the community. Society must protect these rights, including economic rights.
Society, acting through public and private institutions, has the moral responsibility to enhance human dignity and protect human rights.
The principle of subsidiarity must be respected. This means that higher levels of society should not overwhelm or interfere unnecessarily with lower or more local levels.
Fundamental justice demands the establishment of minimum levels of participation in the life of the human community for all persons.
The economy must serve the people, not the other way around. Workers' rights, including the choice to organize, must be protected.
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 necessities of life.
There is a universal destination of goods. While people have a right to private property, all property has a "social mortgage," meaning it should also serve the common good.
These principles emphasize the importance of human dignity, rights, and the common good in economic life, reflecting Catholic social teachings on economic justice.
Four Key themes addressed in the letter include:
The dignity of work: The letter stresses the importance of work for human fulfillment and the need for policies that promote full employment.
The right to a just wage: The letter argues that workers have a right to a fair wage that allows them to provide for themselves and their families.
The importance of economic solidarity: The letter emphasizes the need for economic policies that promote solidarity and reduce inequality.
The responsibility of the wealthy: The letter calls on the rich to use their resources to promote the common good.
Overall, "Economic Justice for All" is part of a "Catholic Framework for Economic Life," we should combine this document with Pope Francis's encyclicals to see a framework to help us reflect on the values that should shape our participation in economic life. That has impacted the Catholic Church's social teachings and discussions about economic justice in the United States, especially today, as we see the evolution of autonomous technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum AI computing woven into our lives' fabric.
So why do we not teach these ten principles as emphatically and diligently as the Ten Commandments and Seven Sacraments?
image: Padre Serra Parish (https://www.padreserra.org/)