Democracy Quotes from Church Teaching

by CAPP-USA

Democracy quotes that introduce us to what the Church teaches about a good government.

Quotes about Democracy from the Church’s Social Teaching

How a people are governed is of great interest to the Church and politics plays a crucial role in implementing Catholic social teaching.

However, the “church does not have technical solutions to offer and does not claim ‘to interfere in any way in the politics of states’”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 9) Rather, the role of the Church is to “form consciences in political life”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 28)

These quotes about democracy might surprise or affirm what you know but, in either case, should make you think deeper about our form of government.

Democracy is “the most effective historical instrument for ensuring its own future in a way befitting to human beings.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
“[T]he ultimate foundation and directive norm of every democracy” is “to actuate the divinely-established order of beings and ends.” (Pope Pius XII)
“[I]n our day when the activity of the state is so vast and decisive, the
democratic form of government appears to many as a postulate of
nature imposed by reason itself.” (Pope Pius XII)
However, “[A]uthentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)
The Church “presents the organization of society according to three powers – legislative, executive and judicial” and has done so since Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century. (Pope St. John Paul II, 44)
“Democracy succeeds only to the extent that it is based on truth and a correct understanding of the human person.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
Through the principle of subsidiarity, democracies create “favorable conditions for the free exercise of economic activity, which will lead to abundant opportunities for employment and sources of wealth”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)
At the same time a democracy must work “directly and according to the principle of solidarity, by defending the weakest, by placing certain limits on the autonomy of the parties who determine working conditions, and by ensuring in every case the necessary minimum support for the unemployed worker.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)

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Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.

Three Key Principles

Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles - Human Dignity, Solidarity and Subsidiarity. Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.

Human Dignity

This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person’s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God’s image.

Solidarity

Solidarity is not “a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38) Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.

Subsidiarity

Subsidiarity “is a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies”. (Pope Pius XI)

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