<\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/tp-antenna-503044-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Role of Laity in Catholic social teaching is both a Public and Private Responsibility<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Role of Laity is a Public and Private Responsibility<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
The role of the laity in implementing Catholic social teaching concerns public and private life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAs Pope Benedict XVI asked us: \u201cIs it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics<\/strong> to ignore or exploit<\/strong> the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life<\/strong> of every human being from conception to natural death? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n“Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted<\/strong>. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nConsistency!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
This connects with long-standing Church teaching going back to, at least, Pope Leo XIII who declared in 1885 (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span>: \u201c[I]t is unlawful to follow one line of conduct in private life and another in public<\/strong>, respecting privately the authority of the Church, but publicly rejecting it”.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did the Holy Father use such strong language (unlawful)? Because such inconsistency “would amount to joining together good and evil, and to putting man in conflict with himself\u201d. (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, we \u201cought always to be consistent, and never in the least point nor in any condition of life to swerve from Christian virtue.\u201d (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n129 years later we find Pope Francis fully agreeing with his predecessor: \u201c’Christian consistency’ is a chief trait<\/strong> of being a Christian. In all things of life, he said, we need ‘to think like a Christian; to feel like a Christian and to act like a Christian’\u201d. (Homily, February 27, 2014 \u2013 L\u2019Osservatore Romano, March 7, 2014, #10, pg. 14)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOur “inner, spiritual unity must be restored, so that faith may be the light and love the motivating force of all their actions.\u201d (Pope St. John XXIII, 152)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nVoting and \u201cTruth\u201d!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
While every Christian in a plural, democratic society has a responsibility to practice Catholic social teaching \u201cin a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> at the minimum this requires we exercise our right to vote<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe role of laity is founded on Truth, and we are called to shape our political positions on a well-formed conscience<\/strong> \u2013 based on the principles<\/a><\/span> of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTherefore, we must engage in a heartfelt and thorough investigation of what is right and just prior to exercising our political will and then by voting for candidates and positions supported by the tenets of Catholic teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIs there \u201cTruth\u201d?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
“It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIf nothing is objectively right or wrong, nothing prevents those with more power from inflicting their \u2018truth\u2019 on others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBuilding on this insight Pope Francis observed that \u201cIt also needs to be kept in mind that apart from the pursuit of truth, each individual becomes the criterion for measuring himself and his own actions<\/strong>\u2026so that the concept of human rights, which has an intrinsically universal import, is replaced by an individualistic conception of rights.” (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n“This leads to an effective lack of concern for others and\u2026to human impoverishment and cultural aridity\u201d where-in \u201cwe no longer have the capacity to build authentic human relationships marked by truth and mutual respect.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis is Not Easy!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Whether it be 1st Century Rome or 21st Century America \u201cAnyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking. And \u201dToday\u2019s regnant agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLiving and defending the Truth has never been easy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the Church\u2019s Role in Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/2021\/12\/role-laity-catholic-social-teaching-part-4\/” button_text=”Part 4″ button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/what-is-catholic-social-teaching\/” button_text=”What is Catholic Social Teaching?” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/articles\/” button_text=”Back to Articles” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Widget of Issues ” 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custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Solidarity is not \u201ca 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\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Subsidiarity \u201cis 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\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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The Role of Laity in Catholic social teaching is both a Public and Private Responsibility<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Role of Laity is a Public and Private Responsibility<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
The role of the laity in implementing Catholic social teaching concerns public and private life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAs Pope Benedict XVI asked us: \u201cIs it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics<\/strong> to ignore or exploit<\/strong> the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life<\/strong> of every human being from conception to natural death? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n“Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted<\/strong>. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nConsistency!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
This connects with long-standing Church teaching going back to, at least, Pope Leo XIII who declared in 1885 (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span>: \u201c[I]t is unlawful to follow one line of conduct in private life and another in public<\/strong>, respecting privately the authority of the Church, but publicly rejecting it”.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did the Holy Father use such strong language (unlawful)? Because such inconsistency “would amount to joining together good and evil, and to putting man in conflict with himself\u201d. (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, we \u201cought always to be consistent, and never in the least point nor in any condition of life to swerve from Christian virtue.\u201d (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n129 years later we find Pope Francis fully agreeing with his predecessor: \u201c’Christian consistency’ is a chief trait<\/strong> of being a Christian. In all things of life, he said, we need ‘to think like a Christian; to feel like a Christian and to act like a Christian’\u201d. (Homily, February 27, 2014 \u2013 L\u2019Osservatore Romano, March 7, 2014, #10, pg. 14)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOur “inner, spiritual unity must be restored, so that faith may be the light and love the motivating force of all their actions.\u201d (Pope St. John XXIII, 152)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nVoting and \u201cTruth\u201d!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
While every Christian in a plural, democratic society has a responsibility to practice Catholic social teaching \u201cin a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> at the minimum this requires we exercise our right to vote<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe role of laity is founded on Truth, and we are called to shape our political positions on a well-formed conscience<\/strong> \u2013 based on the principles<\/a><\/span> of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTherefore, we must engage in a heartfelt and thorough investigation of what is right and just prior to exercising our political will and then by voting for candidates and positions supported by the tenets of Catholic teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIs there \u201cTruth\u201d?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
“It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIf nothing is objectively right or wrong, nothing prevents those with more power from inflicting their \u2018truth\u2019 on others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBuilding on this insight Pope Francis observed that \u201cIt also needs to be kept in mind that apart from the pursuit of truth, each individual becomes the criterion for measuring himself and his own actions<\/strong>\u2026so that the concept of human rights, which has an intrinsically universal import, is replaced by an individualistic conception of rights.” (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n“This leads to an effective lack of concern for others and\u2026to human impoverishment and cultural aridity\u201d where-in \u201cwe no longer have the capacity to build authentic human relationships marked by truth and mutual respect.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis is Not Easy!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Whether it be 1st Century Rome or 21st Century America \u201cAnyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking. And \u201dToday\u2019s regnant agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLiving and defending the Truth has never been easy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the Church\u2019s Role in Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Role of Laity in CST Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/2021\/12\/role-laity-catholic-social-teaching-part-4\/” button_text=”Part 4″ button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/what-is-catholic-social-teaching\/” button_text=”What is Catholic Social Teaching?” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ 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use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Solidarity is not \u201ca 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\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Subsidiarity \u201cis 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\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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The role of the laity in implementing Catholic social teaching concerns public and private life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
As Pope Benedict XVI asked us: \u201cIs it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics<\/strong> to ignore or exploit<\/strong> the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life<\/strong> of every human being from conception to natural death? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted<\/strong>. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Why did the Holy Father use such strong language (unlawful)? Because such inconsistency “would amount to joining together good and evil, and to putting man in conflict with himself\u201d. (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, we \u201cought always to be consistent, and never in the least point nor in any condition of life to swerve from Christian virtue.\u201d (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 129 years later we find Pope Francis fully agreeing with his predecessor: \u201c’Christian consistency’ is a chief trait<\/strong> of being a Christian. In all things of life, he said, we need ‘to think like a Christian; to feel like a Christian and to act like a Christian’\u201d. (Homily, February 27, 2014 \u2013 L\u2019Osservatore Romano, March 7, 2014, #10, pg. 14)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our “inner, spiritual unity must be restored, so that faith may be the light and love the motivating force of all their actions.\u201d (Pope St. John XXIII, 152)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The role of laity is founded on Truth, and we are called to shape our political positions on a well-formed conscience<\/strong> \u2013 based on the principles<\/a><\/span> of Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, we must engage in a heartfelt and thorough investigation of what is right and just prior to exercising our political will and then by voting for candidates and positions supported by the tenets of Catholic teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n If nothing is objectively right or wrong, nothing prevents those with more power from inflicting their \u2018truth\u2019 on others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Building on this insight Pope Francis observed that \u201cIt also needs to be kept in mind that apart from the pursuit of truth, each individual becomes the criterion for measuring himself and his own actions<\/strong>\u2026so that the concept of human rights, which has an intrinsically universal import, is replaced by an individualistic conception of rights.” (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “This leads to an effective lack of concern for others and\u2026to human impoverishment and cultural aridity\u201d where-in \u201cwe no longer have the capacity to build authentic human relationships marked by truth and mutual respect.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Living and defending the Truth has never been easy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What is the Church\u2019s Role in Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of Laity in CST Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of Laity in CST Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of Laity in CST Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/2021\/12\/role-laity-catholic-social-teaching-part-4\/” button_text=”Part 4″ button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ 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width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100% !important;” make_fullwidth=”on” global_module=”31023″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Solidarity is not \u201ca 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\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Subsidiarity \u201cis 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\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Consistency!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
This connects with long-standing Church teaching going back to, at least, Pope Leo XIII who declared in 1885 (Immortale Dei, 47)<\/a><\/span><\/span>: \u201c[I]t is unlawful to follow one line of conduct in private life and another in public<\/strong>, respecting privately the authority of the Church, but publicly rejecting it”.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nVoting and \u201cTruth\u201d!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
While every Christian in a plural, democratic society has a responsibility to practice Catholic social teaching \u201cin a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span> at the minimum this requires we exercise our right to vote<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIs there \u201cTruth\u201d?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
“It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 46)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis is Not Easy!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Whether it be 1st Century Rome or 21st Century America \u201cAnyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking. And \u201dToday\u2019s regnant agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSign Up For Our Newsletter:<\/h4>\n