The Role of Laity in Catholic Social Teaching (Part 4 of 4)

The Bottom Line

 

by CAPP-USA

 

The Role of Laity Starts with a Properly Formed Conscience

Implementing Catholic social teaching results in confusion and error if our consciences are improperly formed.

This often occurs when we separate our Christian faith from its ethical requirements “and thus fall into moral subjectivism and certain objectionable ways of acting.” (Evangelium Vitae, 95)

We must remember that “it is always from the truth that the dignity of conscience derives.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 63)

“In the case of the correct conscience, it is a question of the objective truth received by man; in the case of the erroneous conscience, it is a question of what man, mistakenly, subjectively considers to be true.” (Veritatis Splendor, 63)

“The approval of the prevailing wisdom…is not the criterion to which we submit.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Objective Truth

So, if we find our self in opposition to Church moral teaching on issues (of life or logical extensions of Her social teaching), validation of our position by ‘conscience’ cannot be the end of our internal debate but only the beginning!

“There are faults which we fail to see but which nevertheless remain faults, because we have refused to walk towards the light.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 63)

Indeed, “Conscience, as the ultimate concrete judgment, compromises its dignity when it is culpably erroneous. (Veritatis Splendor, 63)

When this happens “man shows little concern for seeking what is true and good, and conscience gradually becomes almost blind from being accustomed to sin.” (Veritatis Splendor, 63)

“Only in charity, illuminated by the light of reason and faith, is it possible to pursue development goals that possess a more humane and humanizing value.” (Caritas in Veritate, 9)

The Role of Laity is to Apply Catholic Social Teaching

Once we have internalized Catholic social teaching, forming our conscience on its tenets, we must, by duty, actively engage in the secular world.

How? Pope Benedict XVI provided the answer when he wrote: “But what does it mean, in practical terms, to promote moral truth in the world of politics and diplomacy?

• It means acting in a responsible way on the basis of an objective and integral knowledge of the facts.
• It means deconstructing political ideologies which end up supplanting truth and human dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace, development and human rights.
• It means fostering an unswerving commitment to base positive law on the principles of the natural law.

All this is necessary and consistent with the respect for the dignity and worth of the human person enshrined by the world’s peoples in the 1945 Charter of the United Nations, which presents universal values and moral principles as a point of reference for the norms, institutions and systems governing coexistence on the national and international levels.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 12)

Faith First

Acting in the world, can never be separated from faith. 

In fact, acting in society first requires belief, acceptance and the integration of God in all facets of our life…it requires personal conversion: “Adhering to the values of Christianity is not merely useful but essential for building a good society and for true integral human development.” (Caritas in Veritate, 4)

“[T]o respond to their vocation, the lay faithful must see their daily activities as an occasion to join themselves to God, fulfill his will, serve other people and lead them to communion with God in Christ”. (Pope St. John Paul II, 17)

“Only in charity, illuminated by the light of reason and faith, is it possible to pursue development goals that possess a more humane and humanizing value.” (Caritas in Veritate, 9)

A Need for God Above All Else

Yes, “the human person must work, must involve himself in domestic and professional concerns, to be sure, but he has need of God before all else”. (Pope Benedict XVI)

Why? Because He “is the interior light of love and truth. Without love, even the most important activities lose value and do not bring joy.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

“Without a profound meaning, everything we do is reduced to sterile and disordered activism.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Courage is Needed

“[T]he courage to contradict the prevailing mindset is particularly urgent” even though “inevitably, we will also be beaten by those who live lives opposed to the Gospel”. (Pope Benedict XVI)

However, armed with our faith and closeness to God, we can and must “change the world” — while always remembering when doing so that “we are not provocative; on the contrary we invite all to enter into the joy of that truth which shows us the way…Our criterion is the Lord himself. If we defend his cause, we will constantly gain others to the way of the Gospel.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

“Christians must always have this attitude of meekness, humility…trusting in Jesus and entrusting themselves to Jesus.” (Pope Francis)