By Susie Tierney
As I read chapter four of Laudato Si, I instantly thought of the seven Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, as expressed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Even though I was Received into the Episcopal Church in January, I still have a soft spot for Catholic social teaching and find the themes rich and worthy of sharing. Instead of “Integral Ecology,” chapter four could have easily been titled “Ecology through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching.” In this vein, I would like to use this blog to share the Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, their prevalence throughout chapter four, and a few personal thoughts from this Franciscan Associate.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
At the core of this theme is the sacredness of all life and our inherent dignity as people created in the image and likeness of God. Historically, this theme has been somewhat limited to human life. However, over the years this theme has become much more encompassing and would more accurately read today; The Life and Dignity of the Human Person and All of Creation. To this point, several years ago the Catholic Bishops in the Philippines named environmental degradation and the destruction of our planetary home the life issue of our time. Their assessment seems logical. If we destroy ourselves off our planetary home, then all other life issues – all other social issues – become a moot point. Pope Francis relates environmental degradation to a loss of meaning in our lives and a loss of what it means to live in community.
In paragraph 145 he writes “Many intensive forms of environmental exploitation and degradation not only exhaust the resources which provide local communities with their livelihood, but also undo the social structures, which, for a long time, shaped cultural identity and their sense of the meaning of life and community.”
The Call to Family, Community and Participation
This theme emphasizes the importance of the family (whether a family of one or a family of 10) and our rights and responsibilities to participate in and contribute to the larger community. I was once asked to do a presentation on this theme of social teaching because the person, in their words, “wanted to stay away from politics.” However, part two of this theme emphasizes our responsibility as Christians to be informed about social and environmental issues, to be involved in the political process, and to be advocates for those who are poor, marginalized or oppressed - including our planetary home. In paragraph 144, Pope Francis recommends an approach that is both flexible and tailored to local communities.
“New processes taking shape cannot always fit into frameworks imported from outside; they need to be based in the local culture instead,” he writes. “As life and the world are dynamic realities, so our care for the world must also be flexible and dynamic. Merely technical solutions run the risk of addressing symptoms and not the more serious underlying problems.”
Rights and Responsibilities
This theme states that flowing from our God-given sense of dignity are fundamental human rights that should be afforded to all people, including: food, clothing, housing, health care, education, security, social services, and employment. We first have a responsibility to do what we have the capacity to do for ourselves and our families. However, when something prohibits us from obtaining these basic rights, as brothers and sisters in Christ, it is the larger community’s responsibility to make sure everyone’s basic needs are addressed. Pope Francis gives a good example of this in chapter four when he mentions a lack of housing.
In paragraph 152 he writes, “Lack of housing is a grave problem in many parts of the world, both in rural areas and in large cities, since state budgets usually cover only a small portion of the demand. Not only the poor, but many other members of society as well, find it difficult to own a home. Having a home has much to do with a sense of personal dignity and the growth of families.”
As a former food pantry manager, I can certainly attest to the fact that when one is lacking any of these basic human needs, it not only affects their personal dignity, but also makes it nearly impossible to embrace any programs that aim to empower them out of their hunger or poverty.
Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
At the heart of this theme is our Gospel call to care for those who are poor and marginalized. Nothing seems more prevalent throughout the scriptures than Jesus’ invitation to give to the poor, and to challenge systems and structures that disregard those in need.
Imbedded in this theme is the principle of Subsidiarity. Subsidiarity simply means problems or issues need to be addressed closest to their source. In other words, people who are directly affected by an issue must be involved in the decision-making process when addressing that issue. Pope Francis certainly echoes this when he writes about including the voice of the poor and indigenous communities when addressing environmental issues that affect their well-being.
In paragraph 146, Pope Francis says “…It is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions. They are not merely one minority among the other, but should be the principal dialogue partners, especially when large projects affecting their land are proposed.”
This sounds easy enough, but I’ve learned it is one of the hardest principles for many of us to embrace. I can’t tell you the number of times good-hearted, well-meaning, compassionate individuals backed up to the food pantry door with truckloads of all sorts of things we did not need, simply because they did not call and ask what we did actually need.
Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
While I may not feel like this on a Monday morning, this theme validates work as a good thing that helps give us a sense of dignity and worth. A testament to the truth of this theme is the number one question I received on a daily basis at the food pantry: “Do you know where I can get a job?” As I think about the environmental crisis and this theme of the Dignity of Work, I am reminded of how often I am asked if potential environmentally-threatening industries or business practices can have a “free pass” if they create (much-needed) jobs in our communities. My response is typically that the two – respect for the environment and job creation – do not have to mutually exclusive. Economic progress does not have to be at the expense of environmentally healthy businesses or business practices.
In paragraph 156 Pope Francis writes, “Human ecology is inseparable from the notion of the common good, a central and unifying principle of social ethics.”
There doesn’t seem to be a more urgent principle of the common good than environmental stewardship – especially within businesses and institutions.
Solidarity
This theme can best be summed up by the punchline of the Cain and Abel story: “We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers;” or in Franciscan language, “living in right relationship with each other and all of creation.” Pope Francis takes the idea of solidarity one step further than my immediate relationship with others and the earth. In paragraph 159, he writes about “intergenerational solidarity.”
He says “We can no longer speak of sustainable development apart from intergenerational solidarity… Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice, since the world we have received also belongs to those who will follow us.”
To emphasis intergenerational solidarity, Pope Francis goes on to quote the Portuguese Catholic Bishops: “The environment is part of a logic of receptivity. It is on loan to each generation, which must then hand it on to the next.”
Care of Creation
Laudato Si is an entire encyclical written about the theme of caring for the created world. One of my favorite lines is in paragraph 139, “When we speak of ‘environment,’ what we really mean is a relationship existing between nature and the society which lives in it. Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it.”
We are not separate from, but a part of this magnificent, wonderful world. And, in the words of Ronald Sider, “The One who gave us this gorgeous token of affection is asking us to share it with others.”
Peace, prayers and Lenten blessings to you,
Susie Tierney
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