Human Dignity and The Dignity of Work: Insights from Catholic Social Teaching

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejo José G. Sison ◽  
Ignacio Ferrero ◽  
Gregorio Guitián
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
Imago Dei ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The Right ◽  
Normative Perspective

ABSTRACT:What contributions could we expect from Catholic Social Teaching (CST) on human dignity in relation to the dignity of work? This article begins with an explanation of CST and its relevance for secular audiences. It then proceeds to identify the main features of human dignity based on the notion of imago Dei in CST. Next comes an analysis of the dignity of work in CST from which two normative principles are derived: the precedence of duties over rights and the priority of the subjective dimension of work over the objective dimension. Afterwards, the “right to work” and the “rights of workers” are engaged with from this normative perspective, particularly within the context of globalization.

Theology as Work: The Mandatum and the Rights of Labor

Horizons ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Patrick T. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Academic Freedom ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Church ◽  
Safe Working

ABSTRACTMany oppose the mandatum as a threat to the academic freedom of Catholic scholars and the autonomy and credibility of Catholic universities. But the imposition of this juridical bond on working theologians is also in tension with Catholic Social Teaching on the rights and dignity of labor. Work is the labor necessary to earn our daily bread. But it is also the vocation by which we realize ourselves as persons and the profession through which we contribute to the common good. Thus, along with the right to a just wage and safe working conditions, Catholic Social Teaching defends workers' rights to a full partnership in the enterprise, and calls upon the church to be a model of participation and cooperation. The imposition of the mandatum fails to live up to this standard and threatens the jobs and vocations of theologians while undermining this profession's contribution to the church.

scholarly journals Linking Human Dignity, Vulnerability and Virtue Ethics

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-73
Author(s):  
James F. Keenan
Keyword(s):  
Virtue Ethics ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Imago Dei ◽  
The Right

Abstract An ethics of vulnerability, that develops out of an imago Dei/human dignity presupposition, can provide a foundation for a virtue ethics that orients us toward the right responsiveness to contemporary challenges. It explores a vulnerability rooted in imago Dei language and then further develops a vulnerability foundation that is based not primarily on need but on capacity. It concludes offering particular virtues (humility, vigilance, mercy and hospitality) that help in the practice of recognizing human dignity.

scholarly journals On Pediatric Vaccines and Catholic Social Teaching

Horizons ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-316
Author(s):  
Conor M. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
Ordinary Life ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Common ◽  
Pediatric Vaccines ◽  
Medical Choice

Determining whether, and when, to get one's children vaccinated has become an increasingly controversial decision, often leaving parents fearful of making the “wrong” choice. Part of the challenge stems from the fact that what is rationally optimal for an individual is inherently at odds with the best outcome for the community, meaning that if everyone acted out of self-interest with respect to pediatric vaccines, communal health would suffer significantly. Given these tensions, the issue of pediatric vaccines benefits greatly from the nuanced assessment of Catholic social teaching. Specifically, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace's “four permanent principles” of human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity highlight the issues involved and help parents navigate this significant medical choice with a more informed conscience and a greater sense of their moral responsibilities. The end result is a fruitful alignment between Catholic social teaching and ethics in ordinary life.

scholarly journals Subsidiarity: Restoring a Sacred Harmony

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
John W. Kieffer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
Third Parties ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
American Founding ◽  
Founding Fathers ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Government

The principle of subsidiarity is a bastion of Catholic social teaching. It is also a principle in the philosophy of the American Founding Fathers. In the USA, subsidiarity is ignored without a sense of the proper harmony between authority and responsibility. Human dignity and wise stewardship are compromised. Conscience protection becomes a concerning issue as highlighted by the conflicts arising after passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. A reconnection of the patient to be steward of his health care is critical in addressing these issues. Third parties, including the government, business, and insurance companies, are firmly entrenched in health care oftentimes with the result being increased cost and detachment of the patient from the stewardship of his or her care. Vitally needed is a return to the principle of subsidiarity in health care. Hopeful solutions include the Zarephath Health Center, the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, and the clinic of Dr. Juliette Madrigal-Dersch. Summary The principle of subsidiarity is a bastion of Catholic social teaching. It is a principle in the philosophy of the American Founding Fathers. In the US, subsidiarity is ignored without a sense of the proper harmony between authority and responsibility. Human dignity, wise stewardship, and solidarity are compromised. A reconnection of the patient to personal stewardship of his health care is critical in addressing these issues. Third parties are firmly entrenched in health care oftentimes with the result being increased cost and detachment of the patient from his or her care. Vitally needed is a return to the principle of subsidiarity in health care.

Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-280
Author(s):  
Luke Bretherton
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
The State ◽  
Democratic Politics ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Political Conception ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis article maintains that modern Catholic social teaching took shape by positioning itself between revolutionary ideologies that sought to destroy the church and reactionary forces that sought to instrumentalise it. Among the factors that contributed to this development were the emergence of a theologyical and socio-political conception of the laity, reflection on the question of how humans participate in Christ's rule, the development of a consociational vision of sovereignty in distinction from top-down or monistic views, the importance of labour to a proper understanding of human dignity, and the discovery of ‘society’, as distinct from the market and the state. Appreciation of these factors resulted in the magisterial defence of democratic politics as a necessary condition for telling the truth about what it means to be human.

Labor Unions, Adjuncts, and the Mission and Identity of Catholic Universities

Horizons ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Beyer
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Labor Unions ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Catholic Social Teaching ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Religious Liberty ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
National Labor Relations Act ◽  
Catholic Universities ◽  
The Right

Catholic social teaching (CST) has long endorsed the right of all workers to unionize. However, many US Catholics exhibit an antiunion bias. In addition, Catholic institutions have engaged in union busting, thereby flouting CST. Focusing on the recent efforts of adjuncts to unionize at Catholic universities, this article argues that union busting jeopardizes the faith and conscience formation of students and undermines the evangelizing mission of Catholic universities. The article debunks the appeal to religious liberty by Catholic institutions to circumvent the National Labor Relations Board's injunctions to allow adjuncts to unionize. It also refutes the argument that the National Labor Relations Act imposes a style of collective bargaining contrary to the harmonious vision of labor relations in CST. Succinctly stated, the article contends there is no legitimate reason for Catholic universities to thwart the unionization efforts of adjuncts, particularly given the systematically unjust work conditions many of them face.

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