Improvement of ethical standards for CRISPR research with Catholic social teaching principles

The Objectivity of Ethics

Catholic Social Science Review ◽

10.5840/cssr20192437 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 75-89

Author(s):

Michael Bissex ◽

Keyword(s):

Natural Law ◽

Catholic Social Teaching ◽

Functional System ◽

Social Teaching ◽

Ethical Standards ◽

Existence Of God ◽

Objective Reality ◽

Moral Skepticism ◽

Natural Law Theory

In 1977, the atheist philosopher J. L. Mackie published the book Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong. In it, he notably argued that objective ethical standards simply do not exist. He acknowledges that the existence of God would undermine moral skepticism, but assumes an atheistic position, and therefore concludes that objective morality is an intellectual incoherence. The debate, therefore, does not hinge on the existence of God, but rather on whether or not ethics are an objective reality without referring to God as their basis. From the standpoint of Catholic social teaching, the objectivity of ethics is a reality that should be defended over and against the claims of moral skepticism that Mackie argues are valid. In fact, the existence of objective ethics not only provides a defense of the system of Catholic social teaching, but illustrates its value to those who may be skeptical of its claims. With this defense of objective ethics as the goal, this paper claims that Mackie’s argument fails due to his deficient epistemological approach. Assuming the proper epistemic sense, natural law theory is a functional system of objective ethical truth, drawn out through a Thomistic understanding of the human pursuit of what is good.

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Examining Teachers’ Self Described Responses to Student Behavior through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching Principles

Journal of Catholic Education ◽

10.15365/joce.1802022015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 4-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Angela Marie Mucci

Keyword(s):

Student Behavior ◽

Catholic Social Teaching ◽

Social Teaching ◽

Teaching Principles

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Globalization and Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate

10.1093/oso/9780190660130.003.0015 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew A. Shadle

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Vulnerable Populations ◽

Global Economy ◽

Catholic Social Teaching ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Social Teaching ◽

Catholic Social Thought ◽

Caritas In Veritate ◽

The World ◽

The Trinity

In recent years the economy has become globalized. Globalization is the increased flow of goods, services, capital, people, and culture facilitated by innovations in transportation and communication technologies. This chapter examines the phenomenon of globalization and its impact on Catholic social teaching. It looks, in particular, at Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate. Pope Benedict criticizes how the current global economy exploits and excludes vulnerable populations around the world. Caritas in Veritate further develops the communio framework initiated by John Paul II and proposes that the communion of the three Persons of the Trinity provides a model for the shape globalization should take, recognizing unity in the midst of diversity. The chapter also looks at how Catholic social thought itself is globalizing, examining in particular the work of Mary Mee-Yin Yuen from Hong Kong and Stan Chu Ilo from Nigeria.

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Theology as Work: The Mandatum and the Rights of Labor

Horizons ◽

10.1017/s0360966900009762 ◽

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.

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