How does Catholic social teaching apply to modern society?

Our magisterium, the Church’s official teaching body, has kept a watchful eye on the developments of contemporary society, especially since the beginning of the Industrial Age. Catholic social teaching emphasizes the principles of common good and human dignity, as well as subsidiarity and solidarity.  

By common good we mean “the sum total of conditions which allow people, as groups or individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” It requires public authorities to “respect the fundamental and inalienable rights of the human person” to fulfill each one’s vocation and act according to their informed conscience, while respecting privacy and freedom of religion. It calls for those things which enhance the well-being of the individual and of society, such as food, clothing, health, work, education, culture, and the right to establish a family. It also requires a peaceful and secure environment, established by morally legitimate means. “It is the role of the state to defend the common good of civil society, its citizens, and intermediate bodies” (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1906-1910). 

We can readily see how this general principle of the common good finds multiple applications to the complex and varied problems facing us today, just as it did in the past century. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued his landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum (On New Things) to address the condition of the working classes. He discussed the rights and duties of both labor and capital, supported the right to private property, and rejected socialism while calling for a just balance between workers, employers, and the state. His encyclical established the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching. Later papal encyclicals, such as Quadragesimo Anno (On the Fortieth Year) in 1931 and Centesimus Annus (100th year) in 1991, continued to build on this foundation and further apply the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity to concerns of the day. 

Our Catechism of the Catholic Church spells out, briefly, several of the issues of contemporary concern, in a well-reasoned and balanced fashion. For example, on the issue of borders and immigration, it is understood that each nation has a right and a duty to protect its citizens. This includes establishing secure borders, as well as welcoming the immigrant with conditions: 

“Political authorities, for the sake of the common good... may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens” (CCC 2241).  

As another example, on the seeming tug of war between the ideologies of capitalism and socialism, we read: 

“The right to private property, acquired or received in a just way, does not do away with the original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The universal destination of goods remains primordial...” (CCC 2403). 

“The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modern times with ‘communism’ or ‘socialism.’ She has likewise refused to accept, in the practice of ‘capitalism,’ individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor... for there are many human needs which cannot be satisfied by the market” (CCC 2425). 

With such general norms in mind, for current application of our Catholic social teaching to the problems of the day, we would also do well to pay attention to the regular New Earth column submitted by the North Dakota Catholic Conference (NDCC). We can also go to the NDCC website to read about our position on legislative issues under consideration at the state and national levels. With prayerful discernment, we can then contact our legislators to voice our personal views on the issues, hopefully in line with statements of our universal Church and local bishops.  

Watch for Bishop Folda’s twice monthly emails/text messages (sign up to receive these at fargodiocese.flocknote.com) on important issues as they arise. We can also access the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for their past and present statements on the matters of concern in our day. We can listen to relevant podcasts on Real Presence Radio, live or archived. 

The oft-quoted adage, “Think globally and act locally,” is highly relevant to our own life today. Global thinking is the expertise of our Catholic magisterium and its social teaching. Acting locally is the right and the duty of every citizen, and of every human being. It is part of our very essence as persons of dignity.