Catholic social teaching is a collection of principles that have grown progressively thoroughly stated over history and are detailed in the Church’s Manual of Social Teaching. The teachings reflect the admonition of the Hebrew prophets and are founded on Jesus’ living, in which he connected with the poor and oppressed and led a life of sacrifice and justice, directed and refreshed by prayer. Catholic Social Teaching is spread through texts published by the Pope as well as Church synods on social issues. There have been numerous compositions of the fundamental principles through the years, but the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops groups them into seven principles (Haughey 259). The teaching starts with the interconnected ideas of human dignity and the common good, followed by the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity, care for God’s creation, the dignity of labor and workforce rights, and rights and responsibilities. The teachings also include preferred concern for poor and disadvantaged individuals. This essay will explain the principles of Subsidiary and working for the common good, as well as their foundation in various religious scriptures and customs, and how those precepts particularly connect to my experience teaching underprivileged and mentally challenged children basketball skills in Perseverance basketball camps with the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Association.
Catholic Social Teaching starts with the intertwined principle of human dignity and the common good (Haughey 220). The conceptual basis is that all persons are created in the likeness of God, hence having essential dignity and value which underpins the solemn decency of the human being (“The New Oxford Annotated Bible Quotes by Anonymous,” Genesis 1:17). This concept recognizes the inalienable dignity of the individual and
thus underpins the entire Church’s social philosophy. People completely recognize their innate dignity and find significance in their life through contact with others owing to their social nature. As a result, CST’s fundamental devotion to advancing human dignity necessitates dedication to reserving the common good.
Prophet Micah narrates that everyone should devote more effort to learning how to behave justly, cherish kindness, and conduct humbly with God. The Christian position on social justice differs from the modern secular approach in that the bible promotes caregiving for the less privileged poor as an individual’s choice as opposed to a societal one. Paul’s epistle to the Galatians exhorts everyone to live according to the fruits of the holy spirits, where kindness is exhibited to the disadvantaged (Haughey 96). Every Christian is instructed to love their neighbors in the same way they love themselves. All facets of human existence, such as familial, communal, financial, and spiritual, must be geared toward facilitating human flourishing. By associating and connecting with underprivileged and mentally challenged children during community service hours, I was able to share delight and acts of kindness teaching youngsters’ basketball skills at Perseverance basketball camps with the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Association. The children came from all around, and I learned how to make them feel special and joyful by playing and teaching them new skills. As a result, I was able to work for the greater good, uplifting the children emotionally and spiritually, and even sharing meals with them.
The notion of subsidiarity is a general principle concerning the appropriate arrangement of social institutions essential for individuals to develop independently and collectively. It involves a perspective on the organizing, functioning, and governing of a community in which people, households, and civil society have the liberty to do the tasks that they can perform without intervention from the state. The principles emphasize the fact that government involvement may be required whenever there is a major social inequality or
injustice, which only government involvement can provide circumstances. The proper purpose of the state is to guarantee the common good. Prophet Micah emphasizes three fundamental pillars: practice justice, love, kindness, and walk humbly with God (“The New Oxford Annotated Bible Quotes by Anonymous,” Micah 6:8). Martin Luther King presented a vivid example of an aggressive, innovative battle for justice that did not shy away from disrupting order but essentially upheld the rule of love (Haughey167). The three fundamental pillars of justice, kindness, and humility are critical in dealing with real-world issues and ensuring that God’s justice is upheld. God’s justice is done on earth as it is in heaven through behaving with one another in a more compassionate and godly manner. The Palm Beach Gardens Youth Association by acting independently and collaboratively as a civic society free from government support. Shared joy and showed acts of kindness to the underprivileged and mentally challenged kids by teaching them new basketball skills in Perseverance basketball camps and giving them motivation in life. The organization also provided financial assistance to underprivileged youngsters, with funds raised entirely through private efforts and with no government assistance.
In conclusion, the concepts of human dignity, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity are applied to modern social realities through the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, with special emphasis paid to those who are poor and disadvantaged. Examining socioeconomic situations in conformity with these ideals shall take into account current concerns like housing, children’s services, and immigration while protecting the value and dignity of all people. The ideals of social work and CST are complementary, and these guidelines were applied by the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Association in their social work practice.
References
Haughey, John C. 2006. The Faith That Does Justice: Examining the Christian Sources for Social Change. Google Books. Wipf and Stock Publishers. Web.
“The New Oxford Annotated Bible Quotes by Anonymous.” 2019. Goodreads.com. Web.