RED 8 - MIDTERMS

DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

1. Basis of Human Dignity

a. Genesis 1:26 - “let us make
man in our image and
likeness”
Man should be taken absolutely
- This aspects refer to man not only
as the good and beautiful, but also
of the bad and ugly.
- This includes even the UNBORN

Let Us…
- Implies the majestic and deliberate
will of God to create man
- Being the last to be created
suggests that he is the crown of
creation
- Man by his innermost nature is a
social being, a relational being
- Unless he relates himself to others, ● Human dignity is the result of
he can neither live nor develop his human existence.
potentials. ● Human dignity is not earned by
achievements or bestowed by any
● Every human being is created in the authorities other than God.
image and likeness of God and ● Each person has a divine vocationto
therefore has inherent dignity. No further the development of human
human being should have their dignity society as a whole.
or freedom compromised. ● The sacred character of human
● The dignity of every person, dignity involves the development of
independent of ethnicity, creed, gender, one’s skills and gifts for service to
sexuality, age or ability, is the the common good.
foundation of CST ● To “have” possessions can be the
worst enemy to grow in the depth
and quality of personal “being.”
(Pope John Paul II)
● Greed is the most deliberate form of
moral underdevelopment. (Pope
Paul VI)
● The great challenge to authentic contribution to common
human development is to overcome goals and to feel a home
miseries of poverty amidst inadmissible in an environment within
super development of consumerism. which they are known
(Pope John Paul II) and acknowledged.
3) Human Dignity = Human being
Fundamentally Equal But Unique has a personal worth
- There is a fundamental equality - The task of society is to
among human persons by virtue of acknowledge and develop
our common dignity as persons. that worth.
- Equality allows us to take an 4) Human Dignity = Emphasizes that
interest in everything that is human social or biological handicaps
and to understand the moral affecting an individual do not lessen
obligations which inform our his or her personal worth.
common humanity. 5) Human Dignity = does not admit
- However, human persons are degrees and is universal regardless
sufficiently diverse so that we must of gender, age, religion, creed, race
also take into account the originality or color.
and uniqueness of each person. 6) Human Dignity = man possessing
- This means that while everyone freedom and reason, therefore,
shares certain common features of cannot be used as an object or as
humanity, each one does so means for an end.
differently and to different degrees.
● Demonizing rhetoric destroys the
I. Notions about Human Dignity conditions of dialogue and violates
1) Human Dignity = Person’s human dignity.
possession of basic rights: ● Human dignity transcends any
- The essential rights to social order as the basis for rights,
clothing and shelter; and it is the conceptual basis for
- The right to free human rights.
self-expression within the ● Human life is sacred because the
context of social cooperation; human person is the most central
- The right to basic equality and clearest reflection of God
before the law. among us.
2) Human Dignity = Basic respect of ● human dignity is inalienable– that
persons means it is an essential part of
- The respect that will allow every human being and is an
them to develop their own intrinsic quality that can never be
potential separated from other essential
- To make some personal aspects of the person.
● Belief in the dignity of the human a. We are communitarian at
person is the foundation of morality. our core.
The principle of human dignity is the b. We are called to live as
foundation of all the Catholic social brothers and sisters.
teaching principles. c. We are called to live in
justice and respect/abide
● Every human being has the right to the laws of the
lead a dignified life. community.
- A dignified life means an
opportunity to fulfill one’s III. Biblical Sources of Human Dignity
potential, which is bases on Old Testament
having a human level of
health care, education, 2. Exodus Story
income, and security. - “I have seen the misery of my
- Dignity means having people who are in Egypt. I have
freedom to make decisions on heard their cry on account of
one’s life and to be met with their taskmasters. Indeed, i
respect for this right. know their sufferings and I have
come down to deliver them from
II. Human Dignity according to our the Egyptians and to bring them
Christian up out of that land to a good and
Faith broad land, a land flowing with
- “God created man in his image, in milk and honey.” Exodus 3:4-8
the divine image he created him,
male and female, he created them.” Implications
Genesis 1:27 ● God has pity for human suffering,
who wishes people to be
Implications liberated and so live a life of
● Humans share in the Divine image dignity.
of God ● All forms of enslavement and
We participate in God’s oppression are a mockery of
divine Trinitarian nature and God’s will as creator of humanity
called to belong in the in his own image.
community of the Father, ● Human suffering is not the will of
Son and Holy Spirit. God, but rahter something which
We are called to be in must be abolished.
communion with the Father, ● God’s will is done on earth when
Son and Holy Spirit as the conditions for truly humane
children of God. existence are created.
● Humans are called to live in
community 2. Story of The Prophets
 - “Wash yourselves; make yourselves to captives and recovery
clean; remove the evil of your of sight to the blind, and
doings from before my eyes; cease to let the oppressed go
to do evil, learn to do good: seek free and to proclaim a
justice, rescue the oppressed, year acceptable to the
defend the orphan, pleaad for the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19
widow.: Isaiah
1:15-17 ● Jesus anchored the
proclamation of the Gospel for
The above situation provoked a response the liberation of the poor (slaves,
from the prophets: laborers, sinners, women,
● for , Isaiah, the sacrificial liturgy children).
could only be authentically offered - His proclamation of the
by those who showed their fidelity Kingdom is not about an
to the covenant by respecting the authoritarian and
dignity of the downtrodden and tyrannical authority.
marginalized. - He draws on the
● The abuses of human dignity, in the prophetic hopes of a just
various forms of exploitation king who could mediate
characteristic of the Israelite state the justice of God.
and society were a rejection of the - The image of the
covenant and a betrayal of Israel’s Kingdom of God implies
true identity. an environment in which
good can flourish and in
Implications which every human
● True worship of Yahweh is to help being can find peace,
unburden the poor from their justice and freedom.
oppression. - The ultimate meaning of
● Goods of creation is for the use of human dignity is that all
everyone, not only for the few. human beings are
● Power is for the benefit of destined for eternal life,
promoting justice and the common since they share their
good. humanity with the One
who rose from the dead.
New Testament - All human beings can
1. Gospels share in the resurrection
- “The spirit of the Lord is of Jesus.
upon me, because he has
anointed me to bring glad
tidings to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim liberty
The Whole of Man’s life is a quest and same Spirit gives a
search for God message full of
- Our relationship with God can br knowledge… gives faith
ignored or forgotten but it can never to one person while the
be eliminated. another person he gives
the power to heal… the
Social Sin power to work for
- Situations which promote and miracles… the gift of
facilitate human greed speaking God’s
- The complicity of persons who do message.”
not take responsibility for evil being
done. ● How can I make use of these
- Structures which systematically gifts for creating a community?
oppress human dignity, violate - The basic standard is
human rights and impose gross pursuit of the common
inequality. good; characterized by
GOD CALLS US TO LIVE AS A the defense and
COMMUNITY AMIDST DIVERSITY promotion of justice;
inspired and guided by
● What is St. Paul telling us in the the Spirit of service;
verse? imbued with the love of
- “Now there are different gifts, preference for the poor
but the same Spirit. And and that empowering
there are different ministries, people be carried out
but the same Lord. And both as
there are different results, a process and as a goal
but the same God who towards a better
produces all of them in community.
everyone.” 1 Corinthians - Catholics must try to
12:4 infuse into the political
order the overall value of
● What are these gifts intended for? solidarity, which urges
Are these different gifts only for “the actove and
your own benefit? Why or Why not? responsible participation
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-8 “To of all in public life.” (CFC
each person, the #1163)
manifestation of the Spirit is
given for the benefit of all. ● Why my attachment in the
For one person it is given a community is indispensable?
message of full wisdom, - Christian Filipinos today
while the another person the face a major
 responsibility in working to called to be adopted
build a just society. We are son/daughters of the Father in
called to bear witness to the Christ Jesus. Thus filial love of
human and Gospel values God our Father calls for loving
that are intimately involved service of our fellowmen (CFC
in the economic, social and 275).
political areas of activity. ● The nation is witnessing a loss
of commitment to the social
The fact that human beings are social by order, a declining willingness to
nature indicates that the betterment of the sacrifice one’s immediate selfish
person and the improvement of society interests for the good of the
depend on each other… humanity by its
wider society.
very nature stands completely in need of
life in society. - Vatican II, The Church in ● In our culture and our time,
the individualism is a dominant and
Modern World sometimes rampant cultural
force. Contemporary society is
● The very nature of human beings is characterized by a radical
that they are communal creatures. separation of private life and
They live and grow in community. social life.
The dignity of the person makes ● Sin like pride, selfishness, greed
sense only in the context of the and hatred come to infect
person’s relationships to others in habitual patterns of human
the community. Human dignity can interaction. This produces “sinful
only be realized and protected in social structures” which can
the context of relationships with the harden into institution.
wider society. (PCP II)
● How we organized society –
economically, politically, legally – Terrible effects of sinful social
directly affects human dignity and structure are seen in the uncared for:
the capacity of individuals to grow - Malnourished street children
in community. - The misery of the jobless and
● Everyone has an obligation to homeless
contribute to the good of the whole - The crimes, graft and corruption
society, to the common good. For, if - Continued widespread violation
we are serious about our of basic human rights
commitment to the dignity of the
human person, we must be serious We are often diverted from doing good
and spurred toward evil by the social
about humanizing the social
circumstances in which we live….
systems in which the person lives.
Disturbances at a deeper level flow
● To be Christian means to from human pride and selfishness,
acknowledge that all persons are which contaminate even the social
sphere. When the structure of affairs is human behavior, and are
damaged by the consequences of sin, we, regularly protected as legal
already born with a bent toward evil, find rights in municipal and
there new inducements to sin, which international law.
cannot be overcome without strenuous
● Are commonly understood as
efforts and the assistance of grace (GS 25).
inalienable fundamental rights
● In the face of this rampant “to which a person inherently
entitled simply because she or
individualism, Catholic social
he is a human being,” and which
teaching insists that we are all
are “inherent in all human
radically social. It promotes a vision
beings” regardless of their nation,
in which community plays a central
location, language religion,
role. As the Apostle Paul wrote the
ethnic origin or any other status.
Corinthians:
● Are applicable everywhere and
- “The body is one and has
at every time in the sense of
many members, but all the
being universal, and they are
members, many though
equal in the sense of being the
they are, are one body; and
same for everyone.
so it is with Christ. It is in
one Spirit that all of us,
The ultimate source of human rights is
whether Jew or Greek,
not found in the mere will of human
slave or free, were baptized
beings but in man himself and in God
into one body… If one his Creator
member
suffers, all the members Characteristics of Human Rights:
suffer with it; if one member 1. Universal - they are present in all
is honored, all the members human beings, without exception
share its joy. You, then, are of time, place or subject.
the body of Christ. Every 2. Inviolable - “they are inherent in
one of you is a member of the person and in human dignity”
it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) thus no one has the right to
violate any person. It could be
vain to proclaim rights if after all
these rights has not been
respected.
3. Inalienable - “no one can
legitimately deprive another
person, whoever they may be, of
HUMAN RIGHTS these rights, since this would do
violence to their nature”
● Are moral principles or norms that
describe certain standards of
Human rights are to be defended not only rights. To ensure human
individually but also as a whole: protecting rights, governments must
them only partially would imply a kind of engage and support the
failure to recognize them. participation of civil
Principles of Human Rights society in these issues.
● Universality
- Human rights must be
afforded to everyone, ● Accountability
without exception. The - Governments must
entire premise of the create mechanisms of
framework is that people are accountability for the
entitled to these rights enforcement of rights. It
simply by virtue of being is not enough that rights
human. are recognized in
domestic law or in policy
● Indivisible rhetoric, there must
- Human rights are indivisible actually be effective
and interdependent, which measures put in place so
means that in order to that the government can
guarantee civil and political be held accountable if
rights, a government must those rights standards
also ensure economic, are not met.
social and cultural rights
(and vice versa). The ● Transparency
indivisibility principle - Transparency means that
recognizes that if a governments must be
government violates rights open about all
such as health, it information and decision-
necessarily affects people’s msking processes
ability to exercise other related to rights. People
rights such as the right to must be able to know
life. and understand how
major decisions affecting
● Participation rights are made and how
- People have the right to public
participate in how decisions institutions, such as
are made regarding hospitals and schools,
protection of their rights. which are needed to
This includes but is not protect rights, are
limited to having input on managed and run.
government decisions about
 ● Non-Discrimination - The moral rights of the
- Human rights must be human person apply
guaranteed without particulary to the rights of
discrimination of any kind. conscience. The rights of
This includes not only conscience would also
purposeful discrimination, include the right to be able to
but also protection from form conscience.
policies and pracctices - This would involve the
which may have a right to information
discriminatory effect. relevant to the formation
of conscience and the
Human Rights and Dimensions of the right to education that
Human Person fostered the development
Physical of conscience.
- Every person has the right
to physical integrity and Personal
security and in the first place - The rights to our own
the right to life. This right individuality include the right
outlaws unjustified killing to freedom of movement, the
and torture and the violation right to freedom of choice of
of the person’s sexual employment, the right to
integrity. marry and the right to
- Human beings have a right choose marriage partner.
to a basic minimum of the - Negatively, the state is
material necessities for the obliged to refrain from
preservation of physical life. any restriction of these
rights.
Spiritual
- Human persons have a right Social
to freedom of conscience, - Right to a nationality and
belief and worship and the to the status of being a
right to belong to a religious member of society. This
community. prohibits all laws
- They have a right to educate depriving people of
their children in their own citizenship.
religious tradition and to
communicate their religious Sexual
beliefs in public. - The right to marry and to
have children.
Moral - Prohibits sexual
 discrimination, forced other authorities to provide
marriages opportunities for the
development of artistic
Intellectual capacities.
- Right to truth and the right to
develop intellectual abilities The integral promotion of every
- Prohibits any unjustified category of human rights is the true
censorship and propaganda. guarantee of full respect for each
- Obliges the state to provide individual right.
for the education of the The specification of rights according
young. to Pope John Paul II in the
Encyclical Centesimus Annus.
Economic “The right to life, an integral part of
- Right to own property, the which is the right of the child to
right to enter into business develop in the mother’s womb from
contracts, the right to buy the moment of conception;”
and sell, the right to work The right to live in a united family
and just compensation. and in a moral environment
- The right to form unions conducive to the growth of the
child’s personality.
Political The right to develop one’s
- Right to vote, to form intelligence and freedom in seeking
political parties, to stand for and knowing the truth.
political office, to run for The right to share in the work which
public office makes wise use of the earth’s
material resources, and to derive
cultural from that work the means to support
- Right to use and foster the oneself and one’s dependents;
language of one’s cultural The right freely to establish a family,
group to have and to rear children through
- Right to foster one’s cultural the responsible exercise of one’s
identity without persecution sexuality.
or harassment. “The source and synthesis of these
rights is religious freedom, understood
Artistic as the right to live in the truth of one’s
- Right to free artistic faith and in conformity with one’s
expression and the right to transcendent dignity as a person.”
an opportunity to develop
artistic capacities.
- Obliges the state and the
The mutual complementaries between 6. Social services
rights and duties
- Everyone’s right corresponds a duty ● In teaching us charity, the Gospel
in all other persons. The duty: is instructs us in the preferential
acknowledging and respecting the respect due the poor and the special
rights. situation they have in society: the
- The Magisterium underlines the more fortunate should renounce
contradiction inherent in affirming some of their rights so as to place
rights without acknowledging their goods more generously at the
corresponding responsibilities. service of others. A call to action,
#23
“Those who claim their own rights, yet ● It is guaranteed that in the common
altogether forget or neglect to carry out
good is chiefly guaranteed when
their respective duties, are people who
build with one hand and destroy with the personal rights and duties are
other.” maintained.
● The chief concern of civil authorities
● A well-ordered human society must therefore be to ensure that
requires that men recognize and these rights are acknowledged,
observe their mutual rights and respected, coordinated with other
duties. rights, defended and promoted, so
● It also demands that each that in this way everyone may more
contribute generously to the easily carry out their duties.
establishment of a civic order in ● The chief duty of every public
which rights and duties are more authority:
sincerely and effectively - “To safeguard the inviolable
acknowledged and fulfilled. rights of the human person,
● It is not enough, for example, to to facilitate the fulfilment of
acknowledge and respect every each one’s duties. Peace on
man’s right to the means of Earth, 60
subsistence if we do not strive to
the best of our ability for a sufficient ● Human rights are the minimum
supply of what is necessary for his conditions for life in community.
sustenance. Peace on Earth, #28-32 ● In Catholic teaching, human rights
include not only civil and political
Suitable for the Proper Development pf rights but also economic rights.
Life ● This means that when people are
1. Food without a chance to earn a living,
2. Clothing and must go hungry and homeless,
3. Shelter they are being denied of their basic
4. Rest rights. Society must ensure that
5. Medical care
 these rights are protected. Economic
Justice for All, #17
● The obligation to earn one’s bread
presumes the right to do so. A society
that denies this right cannot be justified,
nor can it attain social peace.

Conclusions
● Individual is absolute, that his or her
reality must be recognized
unconditionally and necessarily lies
at the basis of human rights.
● Regardless of nationality, place of
residence, sex, national or ethnic
origin, colour, religion, language, or
any other status.
● Human rights is a form of rights
enjoyed by a citizen as enshrined in
the law.
DIGNITY OF WORK The prohibition to eat “of the tree
● Human work is the essential key for of the knowledge of good and
moral and social development. evil” (Gen 2:17) reminds man
● Work is the means by which persons that he has received everything
express and develop both being and as a gift and that he continues to
dignity. be a creature and not the
● Persons are the subjects of work Creator.
and are not means of production or - The soil becomes miserly,
a human form of capital. unrewarding, sordidly hostile (cf.
Gen 4:12); only by the sweat of one’s
Purposes of Work brow will it be possible to reap its
● To support their family life fruit (cf. Gen 3:17,19).
● To increase the common good of the - Work has a place of honor
human community because it is a source of riches,
● To serve the worker’s humanity or at least of the conditions for a
decent life, and is, in principle,
an effective instrument against
The old Testament presents God as the poverty (cf. Pr 10:4). But one
omnipotent Creator (cf. Gen 2:2; Job 38-41; must not succumb to the
Ps 104; Ps 147) who fashions man in his temptation of making an idol of
image and invites him to work the soil (cf. work, for the ultimate and
Gen 2:5-6), and cultivate and care for the
definitive meaning of life is not to
garden of Eden in which he has placed him
(cf. Gen 2:25). be found in work. Work is
essential, but it is God – and not
- The goods of the earth were not work – who is the origin of life
created by man, but have been and final goal of man.
received by him as precious gift that
the creator has placed under his ● The apex of biblical teaching on
responsibility. Cultivating the earth work is the commandment of the
means not abandoning it to itself; Sabbath rest.
exercising dominion over it means ● Rest gives men and women the
taking care of it, as a wise king cares possibility to remember and
for his people and a shepherd his experience anew God’s work, from
sheep. Creation to Redemption, to
- Work is part of the original state of recognize themselves as his work
man and precedes his fall; it is (cf. Eph 2:10), and to give thanks for
therefore not a punishment or curse. their lives and for their subsistence
- It becomes toil and pain because of to him who is their author.
the sin of Adam and Eve, who break ● Jesus teaches that we should
their relationship of trust and appreciate work
harmony with God (cf. Gen 3:6-8).
● Jesus teaches man not to be enslaved exercise dominion over
by work. Before all else, he must be the earth.
concerned about his soul; gaining the 2. Subjective Sense - it
whole world is not the purpose of his life. goves work a particular
● Work represents a fundamental dignity which should not
dimension of human existence as be considered a simple
participation not only in the act of commodity or an
creation but also in that of redemption. impersonal element of
the apparatus for
Duty to work productivity.
● No Christian should feel that he has Any form of materialism or economic
right not to work and to live at the tenet that tries to reduce the worker to
expense of others (2 Thes 3:6-12) being a mere instrument of production
would end up hopelessly distorting the
● “Every worker is the hand of Christ
essence of work and stripping it of its
that continues to create and to do
most noble and basic human finality.
good” (St. Ambrose)
● The apostle Paul teaches to make it ● The human persom is the
a point of honor to work with their measure of the Dignity of work:
own hands, so as to “be dependent “in fact there is no doubt that
on nobody” human work has an ethical value
● (1 Thes 4:12), and to practice a of its own, which clearly and
solidarity which is also material by directly remains linked to the fact
sharing the fruits of their labor with that the one who carries it out is
“those in need” (Eph 4:28) a person”
● Idleness is harmful to man’s being ● The subjective dimension of
whereas activity is good for his body work must take precedence over
and soul. the objective dimension,
● Christians are called to work in order because it is the dimension of
to accept their poorer neighbors to the person himself who engages
whom the Lord has commanded in work, determining its quality
them to give food, drink, clothing, and consummate value.
welcome, care and companionship
(Mt. 25:35-36). B. Human Work has an intrinsic
social dimension
Church teachings on dignity of Work - The fruits of work offer occasions
a. Twofold significance of human work for exchange, relationship and
1. Objective Sense - sum of encounter.
activities, resources - If the social and individual nature
instruments and of work is neglected, it will be
technologies used by person impossible to evaluate work
to produce things and to
 justly and pay it according to justice” the interior Christian life.
Believers should distinguish
C. Work is a moral Obligation themselves on this day too by
- Man must work because the Creator their moderation, avoiding the
has commanded it and in order to excesses and certainly the
respond to the need to maintain and violence that mass entertainment
develop his own humanity. sometimes is bringing.
- Public authorities have the duty
D. Work confirms the profound identity to ensure that, for reasons of
of men and women created in the image economic productivity, citizens
and likeness of God. are not denied time for rest and
- As man, through his work, becomes divine worship. Employers have
more and more the master of earth, an analogous obligation
and as he confirms his dominion regarding their employees.
over the visible world, he works - Christians, in respect of religious
according to the original plan of God. freedom and of the common
- The more a man works, the more good of all, should seek to have
human he becomes, the more he Sundays
becomes like the divine. and the Church’s Holy Days
recognized as legal holidays.
E. Rest from work is a right - “They have to give everyone a
- Believers must refrain from engaging public example of prayer, respect
in work or activities that hinder the and joy, and defend their
worship owed to God, the joy proper traditions as a precious
to the Lord’s Day, the performance contribution to the spiritual life of
of the works of mercy, and the society.”
appropriate relaxation of mind and - “Every Christian should avoid
body. making unnecessary demands
- Men and women, created in his on others that would hinder them
image, are to enjoy sufficient rest from observing the Lord’s Day”
and free time that will allow them to
tend to their family, cultural, social F. Work, because of its subjective
and religious life. character, is superior to every other
- Sunday is a day that should be factor connected with productivity
made holy by charitable activity, - In the process of production,
devoting time to family and relatives, labor is always a primary
as well as to the sick, the infirm and efficient cause, while capital, the
the elderly. whole collection means of
- Sunday is an appropriate time for production remains instrument or
the reflection, silence, study and instrumental cause.
meditation that foster the growth of
Work and Capital exist a relationship of the mechanisms of the
complementarities economy and by the
● The process of production shows unrestrained quest for
that the two must mutually permeate productivity.
one another and that there is an - Private and public
urgent need to create economic property or any form of
systems in which the opposition economic system, must
between capital and labor is be oriented to an
overcome. economy of service to
● “Capital cannot stand without labor, mankind.
nor labor without capital” - The principle of the
universal destination of
New forms os exploitation of new goods.
Sources of work - Resources have a
● over-working universal destination
- Work-as-career that often which must be placed in
takes on more importance a context of legal norms
than other human and and social rules to
necessary aspects. guarantee that they will
- Excessive demands of work be used according to the
that makes family life criteria of justice, equity
unstable and sometimes and respect of human
impossible. rights.
- The relationship between
labor and capital also finds G. The right of workers are based on
expression when workers the nature of the human person and on
participate in ownership, his transcendent dignity.
management and profit. - The right to a just wage
- “On the basis of his work - The right to rest
each person is fully entitled - The right “to a working
to consider himself a part- environment and to
owner of the great manufacturing processes
workbench where he is which are not harmful to the
working with everyone else. workers’ physical health or to
- Scientific and technological their moral
progress and the integrity”
globalization of markets, as - The right that one’s personality
source of development and in the workplace should be
progress, expose workers to safeguarded “without suffering
the risk of being exploited by any affront to one’s conscience
or personal dignity”
 - The right to appropriate subsidies ● Travelling great distance to the
that are necessary for the workplace, working two jobs,
subsistence of unemployed workers physical and psychological
and their families fatigue all reduce the time
- The right to a pension and to devoted to the family.
insurance for old age, sickness, and ● Situations of unemployment
in case of work-related accidents have material and spiritual
- The right to social security repercussions on families, just
connected with maternity as tensions and family crises
- The right to assemble and form have negative influences on
associations attitudes and productivity in the
are of work.
Remuneration is the most important means
for achieving justice in work relationships. Women and the right to work
The “just wage is the legitimate fruit of ● The feminine genius is needed in
work”. all expressions in the life of
society, therefore the presence
- The simple agreement between
of women in the workplace must
employee and employer with regard
also be guaranteed.
to the amount of pay to be received
● The recognition and defense of
is not sufficient for the agreed-upon
women’s rights in the context of
salary to qualify as a “just wage”,
work generally depend on the
because a just wage “must not be
organization of work, which must
below the level of subsistence” of
take into account the dignity and
the worker: natural justice precedes
vocation of women.
and is above the freedom of the
contract.
Rights of women in the workplace is
seen under the aspects of:
A salary is the instrument that permits the
● Pay
laborer to gain access to the goods of the
● Insurance
earth.
The Family and the right to work ● Social Security
● Work is a “foundation for the
Child labor
formation of family life”.
● Child labor, in its intolerable
● It is necessary that businesses,
forms, constitutes a kind of
professional organizations, labor
violence that is less obvious than
unions and the State promote
others but it is not for this reason
policies that, from an employment
any less terrible.
point of view, do not penalize but
rather support the family nucleus. ● For, just as very rough weather
destroys the buds od spring, so
● Family life and work mutually affect
does too early an experience of
one another in different ways.
 life’s hard toil blight the young Solidarity among workers
promise of a child’s faculties, and ● Unions are promoters of the
render any true education struggle for social justice, for the
impossible. rights of workers in their
● Pope Leo XIII issued the warning: “in particular professions: “This
regard to children, great care should struggle should be seen as a
be taken not to place them in normal endeavour ‘for’ the just
workshops and factories until their good… not a struggle ‘against’
bodies and minds are sufficiently others”.
developed.
● Church’s social doctrine condemns The Importance of unions
the increase in “the exploitation of ● The church’s social doctrine
children in the workplace in teaches that relations within the
conditions of veritable slavery.” This world of work must be marked by
exploitation represents a serious cooperation: hatred and attempts
matter. to eleminate the other are
completely unacceptable.
Immigration can be a resource for ● The church’s social doctrine
development rather than an obstacle to it. recognizes the legitimacy of
● In the modern world, where there striking under the following
still grave inequalities between rich conditions:
countries and poor countries, and - “When it cannot be
where advances in communications avoided”
quickly reduce distances, the - “When it is necessary to
immigration of people looking for obtain a proportionate
better life is on the increase. benefit”
- When every other
Institutions in host countries must keep method for the resolution
careful watch to prevent the spared of the of disputes has been
temptation to exploit foreign laborers, ineffectual.
denying them the same rights enjoyed by
nationals, rights that are to be granted to all
Striking is the collective and concerted
without discrimination.
refusal of workers to continue rendering
their services, for the purpose of
Regulating immigration according to criteria obtaining by means of such pressure
of equity and balance is one of the exerted on their employers.
indispensable conditions for ensuring that
immigrants are integrated into society with
Striking “as a kind of ultimatum” must
the guarantees required by recognition of
always br a peaceful method for making
their human dignity.
demands and fighting for one’s rights.
Striking becomes “morally unacceptable
when accompanied by violence, or when  Catholics must try to infuse into
objectives are included that are not directly the political order the overall
linked to working conditions or are contrary value of solidarity, which urges
to the common good.” “the active and responsible
participation of all in public
LESSON 5 life.(CFC#1163)
“GOD CALLS US TO LIVE AS A  Why my attachment in the
COMMUNITY AMIDS DIVERSITY” community is indispensable?
Christian Filipinos today face a
 What is St. Paul telling us in the major responsibility in working to
verse? build a just society. We are called to
“Now there are different gifts, but the bear witness to the human and
same Spirit. And there are different Gospel values that are intimately
ministries, but the same Lord. And involved in the economic, social
there are different results, but the same and political areas of activity.
God who produces all of them in
everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4: The fact that human beings are social
by nature indicates that the betterment
 What are these gifts intended for? of the person and the improvement of
Are these different gifts only for society depend on each other.…
your own benefit? Why or Why not? humanity by its very nature stands
1 Corinthians 12: 7-8: “To each person, completely in need of life in society.
the manifestation of the Spirit is given - Vatican II, The Church in the Modern
for the benefit of all. For one person it World
is given a message of full wisdom,
while the another person the same The very nature of human beings is
Spirit gives a message full of that they are communal creatures.
knowledge….gives faith to one person They live and grow in community.
while the another person he gives the The dignity of the person makes
power to heal…the power to work for sense only in the context of the
miracles… the gift of speaking God’s person's relationships to others in
message…” the community. Human dignity can
 How can I make use of these gifts only be realized and protected in the
for creating a community? context of relationships with the
wider society.
 The basic standard is pursuit of the  How we organize society --
common good; characterized by economically, politically, legally --
the defense and promotion of directly affects human dignity and
justice; inspired and guided by the the capacity of individuals to grow
Spirit of service; imbued with the in community.
love of preference for the poor and  Everyone has an obligation to
that empowering people be carried contribute to the good of the whole
out both as a process and as a society, to the common good. For, if
goal towards a better community. we are serious about our
 commitment to the dignity of the human flow from human pride and
person, we must be serious about selfishness, which contaminate even
humanizing the social systems in which the social sphere. When the structure
the person lives. of affairs is damaged by the
 To be a Christian means to consequences of sin, we, already
acknowledge that all persons are born with a bent toward evil, find
called to be adopted son/daughters of there new inducements to sin, which
the Father in Christ Jesus. Thus filial cannot be overcome without
love of God our Father calls for loving strenuous efforts and the assistance
service of our fellowmen (CFC 275). of grace (GS 25)

The nation is witnessing a loss of In the face of this rampant individualism,

commitment to the social order, a declining Catholic social teaching insists that we
willingness to sacrifice one's immediate are all radically social. It promotes a
selfish interests for the good of the wider vision in which community plays a
society. central role. As the Apostle Paul wrote
the Corinthians:

In our culture and our time, individualism is “The body is one and has many
a dominant and sometimes rampant cultural members, but all the members, many
force. Contemporary society is though they are, are one body; and
characterized by a radical separation of so it is with Christ. It is in one Spirit
private life and social life. that all of us, whether Jew or Greek,
slave or free, were baptized into one
SIN like pride, selfishness, greed and body.... If one member suffers, all the
hatred come to infect habitual patterns of members suffer with it; if one
human interaction. This produces “sinful member is honored, all the members
social structures” which can harden into share its joy. You, then, are the body
institution. (PCP II) of Christ. Every one of you is a
member of it.”
 Terrible effects of sinful social structure (I Cor 12:12-27)
are seen in the uncared for;
 Malnourished street children
 The misery of the jobless and
homeless
 The crimes , graft and corruption
 Continued widespread violation of
basic human rights

We are often diverted from doing good

and spurred toward evil by the social
circumstances in which we
live….Disturbances at a deeper level