{"id":44263,"date":"2021-12-22T16:52:29","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T16:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cappusa.wpengine.com\/?p=44263"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:46:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:46:02","slug":"role-laity-catholic-social-teaching-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/es\/2021\/12\/role-laity-catholic-social-teaching-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Laity in CST Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Role of Laity in Catholic Social Teaching <\/span><\/span>(Part 2 of 4)<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

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by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n

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The Role of Laity in CST includes Politics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What Exactly Must I Do?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


\"Freedom...demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate\". (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We continue examining the role of laity. Since Vatican II our Church has called on the laity to be God\u2019s voice in the world. (Lumen Gentium, IV)<\/a><\/span><\/span> It is our special task to order and throw light upon all the affairs of the world in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. That is our unique and special mission. And what an onerous task it is \u2013 if taken seriously: We are directly charged to help fulfill Christ\u2019s prophetic office.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nor is this some ephemeral charge! \"The laity have the principal role in the overall fulfillment of this duty.\u201d (Lumen Gentium, 36)<\/a><\/span><\/span> Both individually and corporately we are called on to make a practical difference in the world: \u201clet the laity also by their combined efforts remedy the customs and conditions of the world.\" (Lumen Gentium, 36)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, \u201cA new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 3)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Role of the Laity Involves Politics<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


On a practical level, in democratic societies a key way every Catholic can accomplish this obligation is through voting. Indeed, participation in politics is a Christian obligation: \u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span> Indeed, \u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d. (Pope Francis, 2)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis also recognizes that this \u201cis not easy; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become tainted? Because Christians have not participated in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[T]o take politics seriously at its different levels \u2013 local, regional, national and worldwide \u2013 is to affirm the duty of each individual to acknowledge the reality and value of the freedom offered him to work at one and the same time for the good of the city, the nation and all mankind\u201d. (Pope St. Paul VI, 46)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Grounded in Human Dignity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


<\/span>\"Political office and political responsibility thus constantly challenge those called to the service of their country to make every effort to protect those who live there and to create the conditions for a worthy and just future. If exercised with basic respect for the life, freedom and dignity of persons, political life can indeed become an outstanding form of charity.\" (Pope Francis, 2)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What About Those in Business or Finance?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


<\/span>\"I ask them not to yield to an economic model which is idolatrous, which needs to sacrifice human lives on the altar of money and profit. In economics, in business and in politics, what counts first and foremost, in every instance, is the human person and the environment in which he or she lives.\" (Pope Francis, 3)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, for those charged with promoting economic development, they \u201chave the responsibility of ensuring that it always has a human face. Economic development must have a human face\u2026They have in their hands the possibility of providing employment for many persons and in this way of giving hope to many families. Putting bread on the table, putting a roof over the heads of one\u2019s children, giving them health and an education \u2013 these are essential for human dignity, and business men and women, politicians, economists, must feel challenged in this regard.\u201d (Pope Francis, 3)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Church\u2019s Role in Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Role of Laity in CST Part 1<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Role of Laity in CST Part 3<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Role of Laity in CST Part 4<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Part 3<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
What is Catholic Social Teaching?<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Back to Articles<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\"Three<\/div>

Three Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>

Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Human Dignity<\/a><\/h2>

This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Solidarity<\/a><\/h2>

Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Subsidiarity<\/a><\/h2>

Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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