Opening Prayer:
If you like to use music in prayer, I might suggest either song as a meditation on recognizing the needs of our brothers and sisters as human rights, as well as the active role we need to take in bringing that about in the Kingdom on Earth: (Throwback) What if Jesus Came Back Like That? Or, Father Let Your Kingdom Come.
Questions for Reflection:
-What emotions were evoked by the lyrics of this song?
-What ‘responsibilities’ might this tenant be referring to?
-Does this feel like familiar territory or a new leaf?
-What is your experience of stepping over the threshold of making private religious convictions, public? *Not so much sharing your faith story, but allowing your faith to direct the actions/words/involvement/charity causes where you give your time? Was it a conscious or unconscious choice?
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Gracious and loving God, You teach us to honor relationships because your very nature is relational. Would that I move about the world with a deep appreciation for the ways my action and inaction affect those in my community. Help me to be a force for Your good. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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Rights & Responsibilities
Like all elements of Catholic Social Teaching, each is innately connected to its foundation (the dignity of the human person). The reality of being bearers of God’s image necessarily animates the public and private life of the faithful. If; then. If we believe in the in-dwelling of God among us, then it follows that our actions reflect that in bold ways.
At its most basic level Catholic Social Teaching poses that all persons have a right to life from conception to natural death and that that life be protected. As persons born with souls, bearing the image of the Creator, everyone has a right to life and the means necessary to maintain that life. If that sounds like a big responsibility, it is with good reason–It is! Thus: Rights and Responsibilities.
When someone is reduced to poverty, we have an obligation to help. –Leviticus 25:35
Seek the welfare of the city, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. –Jeremiah 29:4-7
On one hand this may feel over-stated. On the other hand, it imposes some big expectations on the surrounding community to offer the care necessary to meet the diverse needs of humanity. Immediately weighty questions rise to the surface: What are my responsibilities, here? To whom? How far do they extend?
-What resources are required to come alongside the single mom who has to give birth to her child?
-What opportunities exist for the immigrant family in need of a place for their children to be safe and cared for and educated while they are at work?
-What about the inmate serving a life sentence in need of a medical procedure that would increase their quality of life?
-What about the gentleman living with diminished mental or physical ability who is seeking dignified employment?
-What about the refugee community wanting a place to worship in their new home?
Both/And
In a perfect world, the faithful would provide for these needs as we are encouraged to do throughout Scripture. Because we do not live in a perfect world, and the unmet needs of our neighbors (and even our own families) are greater than we can sometimes bear, the greater community is required to step in to offer support. We Catholic Christians are required to engage politically to provide for the needs of the image-bearers whose rights to life would otherwise go unmet. In some cases, we may feel uncomfortable supporting a political party/policy/lawmaker’s agenda on issues that we hold dear. In cases like these, we might consider investing our resources in specific individuals and charities that best honor the lives of our brothers and sisters in a way that we can feel good about.
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We must speak of man’s rights. Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill health; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age; enforced unemployment; or whenever through no fault of his own he is deprived of the means of livelihood. (St. John XXIII, Peace on Earth [Pacem in Terris], no. 11)
A link has often been noted between claims to a “right to excess”, and even to transgression and vice, within affluent societies, and the lack of food, drinkable water, basic instruction and elementary health care in areas of the underdeveloped world and on the outskirts of large metropolitan centers. The link consists in this: individual rights, when detached from a framework of duties which grants them their full meaning, can run wild, leading to an escalation of demands which is effectively unlimited and indiscriminate. (Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth, [Caritas in Veritate], no. 43)
Quite agreeable, of course, was this state of things to those who thought it in their abundant riches the result of inevitable economic laws and accordingly, as if it were for charity to veil the violation of justice which lawmakers not only tolerated but at times sanctioned, wanted the whole care of supporting the poor committed to charity alone. — Pope Pius XI
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Subsidiarity, again
The faithful will always achieve greater success at meeting the needs of those living on the margins than one-size-fits-all organizations. We know this to be true on an ethical level and in light of the principle of subsidiarity. Although, we have as much right to criticize the lacking efficacy of care provided by the state in direct proportion to how much we have invested of ourselves to accomplish the same intended good. The state necessarily provides a safety net, as well as a litmus test that calls all believers to a greater charity of their time, talent and treasure.
This principle plays nicely with the concept of subsidiarity precisely because the assistance granted is intended to work in tandem with the autonomy and dignity specific to each individual. A lifetime of receiving public or private assistance does nothing to uphold the autonomy and dignity of one temporarily unemployed by illness, whereas a lifetime of public or private assistance may be completely required for one whose physical and/or mental capacity limits their ability to fully provide for themselves.
Being able to work to integrate these nuances is both a right and responsibility each of us shares, whether or not we are the beneficiaries of that particular aid.
“The Gospel takes away our right forever, to discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving poor.” –Servant of God, Dorothy Day
Questions for reflection
-What about this tenant of CST most touches your heart? What chafing did you experience in reaction to these words?
-We have all witnessed failed attempts to serve unmet needs. Where have you seen stories of success? Individuals? Organizations? Programs? Grants? Missions?
Do you support them? If so, how so? If not, how might you be encouraged to do so?
-Can you get behind the requirement to advocate for the needs of those who find themselves with unmet needs in light of Scripture or the invitations inherent in this facet of Catholic Social Teaching? Why or why not?
Closing Prayer
Loving God, Your very nature is love. Would that you bestir a spirit of generosity and humility in your faithful that our first response to unmet needs in our community is compassionate assistance, free from the language of merit. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen