4.45 Is de ‘sociale leer van de Kerk’ goed zijn voor armen?
Ieder mens is door God geschapen en verdient onze hulp en liefde. De basis voor het vele sociale werk van de Kerk door de eeuwen heen was altijd Jezus’ bijzondere aandacht voor armen, zwakken, zieken, eenzamen en anderen die hulp nodig hadden.
Jezus zendt ook ons op weg om zorg te hebben voor onze naaste. Dit noemen we de katholieke sociale leer, die zo oud is als Jezus. Iedere tijd vroeg om een andere toepassing van dezelfde principes van naastenliefde. Steeds weer is er aandacht nodig voor menselijke waardigheid en een eerlijke verdeling van bezit en werk.
What is the content of the social doctrine of the Church?
The social doctrine of the Church is an organic development of the truth of the Gospel about the dignity of the human person and his social dimension offering principles for reflection, criteria for judgment, and norms and guidelines for action. [CCCC 509]
Why does the Catholic Church have her own social teaching?
Because all men, as children of God, possess a unique dignity, the Church with her social teaching is committed to defending and promoting this human dignity for all men in the social sphere. She is not trying to preempt the legitimate freedom of politics or of the economy. When human dignity is violated in politics or economic practices, however, the Church must intervene.
“The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well” (Second Vatican Council, GS). In her social teaching, the Church makes this statement specific. And she asks: How can we take responsibility for the well-being and the just treatment of all, even of non-Christians? What is a just organization of human society, of political, economic, and social institutions supposed to look like? In her commitment to justice, the Church is guided by a love that emulates Christ’s love for mankind. [Youcat 438]
Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine. Every responsibility and every commitment spelt out by that doctrine is derived from charity which, according to the teaching of Jesus, is the synthesis of the entire Law (cf. Mt 22:36- 40). It gives real substance to the personal relationship with God and with neighbour; it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones). For the Church, instructed by the Gospel, charity is everything. [Pope Benedict, Caritas in veritate, n. 2]
