Human beings are made to live together. We cannot survive without others and can only grow and achieve our potential in relationship with others. Societies need some kind of authority to coordinate or regulate the network of relationships between individuals and groups, providing laws, institutions and procedures that foster the good of each and of all. The role of the State then, is to serve the human person by organizing and promoting the common good.
“The common good requires that civil authorities maintain a careful balance between coordinating and protecting the rights of citizens, on the one hand, and promoting them, on the other. It should not happen that certain individuals or social groups derive special advantage from the fact that their rights have received preferential protection. Nor should it happen that governments, in seeking to protect these rights, become obstacles to their full expression and free use.”
Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, n 65
Catholic Social Teaching
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Chapter Eight
The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church devotes the whole of chapter eight to the political community.
The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this Doctrinal Note in 2002 to assist the Bishops, Catholic politicians, and all lay people to fulfill their civic duties.
A Vote for Us All
The Australian Bishops issued this leaflet in 2007 urging Catholics to consider the common good in deciding how to vote in the Federal Election due to be held later that year.
Stories & Reflections
Social Justice & the Election This leaflet from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council highlights a number of social justice issues and encourages voters to ask questions of candidates before deciding how to vote.
Religious Call for Leadership for the Common Good Reflecting before the 2007 Federal election, Mark Raper SJ, President of Catholic Religious Australia, places the idea of the common good at the heart of religious engagement with the political sphere.
Caesar’s Coin Archbishop Roland Minnerath reflects on the historical development of Church / State relations for the 2007 Newman College Helder Camara Lecture Series. For a transcript or podcast, visit
www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/stories/2007/2067918.htm
