JESUS INCARNATE = EMBODIED

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LINKING HUMAN RIGHTS
to CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
Donal Dorr
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TWO APPROACHES to MORALITY
1. The First Approach Focused on what is
GOOD Goes back to Aristotle
Emphasis on the Common Good, Solidarity, Concern
for the Poor
Natural Law prior to human laws
This is the basis of the older tradition of
Catholic Social Teaching
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BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS INTO CATHOLIC
SOCIAL TEACHING
HOSTILE What about the Rights of God!
RADICAL CHANGE John XXIII 1963 Pacem in
Terris (Peace encyclical)
Vatican II Scriptural Basis Paul VI To the
U.N. (1965) Populorum Progressio (1967)
John Paul II Rights of Oppressed Workers
Cultural and Economic Rights of Indigenous
Peoples
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Major Developments
1. Emphasis in CST on Right to Participate in
Decision-Making. This allows one to Demand
that Other Rights be Respected
2. Declaration on Religious Freedom of
Vatican II in 1965 Freedom of Conscience
replaces Error Has No Rights
3. Synod 1971 Rights in the Church freedom of
expression right to be hearda legitimate
diversity judicial procedure know the
accusers, and proper defense
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4. Synod 1971 Rights of Women in Society
and in the Church
5. Synod 1971 Right of Poor Countries to a Fair
Share of Limited Resources Protest Against
Environmental Exploitation
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6. Medellín 1968. Puebla 1979Preferential
Option for the Poor, taken up by the popes
Not just about our Lifestyle but also about major
political, economic, and cultural changes.
Closely linked to this is the Theology and
Spirituality of Liberation empowering people to
stand up for their own rights, solidly based in
O.T. and life of Jesus see Pagola, Jesus, A
Historical Approximation
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7. TRAFFICKING POPE JOHN PAUL II, 2002 Trade
in human persons a shocking offence a grave
violation of fundamental human rights an
affront to fundamental values
Pope Francis, Easter 2013 human trafficking is
the most extensive form of slavery in this
twenty-first century!
Pope Francis May 2013 I reaffirm here that
the trade in people is a vile activity, a
disgrace to our societies that claim to be
civilized!
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2. Second Approach to Morality
Focused on HUMAN RIGHTS Enlightenment,
French and USA Revolutions
National Laws International Conventions to
Specify and Defend/Enforce these Rights
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948)
Civil and Political Rights e.g. right to life,
to security, to freedom of conscience
Economic, Social Cultural Rights e.g.
Work, Equal Pay, Disability
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Two Covenants to put Universal
Declaration into law 1966-1976
Convention Against Torture
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime e.g. Trafficking
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WEAKNESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH
Focus on MY Rights Individualism
versus the Common Good
What Basis? Which are Genuine?
How Reconcile Rights which Clash?
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Catholic Corrective SOLIDARITY
Part of a Family, Local Community, Human
Community, Community of Nature - Animals,
Forests, Cosmos
Link Rights to Common Good and Care for
Natural Environment
Liberation theology Raised Our Awareness of
Structural Injustice
and emphasis on empowerment of the poor
struggle for their own rights, not just doing
things for them
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NATURAL LAW NEEDS CORRECTION
Not Organs in Isolation
The People Who Have the Organs, the Human
Community, the Community of Nature
Not Book of Rules of Particular Objects
but Holistic - See the System as a Whole
Grammar of Nature Evolution
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When Corrected, Both Approaches Converge
Human Rights Approach Outrage about Torture,
Abuses, Discrimination
Natural law / Common Good Approach Negotiate
Clash of Claimed Rights
Respect for Animals and Nature Rather than
Animal Rights
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CONCLUSION Key Words Respect for Human
Dignity, Solidarity, Concern for Common Good,
Participate in Decision-Making, Empowerment
The Ecological Dimension is Vital Defend
Rights of Inhabitants of Islands and Forests
sacrificed to Greed of a Few, Insensitivity of
Us
Nourish Ourselves by Awe before the Mystery of
Creation and Evolution and by Insight into The
New Story
We will be Inspired by the Holy Spirit to Cry
Out with Jesus in Wonder and Gratitude to the
Creator
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