by Jason WildeThis is the first in a series on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. 1) The Common Good 2) The Universal Destination of Goods 3) Our Common Home Check back for links to future posts. The 35 MPH speed limit on this arterial road near our house is rarely obeyed. To be honest, it does seem ridiculously slow, and police officers are known to regularly ticket drivers on this section, bounded on both sides by higher speed zones. That said, this road is hindered by lack of turning lanes in places which force drivers to frequently slow down and stop while waiting for clearance to turn. In addition, the road is frequently crossed by pedestrians and cyclists - it intersects a major greenbelt and is within a few blocks of a Catholic school. While it may seem to be a speed trap, there are clearly reasons why a faster speed would be dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. In many ways, this roadway is an example of a 'common good', the first principle of Catholic Social Teaching, and the 35 MPH speed limit is one of the restrictions in place that ensures this common good is accessible to all those who are in need of it. The Catechism describes the common good as "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily" (CCC 1906). Of course, this common good goes far beyond a single roadway, but each piece of the common good must also be treated in a way that is shared consistently. The Catechism goes on to explain that "The common good concerns the life of all. It calls for prudence from each" (ibid), meaning that in order to ensure that it continues to promote respect for the person, social well-being and development, and security of society and its members, we must all exercise prudence in our own personal actions in order to "make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on" (CCC 1908). The roadway, a single piece of our society, is used by thousands of people each day in order to have access to many of these critical rights, and as such, we must recognize and obey the "role of the state to defend and promote the common good" (CCC 1910) - i.e. laws, restrictions, and expectations in place regarding fair use of the road, including speed restrictions. As a passing through motorist, it is far too easy to make a personal judgement about this posted law and exercise personal freedom against it, or to say that the roadway was built for use by motorists, like me, who never have to turn left to reach my neighborhood, and so pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists who need to turn left shouldn't expect to inhibit the free flow of all other users. But right-of-way or preference for a common good is not defined in such as way. Isaiah provides us with imagery of this concept:
The Church has always promoted the preferential option for the poor, the neglected, and those who do not necessarily deserve (in a worldly sense) the common good of all society. Isaiah makes this very clear in this exhortation which does not exclude anyone, and specifically includes those who cannot pay for what society would say must be earned. The Book of Acts gives a brief image of the first Christian Church ensuring the common good: "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need." (Acts 2:44-45) But Matthew gives us the most direct and fundamental example of the common good, as administered by Jesus Himself: When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, 'This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.' This is an important example, and in many ways it defines our Christian understand of the common good in a more communal way than ever understood before. While Isaiah invited everyone to come to God - "Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare" (Is 55:2b) - Jesus not only confirms that we cannot impose restrictions "so that they can go...buy food for themselves", but says "give them some food yourselves", making it clear that WE are called by Him to fulfill the needs promised to those who cannot afford them. We must give up something in order to fulfill His promise to those who are least worthy. The Catechism gives concrete examples of this in calling us to "alleviate the miseries of refugees dispersed throughout the world, and assist migrants and their families" (CCC 1911), both of which require sacrifice on our part to ensure they are fulfilled.
This sacrifice may take many different forms, depending on the particular component of the common good. In many cases, it requires a financial sacrifice from everyone, either in the form of taxes or non-compulsory donations. This is a way for us to ensure that the common good is not literally stolen from those who need it most. Pope Saint John Paul II affirmed this when he said that "God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favouring anyone" (Centesimus Annus). This does not replace in any way the concept of private property, for "the Church does indeed defend the legitimate right to private property, but she also teaches no less clearly that there is always a social mortgage on all private property, in order that goods may serve the general purpose that God gave them” (Address to Indigenous and Rural People, 1979). In other ways, such as with the roadway, our individual sacrifice takes the form of restricting or limiting a personal action or freedom that may inhibit or endanger other's access to the common good. This goes well beyond speed limits and includes licensing, adequate understanding, and obedience to all traffic laws and requirements in order to use a motor vehicle, all designed not just to protect self, but to also protect the lives of others, ensuring that all people can access and utilize the roadway in the way that they need it without endangering their lives. Ensuring access to one piece of the common good also ensures that the universal common good is granted to all of society. Seat belt and child seat laws can therefore be included because while our example limited the scope to just a single roadway, it also limits medical emergencies, ensuring the common good of hospital and medical care to those who need it most. Similarly, we should all take care to not take unnecessary risks for selfish purposes that might result in the need for emergency and medical attention which might be deprived from another person - and this applies to our entire life, not just while sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. This is why it is so important to think of ourselves and our own personal decisions as subject to the common good. Every decision and every action we take can affect in some way this common good, and this is especially true in times such as now when resources are limited and people are suffering. Even though I may feel that some law is unjust or that I can handle the repercussions of not following it, I may be harming someone else, either directly or indirectly by spreading sickness, preventing safe access to necessities for those who are at risk, or using medical resources that are becoming more scarce each day. The dignity and life of each person is defined with the common good as a requirement, and so we must take care to uphold and protect it in order to love our neighbor as ourselves. Take some time to read from Isaiah 55 and Matthew 14 in light of the common good and how we can ensure that ALL have access to it - and in cases where this is not true, that we are the ones who sacrifice in order to fulfill the promise of God to His people.
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On a MissionTwo passionate parents and their four children are excited to bring His Word to everyone in need while living a life of Gospel poverty as missionaries. They invite you to join them on a journey to encounter our global neighbors that Jesus commands us to love through works of charity and service. Archives
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