Participation, property and work in Catholic social teaching

Abstract

Catholic social teaching developed mainly as 'an answer' to what has been traditionally called 'the social question'. Put simply, this question is about how people can live together and collaborate in a way as to ensure and promote not only their own individual interest but also the common rood. As Pius XI wrote, it is basically "the problem of human fellowship." Human fellowship is problematic for the simple reason that it is a fellowship which needs to be re-affIrmed and built up again and again in the face of continuous conflict and oppression. The status quo is questionable in so far as it constitutes a state in which individuals, classes, regions or countries are somehow excluded from adequate participation. As the Church became more aware of the conflictual aspect of the social reality, the more it perceived the need of emphasizing and encouraging participation. Paul VI spoke of the aspiration to equality and participation that is becoming increasingly more widespread today and represents a constant living protest against discrimination, marginalization and other forms of oppression. Having sketched the extensive and pervading network of domination existing in the contemporary world, the Bishops' Synod of 1971 declared that participation "constitutes a right which is to be applied both in the economic and in the social and political field.