Toward a Universal Social Ethics: The Catholic Contribution

About the Author

ROLAND MINNERATH is the Archbishop of Dijon, France, and is professor at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and was previously a professor at the Faculty of Theology of Strasbourg University. He has received countless awards and prizes in recognition of his work, such as the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur from France, Cavaleiro da Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul from Brazil, and Verdienstkreutz 1. Klasse from Germany, and is also a member of the Doctrinal Commission of the Conference of the Bishops of France and the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. He has authored numerous publications on the fields of social ethics, history, and clerical law.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

1. The Diversity of Value Systems
2. The Need for a Universal Ethics
3. The International Ethos of Human Rights
4. Catholic Social Ethics
5. Method and Aim

Chapter 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL ETHICS

1. The Person in Society

1. The Person as the Origin and Purpose of Social Life
2. The Fundamental Equality of All
3. The Person as a Social Being

2. The Claim of Each and All on the Goods of the Earth
3. The Order Inherent in Human Relations

1. Natural Law and Human Culture
2. Natural Rights
3. Positive Law
4. Human Rights

Chapter 2: PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL LIFE

1. The Common Good
2. Conditions Leading to the Common Good

1. Freedom
2. Truth
3. Solidarity
4. Justice
5. Non-Violence

3. The Organising Principles of Social Life

1. Participation
2. The Principle of Subsidiarity

Chapter 3: FAMILY AND SOCIETY

1. The Bond of Marriage

1. The Sexual Condition
2. The Filial Relationship
3. Marriage
4. Other Forms of Union and the Crisis of Marriage

2. Procreation and Adoption

1. The Transmission of Life
2. Adoption

3. The Family and Social Life

1. Family Structures
2. Separations
3. The Nurturing Cell of Society
4. Education
5. The Family and Economic Life
6. Family Policy

Chapter 4: ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

1. Person and Work

1. Work
2. The Right to Work
3. Wages
4. Property

2. Freedom of Enterprise

1. Capital and Work
2. Enterprise
3. The Market
4. Financial Markets and International Trade

2. The Social Regulation of Economic Activity

1. The Social Economy of the Market
2. An Economy of Solidarity

Chapter 5: CIVIL SOCIETY

1. Understanding Society

1. Dimensions of Human Society
2. People, Nation, State
3. The Emergence of Civil Society
4. Culture

2. Ethics in Professional Settings

1. The Ethics of Life
2. Public Opinion and Media Ethics
3. The Ethics of Citizenship

3. Religions in Society

1. Religious Freedom
2. Autonomy and Cooperation

Chapter 6: POLITICAL SOCIETY

1. The Sovereign State

1. National Minorities
2. The Rule of Law
3. The State and Subsidiarity

2. The Political Regime

1. Democracy
2. The Fundamental Values of Democracy
3. The Threats to Democratic Values
4. Public Service

Chapter 7: THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AND PEACE

1. The Community of Nations

1. The Unity of Humankind
2. Movements of Peoples
3. The Universal Common Good
4. A Global Civil Society
5. International Law
6. The Organisation of International Life

2. Peace

1. Legitimate Defence
2. Modern War and Disarmament
3. New Forms of Conflict
4. Terrorism
5. Reconciliation

Chapter 8: THE BIG CHALLENGES OF TODAY

1. Development

1. Development Aid
2. External Debt
3. Sustainable Development

2. The Environment
3. Globalisation

1. A Diagnosis
2. Ethical Markers

Epilogue: A RETURN TO THE ORIGINS

 

Afterword by Michel Camdessus