Catholic Social Teaching Principles May, 2000
The Principle of Common Good
Article by Fr. Byron
Lesson Plans
Primary (K-2)
Intermediate (3-5)
Middle School (6-8)
Secondary (9-12)
Facilitator's Guide
Background/Supporting Quotations:
from 2 Corinthians 4:7
"But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that the abundance of the power is God's and not ours."
From 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
"Now the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit. To one through the Spirit is given the utterance of wisdom; and to another the utterance of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing, in the one Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the distinguishing of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But all these things are the work of one and the same Spirit, who allots to everyone according as he will."
from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions
"The common good is understood as the social conditions that allow people to reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity." (Summary, p. 25)
from Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992)
"The common good consists of three essential elements: respect for and promotion of the fundamental rights of the person; prosperity, or the development of the spiritual and temporal goods of society; the peace and security of the group and of its members." (#1925)
"The dignity of the human person requires the pursuit of the common good. Everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that improve the condition of human life." (#1926)
"It is the role of the state to defend and promote the common good of civil society. The common good of the whole human family calls for an organization of society on the international level." (#1927)
From The Catholic Northwest Progress, publication of the Archdiocese of Seattle, 5/4/2000, article by Rev. William Byron, SJ, The Common Good.
From the papal encyclical, Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher), Pope John XXIII, 1961
"It is necessary that public authorities have a correct understanding of the common good. This embraces the sum total of those conditions of social living, whereby people are enabled more fully and more readily to achieve their own perfection." (#65)