THE COMMON GOOD
We began this series by emphasizing the value and uniqueness of each individual human person and then considered the importance of JUSTICE as one of the foundational principles in Catholic Social Teaching (CST). If human beings are endowed with great personal dignity and were created with the ability to relate directly to God, they were also established within communities where they relate to and depend on one another.
That leads us to another core concept, the Common Good, which comes up frequently in all the social teachings of the Church. (We already referenced it in the article regarding the various forms of justice when we stated that “every individual is required to obey laws that serve the common good.”)
So what is the COMMON GOOD, anyway?
“The sum total of conditions of social living, whereby persons are enabled more fully and readily to achieve their own perfection.” -Mater et Magistra 65
To put it another way, to guarantee the conditions required for the common good, societies must be set up to allow everyone to fulfill their vocation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1907). Authorities and communities must make accessible all that is necessary for life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, etc. (see CCC 1908)
To clarify, let us mention what the common good is NOT about:
Working for the common good is NOT a matter of securing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
If that were the case, inevitably a number of people would be left out and be forced to go with less (or without) while others thrive. Decidedly, that is not what is meant by “common good.”
Why? For, at least, several reasons: First, there can be no question of being satisfied that MOST people are being well-served by policies or institutions—it is a demand that ALL be given fair treatment and equality of access to resources, goods and benefits within their respective communities.
Secondly, because Church teachings are never based on what is “good enough” but what is most excellent. Finally, because there is no way around the truth that the good of others is intricately connected to the good of ALL.
No other route will lead us to securing a good common for us all besides that which recognizes:
• No one will reach their own fulfillment unless all do, because our nature is to live and thrive in COMMUNITy
• That each one of us has a role; we are privileged—and obligated—to contribute to a common good so that human life can flourish
Finally, let’s turn to Pope Francis for a final word on the topic:
“Because we are interdependent, the common good is more like a multiplication sum, where if any one number is zero then the total is always zero. If anyone is left out and deprived of what is essential, then the common good has been betrayed.’
-Choosing the Common Good, paragraph 8, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales