Dear Friends,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Don’t we rejoice when we see an ICHTUS-fish sticker? We know we are not alone, that Christ also reigns in that –to us foreign – heart. And one feels strengthened to pursue our road further in love.

 

Our ancient Christian brothers have invented this “fish”. The Greek word ichtus can (if we read the letters separately) be the acronym of “Jesus Christ, son of God, Savior”. During the persecution under the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Roman Empire one could ask a stranger whether he was Christian by drawing half an arc. If he would answer by completing it and making it into a fish, the answer was “yes”.

Back then the fish was a sign of hope and it still is, today as much necessary as 2000 years before. Specially in Europe, where Christians and their opinions are often put aside. The “Europe-fish” bears a clear message: we as Christians are prepared to contribute to a good future and imagine our future built on Christian values.

 

Help us therefore spread this message and the hope attached to it. Order “Europe-fishes” to carry them visibly and pass them on. These stickers are available in four languages: German, English, French and Slovak, and to order them is free. Just mail to office@europe4christ.net; of course we are glad if you can help us with a donation to cover the production (0,10cent/p) and shipping costs.

 

As every month we offer a text describing in a simple and exhaustive manner one of the important themes for European Christians in their every day life. So today as well, you can find the text of Professor Manfred Spieker (University of Osnabrück- Germany) about the principles of the Christian social teaching.  That is to say, about the implementation of the Christian message in the political and social structures. Professor Spieker managed to shorten this important matter on a page. Maybe this is why this letter will seem more dense then usual, but keep courage, it is definitively worth it!

 

Your Europe for Christ! team.

 

 

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Principles of the Christian Social Teaching

 

 

By Prof Dr Manfred Spieker

 

 

The Christian social teaching is a theological discipline, which deals with the consequences raised by the gospel on the social, economical and political structures. It questions incessantly the conditions of a humane order in economy and society, the state and international relations. Taking in consideration that for a humane life to be successful it is not only the relation of the individual and it’s virtues, but also the social and political order that are of fundamental importance, the Christian social teaching is to be understood as an institutional ethic. It takes its source in the dignity of the person, which for Christians is founded on the idea of being created in the image of God, but that applies even for the secular world as source and aim of all political and juridical orders. On this basis the guidelines for the social and political activities are developed.

 

The first guideline is the principle of common good. The common good is the sum of the social and political conditions for a human life to be successful. Be it local affairs politics or the global politics at the United Nations, politics should always orient it-self on the common good, meaning to improve the chances of development of people and indeed of the whole person and all persons. On the one hand politics should fight poverty and erase oppression, and on the other hand secure freedom and ensure justice. This aim is served by two other principles of the Christian social teaching, the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity.

 

The principle of solidarity underlines the central meaning of solidarity for politics rooted in the understanding of human dignity. Solidarity is the consciousness of the conjointness and sense of responsibility, which finds its source in the personalistic image of man. Whether in family or society, in business or economy, in the state or international relations - without solidarity, cohabitation of human beings is unthinkable. Solidarity is on the one hand a virtue, but on the other hand a structural principle of the order of the state. It is the capacity and the readiness of the individual to recognize the dignity and the rights of its fellow men, and to express this understanding in its own lifestyle and actions. As a structural principle it doesn’t only influence the social and labour legislations, but the whole legal order that wants to provide solidarity independently of the daily decisions of the citizens.

 

Solidarity isn’t possible without subsidiarity. The principle of subsidiarity is a guideline of Christian social teaching organising the relation between state and society. The state should offer society (individual citizens, families, groups and enterprises) support to self-help –no more, no less. The concept of subsidiarity comes from the latin “subsidium ferre” and means granting assistance, offering support or a shelter.

 

The principle of subsidiarity acts from the assumption that everything an individual citizen (and the organizations he has build him self such as family or enterprises) can undertake, should never be detracted by the state. In this sense it is the central fundament for an order of the state build on freedom and the dignity of the person. It has a dimension triggering action from the state and at the same time a limiting effect. It forces it in assisting the sub-, smaller communities with the aim of enabling them in a better position, so as to help the individual citizens develop a human dignified life, consequently helping them to a personal existence. At the same time it doesn’t allow an intervention in the areas of life and duties of these communities if they are in the position to settle, or accomplish them themselves. The principle of subsidiarity rests upon the anthropologic recognition that the success of a human life is first and foremost dependant on the readiness and capacity of the person to seize opportunities, take risks, endure strenuousness and generate achievements.

 

In order for the above sketched principles of the organising of economy and society, state and international relations to be productive, the Christian social teaching should be collaborating with all social science disciplines, specially economics, sociology, legal and political sciences. They help to analyze the signs of the times and offer norms and maxims. This discussion with the social developments has been reflected in the light of the principals of the Christian social teaching in the papal social encyclicals from “Rerum Novarum” (1891) to “Centesimus Annus” (1991). The fact that the teaching of these principles has not remained a theory but has in the 19^th and 20^th century also made a huge practical impact is to be reflected in the development of the social security system in the German speaking countries, in the breakdown of communism and the post communism transformation processes, in the strengthened attention to problems of the third world and last but not least in the European integration process.

 

 

Reading suggestions:

·          “Centesimus Annus”

http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0214/_INDEX.HTM

 

·          “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church”

(Rome 2004)

 

Manfred Spieker is professor for Christian social teaching at the University of Osnabrück and president of the international Society for Christian Social Teaching.