Reflections on the Common Good and Catholic Social Teaching

What is meant by the Common Good? And how can the Church best apply it to society today?Jesuit Father William Rehg reflected on these questions at a conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome December 14th. Addressing the theme the 'Common Good and Catholic Social Thought: A Contemporary Reflection', part of a series of lectures at the Gregorian's Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion and Culture, Father Rehg began by outlining what is meant by the common good.He essentially boiled the concept down two three areas: basic rights/respect for persons, interpersonal flourishing, and societal integration. He then went on to explain what Catholic social thought adds to the concept.But he began by pointing out that societies can often fall into two extremes: totalitarianism in a  communist sense and extreme individualism in the sense of unbridled capitalism. Catholic Social Thought -- a theology not an ideology in the words of John Paul II -- is different.Father William Rehg SJ, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University"Pope John Paul II states that Catholic social teaching is not a third way -- that is it's not a particular platform or ideology but rather a set of critical principles for informing political discourse in policy making."Father Rehg drew on a wide range of definitions for the common good: the Second Vatican Council document Gaudium et spes, John Paul II's teachings, and the Catechism. In all of these definitions, he said, the Church's idea of the common good rejects both totalitarianism and extreme individualism.The Jesuit professor then drew heavily on well known Catholic philosophers including Jacques Maritain who compared the common good to that of musical ensembles, sports teams and deep friendships -- all of which, if aimed at common excellence, lead to human flourishing.But he warned that applying this philosophy to politics risks sheer Catholic utopia. Forging laws on human flourishing can also risk the pursuit of the common good leading to intrusive political authority and partisan politics.  Father Rehg said these pitfalls can avoided by recapturing the common good as a "critical principle". At the same time, he said the Church should remain silent about precise legal and administrative means of pursuing the common good.Fr. William Rehg SJ:"Catholic leaders want to find a way to introduce the concerns and critical questions that are posed by Catholic social doctrine into the discourse in such a way that it can really inform all parties and improve the policy options and choices available to citizens and policy makers." Father Rehg concluded by saying that in today's complex and globalized world, it is increasingly urgent that Catholic social thought find a "politically compelling" approach to social integration -- the third condition of the common good.

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