Pope Francis’ address to US Congress on 24 September 2015 covered a broad range of social justice issues from migration to interfaith dialogue to peace building and action against climate change. In doing so he drew on a range of Catholic Social Teaching principles. For Reflection: How do you see… Read More »Pope Francis’ Address to US Congress
Catholic Social Services Australia invited me to reflect on recent developments in civil society from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching. Here’s what I said to their Leadership Forum in Canberra on 21 October 2014.
Catholic Social Teaching has a lot to say about recent developments in the relationship between civil society and the state. I will comment on three matters: the notion of entitlement; what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about the role of civil society and of the state; and Benedict XVI’s thinking on the logic of gift in the market.Read More »Civil Society & the State
The Brisbane Archdiocesan Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace has produced a resource called Working for the Common Good, to encourage prayer and action for the common good in the lead up to the G20 meeting to be held in Brisbane, Australia in November 2014. It includes extracts from the… Read More »Working for the Common Good
There is a world of difference between being drawn by love to serve others and promote the common good, and being driven by other forces, such as anger. What are the interior movements associated with my social action? It is possible to ‘keep all the rules’ and look like we… Read More »Love & Service
Do I feel it more if people of my own religious convictions or ethnic identity are persecuted? What more can I do to show my solidarity with others who are persecuted because of their religious convictions or ethnic identity?