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Did you know extremists suggest that the Catholic idea of the common good is actually part of a vast conspiracy to foist communism on the West?
Hola and welcome to another edition of All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. If you have a question that you’d like me to address, send it to me. You may use the comment form on the website, or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org. I invite you to share the Good News we discuss on this podcast with everyone you know!
On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the common good. There seems to be some confusion about “the common good”. In the United States, an on-air political pundit dismissed the idea of the common good promoted by the Catholic Church saying it is synonymous with communism. Communism is a bit of a poison pill in U.S. politics, and in its current forms is strongly opposed by the Catholic Church.
I think it’s important that we address this as the United States begins its race to the November elections, and as other nations who’ve completed their elections move to implement the policies of their newly elected governments. What is the common good? Why should it be important to me? What is it that we Christians are called to do?
What is the common good? Let’s work with the definition given to us by Pope John XXIII: the sum total of conditions of social living whereby persons are enabled more fully and more readily to achieve their own perfection, (Mater et magistra, no. 60. Also see Heyer, Prophetic & Public: The Social Witness of U.S. Catholicism, 37). Alright, using this as our working definition, let’s take a very fast trip through time.
First, I think it’s important to make a basic observation about the “common good”. The idea is aimed for people who live in society. The vast majority of us do not live by ourselves on deserted islands. We live in communities and nations. We pool our resources for the benefit of each and every one of us, but also for the community as a whole. Why? Excellent question! Let’s push forward then.
Second, I think it’s important to clarify that the “common good” is not a specifically Christian or religious term. From a secular perspective, we can trace the idea of the common good to Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. Indeed, Aristotle’s philosophy which continues to influence political philosophy to this day is based on his idea of the “common interest,” (Aristotle, Politics, pp. 3, 6-7, 12). These Greek ideas influenced political philosophers and economists including Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, John Locke, Rousseau, James Madison, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, John Maynard Keynes, and John Rawls, to name a few. Many of them argued that the idea of the common good is vitally to both a sound democracy and a capitalist economy.
But the idea of the common good goes back even further than the Greeks – way back to early Jewish teachings found in the Talmud and the Midrash based on Hebrew Scripture. Specifically, we find in Leviticus, “When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them … for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33, 34). This had huge implications on Jewish economics and life.
In general, the priestly class did not own land. So, landowners tithed, which is to say the allocated a percentage of their produce for the benefit of the priestly class. Landowners were also called on to leave unharvested food in the fields for the poor – a second harvest of sorts. Later, the prophet Isaiah pronounced that the “House of God will be “a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7), affirming that we serve God not through ritual alone, but through actively working to eliminate hunger, homelessness and oppression,” (see Leah Broyde Abrahams, “Judaism seeks peace and the common good”).
Against this backdrop, we receive the very startling words of Christ found in Matthew’s Gospel account. “‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked, or sick or in prison and didn’t minister you?’ Then he’ll answer them, ‘Amen I tell you, whenever you failed to do it to one of these littlest ones, you failed to do it to me.’ And these ones will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous ones will go into eternal life,” (Matthew 25:37-46).
Augustine picks up this idea in his work, the City of God. In Book XIX Chapters 5-17, Augustine asks, “Is human wellbeing found in the good of the whole society, the common good?” He emphatically answers “yes”.
Why should the common good be important to me as a Christian? It’s not enough to just follow the Law. Christians believe that all people have dignity rooted in our creation in the image and likeness of God. That has implications for how we live. We must incorporate the Law in our lives and it should bear fruit, like showing concern for those who lack material necessities, like food and clothing, or emotional necessities, like the consolation a visit gives the sick or imprisoned.
Ok, this has been a cursory look at the development of the concept of the “common good”. My point is to make sure we know that the common good has both secular and religious roots going back to at least the ancient Greek and Hebrew cultures. This is not a “modern” idea and it’s not a change in direction for the Catholic Church or the Christian people.
What is it that we Christians are called to do? Well, the Church doesn’t teach that advocating for the common good is a specifically Christian requirement. Rather, the Church has taught that all people of good will should work together to create a just society that respects the dignity of the human person and that enables human flourishing. It’s inconceivable that non-Christians wouldn’t be interested in promoting the common good.
That said, what are some things we as Christians should do?
First, we pray. We should fervently pray for our elected officials that they receive the grace to avoid temptation and work on behalf of all of us, and not just special interests.
We can donate to worthy causes which advocate for the common good. Advocacy groups try to help hold government accountable, and they try to encourage conversation about important topics.
Advocate for justice. Let your voice be heard if you perceive your government is doing something unjust or disregarding human dignity. We can write letters to our elected officials at all levels of government about specific measures, rules or laws they are considering. Better yet, try to meet with your local elected representatives. Find out what’s going on. Try to contribute to the discussion. Be part of the solution.
And for goodness sake – GO VOTE!
Hopefully, this bird’s eye view has been helpful to understand that the idea of the common good is not a modern attempt from some vast conspiracy to force communism on society. For the Christian, it’s about incorporating Christ’s teachings flowing from our human dignity as created in the image and likeness of God. It’s about trying to promote the conditions for human flourishing so that we can all be the best versions of ourselves, and about caring for those in society who cannot adequately care for themselves. We’ve also quickly run through some ideas about ways all of us, whether or not you’re Christian, can advocate for the common good. Our purpose here is only to start a conversation about what we can do – what we should do – and whether that has implications for the way we cast our ballots.
Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
You’re listening to All Things Catholic. Please send me your questions! You can use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.
This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. All Things Catholic will be back next month, and don’t forget to tune in for the weekend edition where we break open the Word. Peace!
Note: All Scripture passages are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
