Why should Trinbagonians care about what happens in Iraq, China or Malawi? The first response that many of us will give is that the world is a global village, what happens in these countries are likely to affect us.

What happens in Iraq affects oil prices; we refine and sell oil.  What happens in China affects the number of Chinese workers coming here. Malawi, who knows – perhaps we may not need to bother so much about them, then.

But does this type of analysis provide sufficient reason to be concerned about other countries – because events there are likely to affect us in some way? Our Church’s doctrine tells us that this analysis is not sufficient.

The basis for concern for the international community is the common good, and the human need to establishing relationships among ourselves.

 “The centrality of the human person and the natural inclination of persons and peoples to establish relationships among themselves are the fundamental elements for building a true international community, the ordering of which must aim at guaranteeing the effective universal common good”.

The Church however claims we are not yet a true human family. The reason for this is because of the way of thinking referred to earlier. That way of thinking emphasises national interest. We are really concerned about Trinidad and Tobago, no one else really.

The Church expresses it in this way for us: “Despite the widespread aspiration to build an authentic international community, the unity of the human family is not yet becoming a reality. This is due to obstacles originating in materialistic and nationalistic ideologies that contradict the values of the person integrally considered in all his various dimensions, material and spiritual, individual and community”.  

What we are in fact really concerned about are our economy and protecting our own interests as a country. We do not see nationals of other countries as our brothers and sisters in Christ all made to fulfil God’s purpose for us. What these strong national interests lead to are intolerance of different cultures, practices and ethnicities.

The Compendium of the Church reminds us that “any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable.”

In fact “the coexistence among nations is based on the same values that should guide relations among human beings: truth, justice, active solidarity and freedom. The Church's teaching, with regard to the constitutive principles of the international community, requires that relations among peoples and political communities be justly regulated according to the principles of reason, equity, law and negotiation, excluding recourse to violence and war, as well as to forms of discrimination, intimidation and deceit.”

Next week we continue the discussion on international community and values.

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, can contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House – 622-6680. Also on sale at the Justice Desk are the Take a Bite Social Justice Programme on DVD and Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching.