Every person has a right to development. We are all entitled as individuals and as nation states/countries to development. However this is only possible if we all work as a team – a family team, a community team, a national team and a global team. This article however confines the discussion to the global team of nations.

Catholic Church teaching advises us that countries have to help each other and work together to achieve development for all. In fact the teaching advises that it is not possible for one country to develop if it does not contribute to the development of others. 

“The solution to the problem of development requires cooperation among individual political communities. Political communities condition one another and we can affirm that each one will succeed in its development by contributing to the development of others. For this to happen, understanding and collaboration are essential”.

Countries must therefore speak to each other, and seek to understand each others needs and wants. They also need to determine how their needs and wants intersect and affect each other and find ways to work together to achieve this.

There are several mechanisms which seek to achieve this; these are mainly international organisations with humanitarian purposes, or organisations that seek the economic and political interest of countries.

However it has been noted that despite these mechanisms “It may seem that underdevelopment is impossible to eliminate, as though it were a death sentence, especially considering the fact that it is not only the result of erroneous human choices but also the consequence of ‘economic, financial and social mechanisms’ and ‘structures of sin’ that prevent the full development of men and peoples.”

However, the Catholic Church insists that despite the evident examples of deprivation which form part of our societies even after significant resources have been put into promoting development, we must press on to solve the development problems of the world – because it is an entitlement. 

“These difficulties must nonetheless be met with strong and resolute determination, because development is not only an aspiration but a right that, like every right, implies a duty.”

With rights come responsibilities. In the case of development, this is ever more apparent, since we all must be concerned about the common good. Everyone must be allowed the opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for them. Each of us is obligated to think and contribute towards the common good. 

“Collaboration in the development of the whole person and of every human being is in fact a duty of all towards all, and must be shared by the four parts of the world: East and West, North and South”

What is even more interesting is that the Church reminds us that although we come from different parts, we all originated from the same place.

“As the Magisterium sees it, the right to development is based on the following principles: unity of origin and a shared destiny of the human family; equality between every person and between every community based on human dignity; the universal destination of the goods of the earth; the notion of development in its entirety; and the centrality of the human person and solidarity.” 

All of this is interesting food for thought. This forces us to rethink how we view diplomatic relations among countries, how we deal with trade negotiations, how we respond to our neighbouring countries in times of crisis and how we deal with disputes among countries. We must always bear in mind that we are one human family.  

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.