God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labour, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the entire human race.

 It is expected that every person should be assured of security of person, and the ability to own property to ensure their freedom and dignity of person to enable each person to meet his/her basic needs and the needs of those for whom he/she is responsible.

“However, despite this ‘At the beginning of the New Millennium, the poverty of billions of men and women is the one issue that most challenges our human and Christian consciences”. It is estimated that approximately 1 billion persons live on less than US$1 a day, with 2.6 billion—40 percent of the world’s population—living on less than US$2 a day. (United Nations Development Programme 2007 Human Development Report (HDR).

Poverty poses a dramatic problem of justice; in its various forms and with its various effects, it is characterised by an unequal growth that does not recognise the “equal right of all people to take their seat ‘at the table of the common banquet'. The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income.

The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income (United Nations Development Programme 2007 HDR). These figures highlight the inequity and the injustice that poverty brings. Such poverty makes it impossible to bring about that full humanism which the Church hopes for and pursues so that persons and peoples may ‘be more’ and live in conditions that are more human.”

“The fight against poverty finds a strong motivation in the option or preferential love of the Church for the poor. In the whole of her social teaching the Church never tires of emphasising certain fundamental principles of this teaching, first and foremost, the universal destination of goods.”

Basically this means, we are all entitled to enjoy the fruits of creation. Constantly reaffirming the principle of solidarity, the Church's social doctrine demands action to promote “the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all”.

God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them. It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognise his chosen ones. Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. We are obligated to work towards reducing poverty and the plight of the poor.

“The principle of solidarity, even in the fight against poverty, must always be appropriately accompanied by that of subsidiarity, thanks to which it is possible to foster the spirit of initiative, the fundamental basis of all social and economic development in poor countries.

The poor should be seen ‘not as a problem, but as people who can become the principal builders of a new and more human future for everyone’.” This means the poor must be part of the solution, they are not to be looked upon as if they have no say in their future. 

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.