Our discussion last week and indeed previous articles referred to the common good.

The discussion of the common good silently implied that there would be agreement on what is the common good. We all live in communities, countries and indeed the world and we assume we all want what is best for our communities, countries and the world.

We interact with each other persons, our neighbours, employers, colleagues and friends etcetera; and this interaction is one of the main characteristics of human beings.

We share life and values. The Compendium tells us “The primary characteristic of a people is the sharing of life and values, which is the source of communion on the spiritual and moral level. Human society must primarily be considered something pertaining to the spiritual.

Through it, in the bright light of truth men should share their knowledge, be able to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations, be inspired to seek spiritual values, mutually derive genuine pleasure from beauty of whatever order it be, always be readily disposed to pass on to others the best of their own cultural heritage and eagerly strive to make their own the spiritual achievements of others.

These benefits not only influence but at the same time give aim and scope to all that has bearing on cultural expressions, economic and social institutions, political movements and forms, laws, and all other structures by which society is outwardly established and constantly developed”.

This interaction is not to be taken lightly or perceived only as a required physical/material relationship between one another to ensure our survival. We are to actively develop relationships that are based on growing together spiritually while sharing in ordinary everyday things and achieving the common good.

“For every people there is in general a corresponding nation, but for various reasons national boundaries do not always coincide with ethnic boundaries. Thus the question of minorities arises, which has historically been the cause of more than just a few conflicts.” This we know to be true.

In Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed in other countries in the Caribbean, particularly Guyana and Suriname, the issue of ethnicity, not necessarily minority ethnicities, rears it heads.

It has been a source of conflict and disagreement in these countries. It can sometimes make “sharing” in the context identified above difficult. What must be remembered is that as “different” as we are from each other, we all have the right to exist.

 “The Magisterium affirms that minorities constitute groups with precise rights and duties, most of all, the right to exist, which can be ignored in many ways, including such extreme cases as its denial through overt or indirect forms of genocide”.

World history has provided several examples of genocides and other atrocities against human beings because of ethnic, religious and cultural differences, Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, China, East Timor, Sudan, Kosovo and Democratic Republic of Congo.  The disastrous results speak for themselves. 

“Minorities have the right to maintain their culture, including their language, and to maintain their religious beliefs, including worship services.

In the legitimate quest to have their rights respected, minorities may be driven to seek greater autonomy or even independence; in such delicate circumstances, dialogue and negotiation are the path for attaining peace.”

We are now forced to interact at a different level. We are still obligated to communicate with each other in pursuit of a common good – it is just that the common good may mean different things to different people. In some instances it may mean organising different smaller communities within a larger community. 

The Social Doctrine of the Church reminds us “in every case, recourse to terrorism is unjustifiable and damages the cause that is being sought. Minorities are also bound by duties, among which, above all, is working for the common good of the State in which they live.

In particular, a minority group has the duty to promote the freedom and dignity of each one of its members and to respect the decisions of each one, even if someone were to decide to adopt the majority culture”.

Next week we look at defending and promoting human rights. 

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church may contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House at 622-6680