Thread by @catholiccom

Q: Are all elements of Catholic social teaching equally important?

A: Because Catholic social teaching concerns human dignity, human life, and the proper arrangement of human society, all the issues it touches on are important but not necessarily equally important. (1/5)

Their importance can vary depending on the principles involved, the goods and evils at stake, the resources available to promote good and overcome evil, and the obligations and commitments different people may have. (2/5)

Not all good actions, good practices, or just institutions necessarily equally promote the principles of Catholic social teaching, and not all bad actions, bad practices, or evil institutions necessarily equally violate them. (3/5)

For example, the right to private property is an aspect of the dignity of the human person. If a street gang “tags” with graffiti the homes in a neighborhood, the gang violates people’s property rights. That’s wrong. But it isn’t as wrong as the gang murdering people. (4/5)

The right to private property is not, as such, as important as the right to life, even though both rights are foundational for human thriving. (5/5)

Read the rest of the excerpt from @mabrumley's "20 Answers: Catholic Social Teaching" here: catholic.com/magazine/onlin…

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