One: The Principle of Human Dignity. “Simply being human establishes your dignity.” This principle give each human a place in the human community. I believe this that yes, every human deserves dignity regardless of his or her background or actions.
Two: The Principle of Respect for Human Life. Human life “is precious and therefore worthy of protection and respect.” This means life at all stages, from conception to natural death. I believe that all human life, based on the idea that all humans deserve dignity, is sacred and to be preserved out of respect, but that there are instances in which taking a human life is morally justifyable, such as in self-defence.
Three: The Principle of Association. “By association with others (in family and society), human persons achieve their fulfillment.” People are designed to function in society, with the basic unit of society being the family. Yes, I believe that humans can only be fulfilled when in a family, whether that means “family” in the traditional sense, or another type of family, for instance a parish commuity, for a priest, or an abbey for a monk.
Four: The Principle of Participation. “People have a right and a duty to participte in society, (for) the common good,” and all people have the right not to be excluded from participation. That participation also includes work, as a “form of continuing participation in God’s creation.” I believe that people must interact with others in soicety in order for mankind to survive. Without society, men are more like beasts without any unity or cooperation.
Five: The Principle of Preferential Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable. We must “put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first,” for “otherwise the balance needed to keep society in one piece will be broken down to the detriment of the whole.” We must care for the poor for their sake and for ours. I agree to an extent on this one. We must help those who cannot help themselves, but only until they can again help themselves. We should not babysit the poor and hand them the things they need, but rather help them get back on their feet, because if you teach a man to fish, he is full forever.
Six: The Principle of Solidarity. Learning that “we are our brothers’ keepers,” and that “loving our neighbor has global dimensions,” that is, we must take care of people across the globe. I agree, but isn’t this the same idea as number five?
Seven: The Principle of Stexardship: Man’s “moral responsibility for the protection of the environment,” as “a manager, not an owner.” Man must take care of his personal talents, health, and property as well. Man indeed must take care of earth, but he also should use its reasourses given to him by God.
Eight: The Principle of Subsidarity. Refering to “the responsibilities and limits of government,” this insists “that no higher level of organization should perform any funcion that can be handled … at a lower level.” Therefore, government must let the people act, and simply keep a check on people. I agree that the people should control government most of the time, and government should only be around to control the people when they get out of hand.
Nine: The Principle of Human Equality. Coming from human dignity, all men are equal by nature, regardless of their social standing or other factors. I agree that no man deserves more rights than others by birth, but I think that in society man should get a chance to improve his condition even if it doesn’t improve the condition of another, because men are driven by the incentive to become happy.
Ten: The Principle of the Common Good. Men must keep a sense fo community to achieve the common good, those “social conditions that allow people to reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity.” I believe that man must keep social conditions fair for all, and keep all fields open to human involvement that leads to progress, fields including the economy and trade, technology, as well as civil rights.