In a society were materialism plays such a central role and respect for human life appears to be diminishing, the Catholic Church emphasises the value and sacredness of human life and stresses that this principle should inform and shape the vision for a just society. Fundamental to any Government policy should be the principle of human dignity. As Beck (2010) states, “our dignity as human persons is not negotiable. Every human being has intrinsic, equal and inalienable dignity or worth, deserving uncompromising reverence and respect.” The cuts declared in the HM Treasury 2010 Budget, (2010) could potentially pose risks to infringing on human dignity and equality for example cuts in areas such as state benefits may prove detrimental to those already struggling to maintain a reasonable quality of life. The Catholic Church teaches that in order to protect human life and dignity the government must first protect and meet the standard human rights and needs of each individual. Every person, by law has the right to a house/home. The recent budget cutbacks however seem to threaten this right for some people.
The government's promise to cap housing payments at £280 a week for a one-bedroom property and £400 a week for a four-bedroom family home could make many properties unaffordable, especially for people in areas such as inner London. The chief executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb, said that most benefit claimants were pensioners and low paid workers, many who would end up in debt in an attempt to remain in their property. Charities and politicians warned that such drastic changes to the housing benefit system as outlined in the budget could lead to overcrowded homes, a surge in evictions and could tip tens of thousands of people into homelessness. There is a need therefore for the Government to re-evaluate its cutbacks. Whilst it is generally accepted that there is a need to reform the welfare state and to address current abuses in the system, the Government, in making cutbacks, must simultaneously protect the rights and dignity of all people.
There is a danger however on placing too much emphasis on the importance of the individual that a form of extreme individualism within society may arise. Whilst individualism can be a great asset in society, Catholic Social teaching stresses the role of the individual within a community. Catholic Social teaching believes that it is our role to participate and contribute fully to society and in particularly to upholding the common good of those more vulnerable people in our society. In relation to priorities for Government policy, the Church states that protection of human life and dignity and a promotion of the common good should underpin any policy.
This new age calls for a fresh structure; one which moves away from the New Labor’s approach, to a more communitarian line. Without effective and verbal participation from citizens, articulating exactly what they want from the public and taking an active role in its delivery, services will be unresponsive to users’ needs. In developing Government policies the Government must strive to work closely and alongside the communities in achieving and addressing their needs. In following this, David Cameron has launched his "big society" drive to empower communities. The 'big society' is David Cameron's big Idea. His colleagues state the whole idea is about empowering communities, redistributing power and fostering a culture of volunteerism. The victory of the Big Society will depend on the daily decisions of millions of people – on them giving their time, effort, even money, to causes around them. So ultimately the government cannot remain neutral. Within and through its policies the Government must foster and sustain a new culture of voluntarism, charity, and social action. All Government policies should have the community’s wishes and needs at its core. The Government needs to prioritize their policies in addressing the needs, not solely of the elite in society but of all levels.
Furthermore, in a society characterised by increasing prosperity for some, and severe deprivation for others, Catholic social teaching calls on the Government to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable in society as priority in developing new policies.
Jesus Christ is our true model in demonstrating the Catholic attitude to the vulnerable and less well off in society. Luke especially underlines Jesus’ caring and compassionate attitude to outcasts, widows, and those sick in society as he came “to bring glad tidings to the poor and recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18-19). A commitment to the poor is a fundamental and central tenet in Catholic Social Teaching and should be incorporated and underpin any Government policy. Pope Benedict XVI openly places protection for the poor and vulnerable at the core of the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching. In his first encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est), Pope Benedict XVI stated that “Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to the Church as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The church cannot neglect the service of charity anymore than she can neglect the sacraments and the word” (#22).
Following on, the Pope, during his speech to the people of St Peter’s called our ageing generation ‘a blessing for society’ and emphasized the importance of caring for the elderly ‘not so much as an act of generosity but as the repayment of a debt of gratitude.’ Those involved in the current public debate over the funding of care for older and disabled people need to internalise these concepts in developing strategies which promote the well-being of individuals in need whilst ensuring the most effective use of scarce resources. The Government policy should aim to distribute wealth fairly and equitably in society in order to achieve an satisfactory quality of life for all citizens.
Moreover, new research by Demos illustrates how disabled people will be badly affected in the firing ring of Government savings. Families with disabled children will lose over £3,000 each year by 2015.
The Government’s proposed welfare reforms are predicted to foresee 3.5 million disabled people lose over £9.2 billion of critical support by 2015 pushing them further onto the poverty line and closer to the fringes of society. Catholic Social teaching states that “any person with mental or physical disabilities, regardless of the cause or severity, must be treated as a unique person of incomparable worth, with the same opportunities and right to life as all other persons.” Resultantly, there remains an urgent task for Government officials today, one of addressing the necessary cutbacks whilst accommodating to those most vulnerable in our society.
To conclude, as Byron (sheet) states, “neither principles nor values lead anywhere if they remain abstract, embalmed in print, or are not internalized by human persons and carried in human hearts.” In the current economic climate, were frustration and confusion are rife; these catholic teachings offer a criterion for ethical and moral action. These are not however mere documentations, but a challenge to the Government of today of addressing the current economic climate while in turn ensuring that the rights of all individuals are met. A new social contract needs to be produced, which addresses the needs of the vulnerable and poor, acknowledges and supports workers, and of which human dignity and common good are fundamental and recurring themes.
