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GEORGIA BULLETIN
THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1963
Some Problems Of The Atomic Age
Even though there may be
pronounced differences between
political communities as regards
the degree of their economic de
velopment and their military
power, they are all very sensi
tive as regards their juridical
equality and their moral dignity.
For that reason, they are right
in not easily yielding in obedi
ence to an authority imposed by
force, or to an authority 'in
whose creation they had no part,
or to which they themselves did
not decide to submit by con
scious and free choice.
The Universal Common Good
and Personal Rights
Like the common good of in
dividual political communities,
so too the universal common
good cannot be determined ex
cept by having regard to the
human person. Therefore, the
public authority of the world
community, too, must have as
its fundamental objective the
recognition, respect, safeguard
ing and promotion of the rights
of the human person, this can be
done by direct action when re
quired, or by creating on a world
scale an environment in which
the public authorities of the in
dividual political communities
can more easily carry out their
specific functions.
The Principle of Subsidiarity
Just as within each politi
cal community the relations be
tween individuals are governed
by the principle of subsidiarity,
so too the relations between the
public authority of each political
community and the public au
thority of the world community
must be regulated by the light
of the same principle. This
means that the public authority
of the world community must
tackle and solve problems of an
economic, social, political and
cultural character which are
posed by the universal common
good. For, because of the vast
ness, complexity and urgency
of those problems, the public
.authorities of the individual
states are not in a position to
tackle them with any hope of
a positive solution.
The public authority of the
world community is not intend
ed to limit the sphere of ac
tion of the pubUc authority of
the individual poUtical commu
nity, much less to take its
place. On the contrary, its pur
pose is to create, on a world
oasis, an environment in which
the public authorities of each
political community, its citi
zens and intermediate associa
tions, can carry out their tasks,
fulfil their duties and exercise
their rights with greater se
curity. (64)
Modern Developments
As is known, the United Na
tions Organization (U.N.O.)
was established on June 26,
1945, and to it there were sub
sequently added intergovern
mental agencies with exten
sive international tasks in the
economic, social, cultural, edu
cational and health fields. The
United Nations Organization
had as its essential purpose the
maintenance and consolidation
of peace between peoples, fos
tering between them friendly
relations, based on the prin
ciples of equality, mutual re
spect, and varied forms of co
operation in every sector of hu
man society.
An act of the highest im
portance performed by the
United Nations Organization
was the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, approved in
the General Assembly of De
cember 10, 1948. In the pre
amble of that declaration, the
recognition and respect of those
rights and respective liberties
is proclaimed as an ideal to
be pursued by all peoples and
all countries.
Some objections and reserva
tions were raised regarding cer
tain points in the declaration.
There is no doubt, however,
that the document represents
an Important step on the path
towards the juridical-political
POPE John XXIIl receives in audience King Ge< rgr IX k.
Rukidi III of Toro in the East African territory of Uganda.
King Rukidi told the Pontiff of the work performed in his
kingdom by the White Fathers and other Catholic missionary
groups, and asked for the Pope’s blessing for himself and his
people.
organization of the world com
munity. For in it, in most sol
emn form, the dignity of a per
son is acknowledged to all hu
man beings. And as a conse
quence there is proclaimed as
a fundamental right, the right
of free movement in the search
for truth and in the attain
ment of moral good and jus
tice, and also the right to a
dignified life, while other rights
connected with those mentioned
are likewise proclaimed.
It is our eameest wish that
the United Nations Organization
—in its structure and in its
means—may become ever more
equal to the magnitude and no
bility of its tasks, and that the
day may come when every hu
man being will find therein an
effective safeguard for the
rights which derive directly
from his dignity as a person,
and which are therefore uni
versal, inviolable and inalien
able rights. This is all the more
to be hoped for since all hu
man beings, as they take an
ever more active part in the
public life of their own polit
ical communities, are showing
an increasing interest in the af
fairs of all peoples, and are
becoming more consciously
aware that they are living
members of a world community.
Once again we deem it op
portune to remind our children
of their duty to take an active
part in public life, and to con
tribute toward the attainment
of the common good of the en
tire human family as well as
to that of their own political
community. They should endea
vor therefore, in the light of
the faith and with the strength
of love, to Insure that the var
ious institutions — whether ec
onomic, social, cultural or politi
cal in purpose — should be such
as not to create obstacles, but
rather to facilitate or render
less arduous man’s perfections
of himself both in the natural
order as well as in the super
natural.
Scientific Competence, Tech
nical Capacity and Profes
sional Experience
Nevertheless, In order to im
bue civilization with sound prin
ciples and enliven it with the
spirit of the gospel, it is not
enough to be illumined with the
gift of faith and enkindled with
the desire of forwarding a good
cause. For this end it is neces
sary to take an active part in
the various organizations and
influence them from within.
And since our present age is
one of outstanding scientific and
technical progress and excel
lence, one will not be able to
enter these organizations and
work effectively from within
unless he is scientifically com
petent, technically capable and
skilled in the practive of his
own profession.
Apoatolate of a Trained
Laity
We desire to call attention to
the fact that scientific compe
tence, technical capacity and
professional experience, al
though necessary, are not of
themselves sufficient to elevate
the realtionships of society to an
order that is genuinely human:
that Is, to an order whose foun
dation is truth, whose measure
and objective is justice, whose
driving force is love, and whose
method of attainment is free
dom.
For this end it is certainly
necessary that human beings
carry on their own temporal
activities in accordance with the
laws governing them and fol
lowing the methods correspond
ing to their nature. But at* the
same time it is also necessary
that they should carry on the
activities as acts .within the
moral order: therefore, as the
exercise or vindication of a
right, as the fulfilment of a
duty or the performance of a
service, as a positive answer
to the providential design of
God directed to our salvation.'
In other words, it is necessary
that human beings, in the in
timacy of their own consciences,
should so live and act in their
temporal lives as to create a
synthesis between scientific,
technical and professional ele
ments on the one hand, and
spiritual values on the other.
Integration of Faith anil
Action
It is no less clear that today,
in traditionally Christian na
tions, secular ' institutions, al
though demonstrating a high
degree of scientific and tech
nical perfection, and efficiency
in achieving their respective
ends, not infrequently are but
slightly affected by Christian
motivation or insoiration.
It is beyond question that in
the creation of those institu
tions many contributed and con
tinue to contribute who were
believed to be and who consider
themselves Christians and with
out doubt, in part at least, they
were and are. How does one
explain this? It is our opinion
that the explanation is to be
found in an inconsistency in
their minds between religious
belief and their action in the
temporal sphere. It is necessary,
therefore, that their interior
unity be re-established, and
that in their temporal activity
faith should be present as a
beacon to give light, and charity
as a force to give life.
Integral Education
It is our opinion, too, that
the above-mentioned inconsist
ency between the religious faith,
in those who believe, and their
activities in the temporal
sphere, results—in great part
if not entirely—from the lack
of a solid Christian education.
Indeed, it happens in many
quarters and too often that
there is no proportion between
scientific training and religious
instruction: the former contin
ues and is extended until it
reaches higher degrees, while
the latter remains at elemen
tary level. It is indispensable,
therefore, that in the training
of youth, education should be
complete and without interup-
tion - namely, that in the minds
of the young, religious values
should be cultivated and the
moral conscience refined, in a
manner to keep pace with the
continuous and ever more abun
dant assimilation of scientific
and technical knowledge. And
it is indispensable too that they
be instructed regarding the
proper way to carry out their
actual tasks. (65)
Constant Endeavour
We deem it opportune to
point out how difficult it is to
understand clearly the relation
between the objective require
ments of justice and concrete
situations, namely, to perceive
the degrees and forms in which
doctrinal principles and direc
tives ought to be applied to
reality.
And the perception of those
degrees and forms is all the
more difficult in our times,
which are marked by a pro
nounced dynamism. For this
reason, the problem of bringing
social reality into line with the
objective requirements of jus
tice is a problem which will
never admit of a definitive so
lution. Meanwhile, our children
must watch over themselves
lest they relax and feel satisfied
with objectives already
achieved.
In fact, all human beings
ought rather to reckon that
whai has been accomplished is
but little in comparison with
what remains to be done: be
cause organs of production,
trade unions, associations, pro
fessional organizations, insur
ance systems, legal systems,
political regimes, institutions
for culture, health, recreational
or sporting purposes — these
must all be adjusted to the era
of the atom and of the conquest
of space: an era which the hu
man family has already entered,
wherein it has commenced its
new advance towards limitless
horizons.
Relations between Catholics
and Non-Catholics in So
cial and Economic Affairs
The doctrinal principles out
lined in this document derive
from or are suggested by re
quirements inherent in human
nature itself, and are, for the
most part, dictates of the nat
ural law. They provide Catho
lics, therefore, with a vast field
In which they can meet and
come to an understanding both
with Christians separated from
this Apostolic See, and also
with human beings who are not
enlightened by faith in Jesus
Christ, hut who are endowed
Highlights of Encyclical
Following are major points of Pope John XXJIl’s ency
clical made public yesterday:
On Mankind—Every human being, by virtue of his intelligence
and free will, has rights and duties of his own which are
universal, inviolable and inalienable.
On Human Bight*—Every man has the right to life, to bodily
integrity and to the means necessary for the proper develop
ment of life. These include the right to security in cases of
sickness, inability to work, widowhood, old age and unem
ployment.
On Worship—Every human being has the right to honor God
according to the dictates of an upright conscience.
On Work—Human beings have the natural right to free initia
tive m the economic field, and the right to work. However,
there is a social duty essentially inherent in the right of
private property.
Characteristics of Contemporary Society—First of all, the work
ing classes have gradually gained ground in economic and
public affairs. Second, women are now taking a part m Public
life. Finally, there will soon no longer exist a world divided
into nations that rule and are subjects.
On Human Betterment—All efforts made to promote the com
mon good, far from endangering the eternal salvation of men,
ought rather to serve to promrte it.
On Government—It is impossible to determine, once and for
all, what is the most suitable form of jovimmtnt.
On Law—Social life in the modem world is so varied, commie*
and dynamic that even a juridical structure prudently
thoughtfully established is always Inadequate for the needs
of society.
On the World Community—No political community is able to
pursue its own interests and develop itself in isolation. Today
the universal common good poses problems of worldwide
which cannot be adequately tackled or solved
except on a worldwide basis.
On the United .Nations—It is our earnest wish that the United
Nations Organization — in its structure and in its means -
may becom- ever more equal to the magnitude and nobility
of its tasks.
On Nuclear War and Testing-Though it Is difficult to believe
that anyone would deliberately take the responsibility f
the appalling destruction and sorrow that war would bring,
it cannot he denied that the conflagration may be set off by
chance. Though the monsltous power of modern weapons
acts as a deterrent, it is to be feared that the mere continu-