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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-