The third theme of Catholic social teaching is typically referred to as “Rights and Responsibilities.” This theme, like all the themes, both builds upon and supports the others, and so it must be seen in relationship with them. 

 

It should not be a surprise then, that we see points of commonality between this theme and those we’ve already looked at, as well as those we have yet to discuss.

 

That first word “rights,” can simply be understood as all of those things that we are entitled to or, properly understood, those things we are due. 

 

The Church understands rights as existing at many different levels, with each level being a stepping stone for further rights to be realized. Some are of first importance because of how essential they are to us as humans. Then there are others that are predicated upon our having those most essential rights realized. 

 

As such, Catholic social teaching concerns itself with trying to contribute to the building of a just society which ensures and protects the most basic rights for all people so that social structures can then be built enabling more complex rights to likewise be a reality for everyone. 

 

Doing this goes beyond striving for mere biological survival, but is directed toward true human flourishing and fulfillment. This means human fulfillment in as complete a manner as possible in keeping with God’s design for us.    

 

Obviously, the most important of all rights is the right to life. The right to life is the one right that’s necessary for any other right to ever exist. Denying anyone the right to life is not just a violation of one right, but in a certain sense, the denial of all other human rights as well. 

 

Denying any right is an injustice. Denying this most basic right means the most profound injustice possible has occurred. Hence the need for Christians to constantly work toward targeting and overcoming those areas where this right is denied or threatened. 

 

As simple as this logic may sound, it is often overlooked or ignored — sometimes even by people who do so claiming to be defending other “rights.” 

 

Building upon this most fundamental right then are all those things which enable this first right to be enjoyed and sustained. This means things like having access to proper food, water, shelter, etc., which themselves must also then be considered basic human rights. Denying anyone access to these things for whatever reason, likewise becomes a grievous injustice. 

 

While there is much more that will be said about the Church’s understanding of rights eventually, this is an appropriate point at which to introduce the second part of this theme: “responsibilities.” 

 

With the procurement of any right there comes a responsibility. This is especially seen at these basic levels. If I am benefitting from those fundamental things I have a right to, then there begins to be a responsibility both to use those things appropriately and to help ensure that my fellow human beings likewise have access to them. 

 

This can be done at this level simply by not needlessly wasting what I’ve been blessed with or using these things in such a way as to not deny someone else access to them. A classic Gospel example of this would be Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). 

 

In that story, the rich man had more than enough of the basic necessities of life, while directly or indirectly denying Lazarus access to them. Applying the basic tenets of this theme to that scenario, Catholic social teaching would remind the rich man that having his own needs met in an abundant fashion places a responsibility on him to ensure that others he can reasonably help (like Lazarus) would also have their needs met by having those things they have a right to, simply because they are human and therefore, a child of God.