Abstract
From full lockdowns to school closures and essential workers out on the frontlines, COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease, has turned people’s lives upside down since December 2019. This pandemic continues to have a huge socio-economic impact on the world. However, each community has been hit differently- some more severely than others. Many articles have tackled the subject of the current global health crisis and its impact on the world, but the relationship between the application of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and the potential halt of the spread of COVID-19 has not yet been explored. Therefore, this article seeks to discover whether or not the application of these principles can save the world during this global pandemic. More specifically, it aims to examine the relation between the CST’s three main cornerstones: human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity and helping the world reach the common good by surviving this crisis and creating a foundation for a better tomorrow.
Highlights
From full lockdowns to school closures and essential workers out on the frontlines, COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease, has turned people’s lives upside down since December 2019
Many articles have tackled the subject of the current global health crisis and its impact on the world, but the relationship between the application of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and the potential halt of the spread of COVID-19 has not yet been explored
It aims to examine the relation between the CST’s three main cornerstones: human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity and helping the world reach the common good by surviving this crisis and creating a foundation for a better tomorrow
Summary
“We are in this together and we will get through this, together”- this is how UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the current worldwide pandemic (UNODC, 2020). According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s forecast, if a second wave of infections hits before the end of year, the global economic growth will plunge by 7.6% (OECD, 2020) This global health crisis is estimated to “push 71 million people into extreme poverty in 2020” (WORLD BANK GROUP, 2020). Catholic Social Teaching encourages people to take action and help those in need. It is important to note that Catholic Social Teaching is characterized by its inclusiveness; it goes beyond all types of segregations It welcomes people from all religious groups; monotheistic or not, believers or not. Solidarity- the second cornerstone- inspires actions such as praying together, stopping the spread of fake news and helping vulnerable and marginalized communities. It is essential to note that this article does not aim to establish that the application of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching is the only way to overcome this crisis; it seeks to show the efficiency of their application in one’s everyday life to survive this tough period
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