450 / 665
422 • Part III. Christian Morality: The Faith Lived
iar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this
tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of
these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight
several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic
social tradition.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and
that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a
moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life
1. What should be the attitude of business toward
the environment?
Those
responsible for business enterprises
are responsible
to society for the economic and ecological effects of their
operations. They have an obligation to consider the good
of persons and not only the increase of
profits
. (CCC,
no. 2432)
2. Who should have access to employment and professions?
Access to employment
and to professions must be open
to all without unjust discrimination: men and women,
healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. For its part
society should, according to circumstances, help citizens
find work and employment. (CCC, no. 2433)
3. When is a strike permissible?
Recourse to a
strike
is morally legitimate when it cannot
be avoided, or at least when it is necessary to obtain a
proportionate benefit. It becomes morally unacceptable
when accompanied by violence, or when objectives are
included that are not directly linked to working condi-
tions or are contrary to the common good. (CCC, no. 2435)
FROM THE CATECHISM