Church Teaching To one person’s right there corresponds a duty in all other persons.
Those, therefore, who claim their own rights, yet altogether forget or neglect to carry out their respective duties,
are people who build with one hand and destroy with the other.
Civil Rights & Liberties
Every member of society is imbued with a number of rights. With them come responsibilities.
In Catholic terms, a “right” has been defined as a subjective moral power, residing in the person posing it, “to do, hold, or extract something,” which functions through appeal to another’s will through the other’s intellect. It is to be distinguished from might, i.e. the physical force or power to take something away from another. – Fr John Hardon, SJ, Modern Catholic Dictionary
Man’s history of sin begins when he no longer acknowledges the Lord as his Creator and himself wishes to be the one who determines, with complete independence, what is good and what is evil. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:5): this was the first temptation, and it is echoed in all the other temptations to which man is more easily inclined to yield as a result of the original Fall. – Pope Saint John Paul II, Veritatis splendor
The demands of the common good… are strictly connected to respect for and the integral promotion of the person and his fundamental rights. These demands concern above all the commitment to peace, the organization of the State’s powers, a sound juridical system, the protection of the environment, and the provision of essential services to all, some of which are at the same time human rights: food, housing, work, education and access to culture, transportation, basic health care, the freedom of communication and expression, and the protection of religious freedom. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 164-166
Racism & Discrimination
The unity of the human family is not yet becoming a reality. This is due to obstacles originating in materialistic and nationalistic ideologies that contradict the values of the person integrally considered in all his various dimensions, material and spiritual, individual and community. In particular, any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 433
Conscience & Religion
The Catholic Church emphasizes, among other rights, the right to religious freedom. Emphasis is given to the paramount value of the right to religious freedom: “all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits”. The respect of this right is an indicative sign of “man’s authentic progress in any regime, in any society, system or milieu.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 320-321
With euthanasia and medically-assisted death and abortion legalized, it is critical that healthcare providers whose deepest moral convictions tell them that such procedures are wrong, not be forced to participate. Catholic teaching says workers should be safeguarded from suffering any affront to conscience or personal dignity. It is a grave duty of conscience to avoid cooperating, even formally, with practices contrary to the Law of God.
Freedom of Speech; Truth, Press, & the Media
Information is among the principal instruments of democratic participation. Participation without an understanding of the situation of the political community, the facts and the proposed solutions to problems is unthinkable.
It is necessary to guarantee a real pluralism in the dissemination of information, ensuring that there are many forms and instruments of information and communications. Special attention must be given to the phenomenon of the news media being controlled by just a few people or groups. This has dangerous effects for the entire democratic system… The media must be used to build up and sustain the human community in its different sectors: economic, political, cultural, educational and religious. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice and solidarity. The essential question is whether the current information system is contributing to the betterment of the human person; that is, does it make people more spiritually mature, more aware of the dignity of their humanity, more responsible or more open to others, in particular to the neediest and the weakest.
A further aspect of great importance is that new technologies must respect legitimate cultural differences. In the world of the media the intrinsic difficulties of communications are often exacerbated by ideology, the desire for profit and political control, rivalry and conflicts between groups, and other social evils. Moral values and principles apply also to the media…. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 414-416
Gender Equity
The feminine genius is needed in all expressions in the life of society. The first indispensable step in this direction is the concrete possibility of access to professional formation. The persistence of many forms of discrimination offensive to the dignity and vocation of women is due to a long series of conditioning that penalizes women, who have seen themselves relegated to the margins of society and even reduced to servitude… An urgent need to recognize effectively the rights of women in the workplace is seen especially under the aspects of pay, insurance and social security. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 295
Property
Private property and other forms of private ownership of goods “assure a person a highly necessary sphere for the exercise of his personal and family autonomy and ought to be considered as an extension of human freedom … stimulating exercise of responsibility, it constitutes one of the conditions for civil liberty.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 171
The Church’s social doctrine requires that ownership of goods be equally accessible to all, so that all may become, at least in some measure, owners. The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of colour, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 176
Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood. The riches we possess are not our own, but theirs as well… Other rights having to do with the goods necessary for the integral fulfilment of persons, including that of private property or any other type of property, should in no way hinder [this right], but should actively facilitate its implementation. Fratelli tutti, 188-120
Human Rights
The Church also recognizes a number of Human Rights, including:
– the right to life, an integral part of which is the right of the child to develop in the mother’s womb from the moment of conception
– the right to live in a united family and in a moral environment conducive to the growth of the child’s personality
– the right to develop one’s intelligence and freedom in seeking and knowing the truth
– the right to share in the work which makes wise use of the earth’s material resources, and to derive from that work the means to support oneself and one’s dependents
– and the right freely to establish a family, to have and to rear children through the responsible exercise of one’s sexuality.
The Church also emphases rights to adequate housing; clean water, and secure, nutritious food; education and access to culture, transportation, basic health care. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 151-166
Individual Responsibilities
In human society, to one man’s right there corresponds a duty in all other persons: the duty, namely, of acknowledging and respecting the right in question. Those, therefore, who claim their own rights, yet altogether forget or neglect to carry out their respective duties, are people who build with one hand and destroy with the other. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 156
Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is the principle that each element of society should serve its proper purpose, and support others in serving theirs, the over-arching goal being to encourage and enable the authentic human development of the individual.
One consequence of this principle is that each individual, and smaller groups of people, should be allowed and expected to make for themselves all the decisions that can responsibly be left to them, rather than to larger groups or greater authorities. A premise of this principle is that we are each responsible for our own salvation, within the limits of the gifts and the challenges with which God has endowed us. This is one of the fundamental social teachings of the Church, since it helps to ensure that each individual is empowered to find his or her own way to God.
Families, Individuals, and Civil Society
It is impossible to promote the dignity of the person without showing concern for the family, groups, associations, local territorial realities; in short, for that aggregate of economic, social, cultural, sports-oriented, recreational, professional and political expressions to which people spontaneously give life and which make it possible for them to achieve effective social growth. This is the realm of civil society… This network of relationships strengthens the social fabric and constitutes the basis of a true community of persons, making possible the recognition of higher forms of social activity.
The political community is established to be of service to civil society, from which it originates… This vision is challenged by political ideologies of an individualistic nature and those of a totalitarian character, which tend to absorb civil society into the sphere of the State. The political community and civil society are not equal in the hierarchy of ends. The political community is essentially at the service of civil society and, in the final analysis, the persons and groups of which civil society is composed.
The State must provide an adequate legal framework for social subjects to engage freely in their different activities and it must be ready to intervene, when necessary and with respect for the principle of subsidiarity, so that the interplay between free associations and democratic life may be directed to the common good. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 185, 417, 418
Subsidiary governments: provinces, municipalities, territories, & Aboriginal societies
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to various forms of centralization, bureaucratization, and welfare assistance, and to the unjustified and excessive presence of the State in public mechanisms… Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 185
Green Party of Nova Scotia Responsibilities: Participation & Subsidiarity
The party states that it understands that:
– that the future of Nova Scotia is dependent on there being justice brought for the climate, the economy, languages, and for the racialized, Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian, Acadian, 2SLGBTQQIA+, women, children and youth, children in care, those living with disabilities, and migrant communities, such that communities care for each other and every resident has the means to not only survive, but to thrive.
– true democracy requires evidence-informed policy development in consultation with all individuals, communities, organizations, and affected stakeholders such that all peoples feel welcome and supported in participating in social, economic, environmental, and political decision making that takes into account the knowledge and priorities of all Nova Scotians.
– it supports Participatory Democracy in which everyone in Nova Scotia has the right to express their views and can directly participate in the decisions which affect their lives.
– regards access to safe and nutritious food as a human right.
– regards access to dignified housing as a human right.
Liberal Party of Nova Scotia Civil Liberties
The party states that:
– all individuals have the right to dignity and to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of race, colour, or national origin.
– despite race being a long-recognized ground protected from discrimination at Canadian law, the historical and current scourge and effect of racism and racial bias continue to taint Nova Scotian institutions and communities, harming and putting at risk racialized persons.
– a healthy, productive and inclusive society promotes anti-racism and anti-discrimination, and upholds principles of equality, equity, equal access to opportunity, and dignity and safety of person.
To advance equality and eliminate racism in Nova Scotia, the party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote education and public awareness on this issue by: implementing anti-racism education programs in schools and educational institutions, fostering understanding, empathy, and cultural competence; developing comprehensive curricula that include the history, contributions, and experiences of diverse communities, promoting inclusivity and combating stereotypes; and by providing resources and training for educators to address and challenge racial bias in classrooms.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to review and strengthen anti-discrimination laws and policies to ensure it effectively protects individuals from racial discrimination across all sectors, including employment, housing, and public services; establish clear guidelines and protocols for reporting and addressing incidents of racism, ensuring a timely and effective response by relevant; and collaborating with community organizations to create safe and accessible reporting mechanisms for instances of racial discrimination.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote diversity and inclusion by: encouraging businesses, organizations, and public institutions to adopt diversity and inclusion policies, ensuring fair representation and equal opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities; implementing programs to support minority-owned businesses, providing access to resources, mentorship, and funding; and by celebrate and promoting cultural events, festivals, and initiatives that showcase the diversity of Nova Scotia’s population.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster community engagement and collaboration by: fostering partnerships with community organizations, advocacy groups, and ethnic associations to develop and implement strategies for combating racism; establishing advisory committees or task forces to provide input and guidance on policies and initiatives related to racial equality; and by amplifying the voices of racialized communities through inclusive consultation processes and community forums.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to address systemic racism by: conducting comprehensive reviews of provincial government policies, practices, and institutions to identify and eliminate systemic racism and biases; implementing strategies to increase representation of racialized individuals within public sector employment, ensuring diversity at all levels of governance; and investing in research and data collection to identify gaps and disparities, guiding evidence-based policy decisions to dismantle systemic racism.
Animal Welfare
The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote animal rights and ethics, by: advocating for the recognition of animals as sentient beings, ensuring their protection from unnecessary pain, suffering, and exploitation; prohibiting cruel practices such as cosmetic testing on animals, fur farming, and the use of animals for entertainment purposes where it involves unnecessary harm or distress; and by promoting alternative methods to animal testing, encouraging the development and use of non-animal testing alternatives in research and product development.
Women in Trades
The party:
– states that as of 2022, less than 9% of trades apprentices in Nova Scotia were women. The province will never overcome the current labour shortage and get more housing built if it is only training half of the available workforce.
– advocates investing $10M to increase training for women at NSCC in trades directly related to housing, with a goal of doubling the number of women being trained over five years.
Domestic Violence
The party:
– states that Nova Scotia is facing a domestic violence epidemic, and more needs to be done to ensure that those fleeing domestic violence have a safe place to stay.
– proposes to work with non-profit organizations to ensure they have the resources they need to continue to staff their shelters, especially considering the increased pressure of the cost of living crisis; beginning with reinstating the approximately $4M that the federal government is no longer providing to women’s shelters in Nova Scotia.
Pay Equity
The party:
– states that as of 2023, women are paid on average 16% less than men for the same work in Canada, according to the OECD.
– it advocates passing both vertical and horizontal pay transparency legislation to increase equity and fairness in the workplace.
Responsibilities: Participation & Subsidiarity
Non-Government, Community, and Non-Profit Organizations
The party advocates:
– as a part of its plan to eliminate poverty in Nova Scotia and create opportunities for economic advancement, urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to strengthen community support systems by better supporting community organizations and non-profit organizations that focus on poverty reduction, providing funding, resources, and capacity-building opportunities; fostering partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to develop comprehensive poverty reduction strategies; and by promoting initiatives that address systemic barriers, discrimination, and social exclusion faced by marginalized communities.
– to promote animal welfare within the province, urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance public education and awareness by collaborating with animal welfare organizations and community groups to organize awareness campaigns, workshops, and seminars to educate the public about proper care, humane treatment, and the importance of spaying/neutering pets; and by fostering partnerships with veterinary clinics and animal shelters to provide low-cost or subsidized spay/neuter programs, reducing the population of stray animals and preventing animal homelessness.
– to promote climate resilience and adaptation, urging the Government of Nova Scotia to provide funding and resources for community-led initiatives that enhance resilience, such as flood management, shoreline protection, and emergency preparedness.
New Democratic Party of Nova Scotia Civil Liberties | Human Rights | Responsibilities: Participation & Subsidiarity
As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no comprehensive, downloadable platform or policy documents. The party has published a constitution listing its fundamental principles and internal procedures, and a series of online “Commitments” viewable at their website.
The party’s online commitments include a statement that its priorities in improving public services include:
– standing up for equity-seeking groups by fully funding the 2SLGBTQIA Action Plan in order to fight stigma and discrimination particularly for 2SLGBTQIA youth and funding organizations that fight Intimate Partner Violence and support Nova Scotians experiencing gender based violence to ensure that survivors of sexualized violence have access to trauma-informed counselling. The party further advocates ending misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements protect victims of sexual assault from personal and institutional cycles of abuse, bullying, and bad behaviour.
The party’s constitution includes statements that that it believes that the social, economic and political progress of Nova Scotia can be assured only by the application of social democratic and egalitarian principles to the governance and administration of public affairs; and that the Principles of Social Democracy can be briefly described as:
(2) That the dignity and freedom of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended to all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) That the abolition of poverty and the elimination of exploitation are achievable goals and must be the priority of any thinking and compassionate government; and
(4) That the people have a right to a meaningful voice in public policy through consultation and participation in all levels of public decision-making.
(5) As an organization existing on the unceded and unconquered territory of the party is committed to the principles of truth and reconciliation and living as treaty people in Mi’kma’ki, and shall take guidance from the Calls to Action in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Civil Liberties | Human Rights | Responsibilities: Participation & Subsidiarity
The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to:
- Civil Liberties
- Human Rights
- Responsibilities: Participation & Subsidiarity.
Points to Ponder Points to Ponder: Rights & Responsibilities; Subsidiarity
A conscience well formed by the social teachings of the Church will seriously consider the following questions:
Civic & Individual Rights & Responsibilities
It is clear that the nation and the provinces owe their citizens great respect for each of a broad range of human rights. But with rights come responsibilities. In fact, a right is nothing other than the flip side of an obligation (responsibility). And while individual citizens have rights, the civil community as a whole also has rights, which means that individual citizens have some fundamental obligations towards the civil community as a whole (the nation).
In that light, we can ask:
1. What responsibilities do individuals have toward their communities, provinces, the nation, and the world? For example:
a) to what extent are citizens called to live sustainable lifestyles, for example by conserving energy, avoiding waste, and ensuring that they minimize their impact on future generations?
b) what should citizens look to their governments for, to encourage or enable sustainable consumer lifestyles?
c) To what extent are citizens called to:
i) participate in society, for example through informed voting, continued engagement with candidates and elected representatives, and keeping up responsibly with the news?
ii) lend a hand to their neighbours, for example by volunteering at home or within the community, in addition to paying taxes?
2. Can our governments do anything to enable or encourage citizens to contribute by volunteer service? For example, can tax credits be offered to volunteer firefighters, or to invidivduals who work with the homeless or visit the homebound or sick, or otherwise support civic wellbeing?
3. Under what conditions, if any, is it morally right to require health care providers to participate in morally questionable practices such as abortion or assisted death, when it is contrary to their understanding of morality or their religious beliefs?
In addition to human and civil rights, many parties speak of things residents of Saskatchewan and others “deserve.”
1. How do the parties determine what citizens do or do not deserve? Do they apply predictable, objective criteria in making such determinations, or can such determinations sometimes seem arbitrary and unfair, or, in the context of elections, opportunistic? What criteria should be applied?
2. As the list of our defined political rights expand, how do we reconcile conflicts between them?
Government and Civil Society
1. Should the powers of the Federal government be expanded or reduced?
2. Should the powers of the Provincial government be expanded or reduced?
3. Is there too much government intervention in Canada or too little? Are Federal and Provincial governments fulfilling their obligations under the principle of subsidiarity to local governments and community groups by leaving to them all the decisions that responsibly can be left with them?
4. Or, should the powers of government be redistributed in order to ensure that individuals, public interest groups, and service organizations have opportunities to employ their lives and talents in the service of others, and the common good?