GAUDIUM ET SPES

Some Problems of Special Urgency

FOSTERING THE NOBILITY OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

Families are the foundation of society. Destructive to marriage: polygamy, divorce, free love, excessive self-love, the worship of pleasure and illicit practices against human generation, certain modern economic-social-political conditions, overpopulation. Marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children and a whole manner and communion of life. From the moment of conception, life must be regarded with sacred care. The healthy condition of individuals and society depends on stable families.

DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE

How is the dynamism and expansion of a new culture to be fostered without losing a living fidelity to the heritage of tradition. How to harmonize the proliferation of particular branches of study with the necessity of forming synthesis and preserving the faculties and observation which lead to wisdom? What can be done to make all men partakers of cultural values in the world, when human culture who are more competent is constantly becoming more refined and complex? How is the autonomy which culture claims for itself to be recognized as legitimate w/o generating a notion of humanism which is merely terrestrial and even contrary to religion itself?

PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE

Christians on pilgrimage toward the heavenly city, should seek and think of these things which are above.
Man develops the earth by his hands so he can carry out the design of God that he should subdue the earth. Being less subjected to material things. Danger that man, may think that he is sufficient unto himself.

The church reminds us that culture is to be subordinated to the integral perfection of the human person, to the good of the community and of the whole society. We must develop also our culture and respect it however it must also be observe that it should be for the common good. Recalling of the 1st Vatican Council, declares that there are two orders of knowledge For public authority, it is not its function to determine the character of civilization, but rather to establish conditions and to use the means that fosters the life of culture of the nation.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE

Human beings are the source, the center, and the purpose of all social and economic life. Fundamental imbalances between wealth and poverty exist in todays world.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Technological progress which serves the whole person must be fostered. Progress must be controlled by humanity. Justice necessitates a quick removal of economic inequities.

PRINCIPLES IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE

Human labor is superior to other elements of economic life; economic activity detrimental to the worker is wrong and inhuman (#67). Workers should participate in running an enterprise (#67). God intended the earth for everyone; private property should benefit all (#67). All have a right to goods sufficient for themselves and their families (#69) Distribution of goods should be directed toward employment (#70) Public authorities can guard against those misuses of private property which hurt the common good (#71). Genuine sharing of goods is called for (#71).

LIFE OF POLITICAL COMMUNITY

Modern changes have increased the awareness of human dignity and the desire to establish a just political-juridical order. Public authorities and individual citizens should work for the common good. Church and political community:

both serve the vocation of humans Church has the right to pass moral judgments when human rights are at stake Church should use the means of the Gospel to fulfill its mission

PEACE AND THE PROMOTION OF A COMMUNITY OF NATIONS

The existence of war and threat, humanity faces an hour of supreme crisis. Noble meaning of peace based on love, harmony, trust, and justice should be fostered.

AVOIDANCE OF WAR

Non-violence and conscientious objection are legitimate Just defense is permissible, but not wars of subjugation Participation in armed services is allowed, but not blind obedience to orders With new weapons, a new evaluation of war is needed Arms race is not the way to build peace; it can actually foster wars and it injures the poor No act of war at population centers is permissible Deterrence is not a safe way to preserve steady peace Everyone has responsibility to work for disarmament

BUILDING UP THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Causes of dissension, especially injustices, need to be eliminated. Greater international cooperation demands the establishment of an international organization corresponding to modern obligations Development of whole person is to be fostered Ecumenical cooperation is needed to achieve justice Church must be present at all times.