Together for the Common Good: Towards a National Conversation - Couverture souple

One of the key themes in the current rethinking of Catholic theology is the rediscovery of Catholic Social Teaching. This has implications not only for theological ethics but more importantly for the Church's involvement in issues such as social justice, housing and employment. The key concept in CST is the 'common good'. This book will discuss what the term 'common good' means to thinkers of different, primarily - but not exclusively - Christian traditions. It will explore how the term is used both practically and theoretically. One major question is whether Christians of differing traditions find 'the common good' a helpful and suggestive phrase. What do we mean by 'the common good'? The phrase is central to Roman Catholic social teaching. Archbishop Justin Welby has said how indebted he is to CST and uses the phrase frequently. But what resonance does it have for other Christian traditions, for secular thinkers and those of other faith traditions, and how precisely is it used by Roman Catholics and Anglicans? The book will be particularly timely because there is already considerable discussion of 'the common good' as a concept that is needed in assessing public policy - whether for health, education, energy, transport or the environment. Contributors: Anna Rowlands, Andrew Bradstock, Patrick Riordan SJ, Esther D. Reed, Samuel Burgess, Jon E. Wilson, Jonathan Chaplin, Tehmina Kazi, Malcolm Brown, Brian Griffiths, Philip Booth, Maurice Glasman, Clifford Longley.

The common good, differently expressed, can be found in all our faiths. But the question remains how it should be made real, who needs to take ownership of it, and how easy it is to make a difference when public attitudes seem to be shying away from any such concept. This book gives us brilliant insights into how faith and other leaders think of what can and should be done. --Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger

This is a remarkable book, written by experts from different religious faiths. It should be read by all those interested in human rights, justice and politics in a secular and multi-cultural society. To work towards the common good is to work for peace. --Jean Vanier

Together for the Common Good is a timely and accessible collection of helpful essays about a phrase which has become synonymous with Catholic Social Teaching but has applications for believer and non-believer alike. Combined with a belief in human dignity, where every human being should be treated as if made in the image of their Maker, the ideas which constitute the Common Good should inform political manifestos and discourse about policies, priorities, and the allocation of resources. --Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool