Cele i zadania polityki oraz zobowiązania polityczne w świetle nauczania Kościoła

Abstract

The nature of human makes him or her a social being. Thus, in order to ensure one's proper development, he or she needs involvement in interpersonal relations. This is assured also by political community created by country. Common welfare for all citizens is the main aim of politics. On the way to it country should follow the rule of the subsidiary. Politics, as rational and conscious act of man, is characterised by moral responsibility. Everybody has right and duty to take part in life of his or her political community. Everybody has right to contribute to creating its common welfare and is obliged to responsible participation in political life. In its narrow meaning, politics is understood as participation in governing and endeavours of keeping it. Only those who have proper skills and qualifications are obliged to practise politics in the above mentioned sense. On the other hand, in its broader meaning, politics is about taking part in parliamentary elections. All citizens have right to and are obliged to participate in political activity conceived in this way. Church, as a social community, fulfils its right and duty to participate in political life through the activity of the laymen. The consecrated people have the right to express personal political views and to make choices on their own. They should not, though, engage in political life directly as members of political parties or government representatives.