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Catholic social teaching can help public leaders foster human flourishing.
In recent weeks there has been a commotion among a cadre of conservative commentators about the “common good.” This was a flare-up of the common-good-and-conservatism wildfire that burned hot and fast several years ago thanks to the tinder of postliberalism and national conservatism.
In one sense, “common good” is a perfectly dreadful term in politics.
It’s so facially compelling that you can believe, without much thought, that it carries enormous weight. Who could be against the common good?
At the same time, it’s so vague that it could be filled out with just about anything. The common good demands public ownership of all property! The common good demands a strong leader of faith to revive morality and justice! The common good demands maximum individual liberty to resist the oppression of the state and society!
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Andy Smarick is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Follow him on Twitter here.