Smarick on "How Catholic Social Teaching Can Help Today"

I am a fan of Andy Smarick's Substack, "Governing Right", and particularly appreciated this entry, from a few weeks ago, on Catholic Social Teaching.  Here is a bit:

CST is a sturdy but continuously evolving body of thought that relates to social life. It speaks to the dignity and role of individuals, how we form various associations (e.g., families, organizations, towns), who possesses different types of responsibility and authority, and much more. All of this can inform our understanding of how best to lead in public life.

CST has had a significant influence on my thinking because it is shaped by two quite different but equally valuable lines of reasoning: 1) Immutable moral principles, and 2) the practical wisdom that comes from engaging in social life.

You would, I’m sure, expect the first given that CST is a product of a 2,000-year-old faith tradition. Indeed, CST articulates firm, permanent views on a range of moral issues, like the sanctity of life, the meaning of human flourishing, and the nature of virtuous and improper action.

The second line is less obvious and far less appreciated. It also distinguishes CST from most ideologies purporting to understand and improve society. CST’s practical wisdom comes from the Catholic Church’s millennia-long parish- and diocese-based arrangements and its fundamental commitment to service, particularly of the disadvantaged.