The ‘common good’ refers to those facilities – whether material, cultural or institutional – that the members of a community provide to all members in order to fulfil a relational obligation they all have to care for certain interests that they have in common. ‘Laudato Si’ the encyclical letter of the Holy Father Francis on care for our common home highlights in no. 158: “In the present condition of global society, when injustices abound and growing numbers of people are deprived of basic human rights and considered expendable, the principle of common good immediately becomes, logically and inevitably, a summons to solidarity and a preferential option for the poorest of our brothers and sisters. This option entails recognising the implications of the universal destination of the world’s goods.”
The example of common good includes: police protection, public safety, etc. The heart-wrenching death of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennicks at the hands of the Tamil Nadu police sends shivers down the spine. On June 19, Sathankulam police in Thoothukudi district arrested them for allegedly violating lockdown guidelines by keeping their cell phone shop open outside business hours. They were brutally thrashed while in custody which led to their death. This horrendous crime at the hands of the guardians of the citizens creates an astynomiaphobia in public. The word astynomia means police in Greek. Has the government taken any serious action against the police involved?
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With the nationwide lockdown by the government in March the transport services were suspended. This affected the migrants, the poor labour force which is the backbone of the Indian economy. Many of them walked miles to reach their homes with their children on their shoulders and luggage in hand braving the scorching sun and the dangers of the roads and rails. Did the government have concern for their safety?
It was at Puebla in Mexico in 1979 at the third General Conference of Latin American Bishops, the phrase ‘preferential option for the poor’ was coined. Peruvian liberation theologian Fr Gustavo Gutierrez popularised the phrase which became a slogan of the liberation theology and eventually an official doctrine of the Church. The word preference denies all exclusiveness. God has special concern for the poor and sides with them because since the creation of the world they have been victims of the oppressive structures of the society. According to Fr Gustavo, “the poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible.” The prevalent unjust system in the society is surreptitiously defended and maintained by the powerful and the rich. Liberation theology that originated in the Latin American Church emphasises on the solidarity with the poor. This solidarity entails a liberating social praxis to create a just and free society. Liberation theology criticises the principles of neo-liberalism and capitalism because these make rich countries richer and poor countries poorer. It aims to take active part in the poor people’s struggle. The key element of this theology is the special care for the poor. During these crucial times when there is a spike in COVID-19 cases in Goa it is the bounden duty of the government to provide safety to its people, especially the poor and materialise the principle of common good.
