standup.comboniyouth.org.uk

Key Themes
* Recognition of rights for all
* Duties and mutual collaboration
* Nature and role of authority/from God
* Common good/especially the poor
* Christian to be active in public life
* International relations/responsibility of wealthy states
* Affirmation of worldwide body - UN
* Disarmament

World Context

• Post 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• First encyclical to address to all people of goodwill"
• Berlin Wall erected
• Cuban missile crisis
• US intervention in Vietnam
• Wars/independence struggles in Africa

Specific peace-related teaching
- critical of stockpiling of weapons
- arms race depriving poor of necessary resources
- arms race causes people to live in the grip of fear
- dangers of testing nuclear weapons
- nuclear weapons must be banned
- deep conversion of the soul, to cooperate in building trust, and working for justice