ABSTRACT
For purposes of mitigating the harms and maximizing the benefits of mining, Catholic social teaching and secular international human rights norms have much in common. But they also diverge in important respects. The church insists on an integral, holistic, communitarian, spiritually grounded vision of human development, in which concern for our planet unites with compassion for our sisters and brothers, especially the poor, in an inseparable whole. Secular international human rights norms share certain faith values, notably respect for human dignity and security. But widely agreed international norms are necessarily the product of consensus diplomacy among nations with diverse political systems and value systems. International norms, therefore, tend toward the lowest common denominator. While necessary to avert suffering, international human rights are not sufficient to achieve well-being. They do not challenge materialism, consumerism, self-centeredness, or the myth of endless growth. This chapter will address how elements of Catholic social teaching and international human rights norms might be combined to work toward peace and the common good with regard to mining.
