Catholic Moral Teaching on Wealth, Stewardship, and Justice in Public Service

1. Stewardship and the Common Good

  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2404) reminds us: “In his use of things, man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns not merely as exclusive to himself but common to others also, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as himself.”

  • Flood control projects are designed to safeguard lives, homes, and livelihoods, particularly those of the poor who suffer the most in calamities. When contracts are cornered by a few or when implementation is substandard, it violates the principle of stewardship for the common good.

2. Justice and Integrity in Public Life

  • Scripture is clear: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights” (Isaiah 10:1–2).

  • Corruption, monopoly, or manipulation of public funds erodes trust and disproportionately harms the poor. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (§411) states: “Corruption radically distorts the role of representative institutions, because they no longer act for the common good but for particular interests.”

  • If reports are accurate that billions of pesos have been funneled disproportionately to companies linked to one family, this raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and justice.

3. The Sin of Greed vs. the Call to Solidarity

  • Jesus warned: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

  • Greed blinds us to the suffering of others and reduces the dignity of human beings to profit margins.

  • In contrast, Catholic teaching emphasizes solidarity, particularly in a nation prone to floods and disasters. Every peso mishandled is not just money lost—it is a family’s home, livelihood, or life at risk.

4. Accountability and the Role of Authority

  • St. Paul teaches: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad” (Romans 13:3).

  • Political leaders and business owners alike are accountable before God for how they exercise authority. Leaders who fail to correct abuses—or worse, enable them—commit sins of omission.

  • Pope Francis has emphasized: “Corruption is paid for by the poor. Whenever we accept corruption, we take away from those who most need and who are the real victims.” (Homily, 2014).

5. Moral Call to Action

  • For public servants: Integrity must prevail over influence. Transparent bidding, audits, and just distribution of projects are moral duties, not optional favors.

  • For business leaders: Profit must never outweigh responsibility. To knowingly take advantage of public works funds is to exploit the poor and sin against justice.

  • For citizens and the faithful: Prayer and vigilance are necessary. We must be informed, demand accountability, and support reforms that ensure public funds serve their true purpose.

Conclusion – “To Be Rich Toward God”

The Gospel of Luke warns against the rich fool who stored treasures for himself but was “not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). True wealth is not measured by billions in contracts, but by faithfulness to justice, service to the common good, and compassion for the vulnerable.

If projects like flood control—intended to protect lives—become tainted by greed, then the poor become doubly victimized: first by disaster, and second by corruption.

The Catholic moral call is clear: Wealth and power are responsibilities entrusted by God for service, not self-gain. Leaders, contractors, and all of us will one day be judged not by how much we received, but by how much we gave, protected, and loved.

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