Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Question & Answer || Church Teaching || Thinking About Justice

Introduction

I come from a town near Chicago, Illinois. The name of the town and the streets have American Indian names. The original inhabitants were native American Indians. These American Indians didn't have private property. Instead they in hunted in the forests and picked fruit from the trees. But when my ancestors came to Wilmette, they cut down the trees and started farming. At first the Indians didn't mind. But soon the Indians were not allowed to wander freely because eventually every piece of land belonged to someone. There were soon no animals to hunt. So the Indians were forced to move away from my town. That was in 1840. Recently, a young Indian man visited my family and said: "This property belongs to me." I answered: "No, this property belongs to my family because I have a legal title."

Social Teachings of the Church

"In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. ...The appropriation of property is legitimate for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of persons and for helping each of them to meet his basic needs and the needs of those in his charge." The Catholic Catechism #2402.

Thinking About Justice

1. What are the rights and duties of the stewards(governments) of China and Taiwan? Do the aborigine people of Taiwan have any special claim to "ownership?"

2. Apply Catholic Social Teaching to the following Hong Kong issues: A golf course in New Territories, a center for the mentally handicapped in Shatin, Right of Abode, Disney Land?

3. Comment on the distribution of the land of Cheung Chau.

4. Write down three questions you would like to ask about this situation?
   A. __________________
   B. __________________
   C. __________________

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