Human Rights Law Commons^™

Catholic Social Teaching And Global Migration: Bridging The Paradox Of Universal Human Rights And Territorial Self-Determination, Vincent D. Rougeau

Seattle University Law Review

In this essay, I will consider how law, religion, and democratic pluralism revolve around a particular issue: global migration. My essay is organized around three major themes. First, I explore the ways in which Catholic social teaching addresses human dignity, the plight of the poor, and the promotion of global justice. I argue that this theme provides an important bridge between secular and religious conceptions of human rights. Second, I argue that pluralism, particularly that which results from religious diversity and multi-ethnic, diasporic identities, is now a fundamental part of political and cultural life in the wealthy democracies of Europe …