Page - 580 - in Menschenrechte und Gerechtigkeit als bleibende Aufgaben - Beiträge aus Religion, Theologie, Ethik, Recht und Wirtschaft

© 2020, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783847111658 – ISBN E-Lib: 9783737011655 society as awhole”,15 and that “it is inmaking decisions aboutmanaging re- sourcesandinvestmentsthatwegiveproofofourChristianidentity(moralfibre) andtheconvictionthat local andglobal economiesmustbeviewednotonly in terms of production and distribution, but also in terms of their effect on the environmentandthedignityof thehumanperson”.16 It isnoteworthy thatwhentheUnitedStatesBishopstalkof“effect”ofglobal and local economies, they speakof the environment and thedignityof human persons; andtheseare twocrucialparametersof theESGframework. Inwhatfollows,Ishallbrieflypresent(traceout)thesignificance(basis)ofthe ESG framework in Church teaching, and illustrate how it is pursued in eco- nomics, business and investing throughtheapplicationof theprinciplesof the Church’sSocialTeaching. 3. TheESGFramework inChurchTeaching In the Judeo-ChristianScriptures, the teachings about theoriginsof theworld andofhumanbeingsinthecreationnarratives(Gen1:3)aresetwithinanetwork of relationships: God and human persons, the human person and his/her neighbour,andthepersonandcreation.Asarelationalbeing,thehumanperson isasubjectofdignity,calledtocoexistwithothermembersofthehumanfamily, indeed, to be their keeper (Gen 4:9), and to care for creationwith a view to ensuring the commongoodof all. These teachings are the foundationand the moralcompassforevaluatingthejusticeof thesefundamentalrelationshipsand the virtuousness of the conduct of human persons, including their financial activities. Thus,according to theBookofWisdom, thehumanpersonis“togovernthe worldinholinessandjustice,andtorenderjudgmentinintegrityofheart.”(Wis 9:13). Inviewof this,Abrahamwas chosen already in theBookofGenesis “to chargehis childrenandhishouseholdafterhimtokeep thewayof theLordby doing righteousness and justice” (Gen 18:19). In the Scriptures generally, but especially intheprophetictradition,“doingrighteousnessandjustice”takesthe formofanunconditionalfidelity toGodandhiscovenantlaws,andareverential concern for theneighbourandforcreation.When,as in Isaiah24:4, thepeople sin, transgressingGod’s covenant laws, the earth languishes and is laidwaste, andits inhabitantssuffer.Thus,notonlydotheCovenant lawsandtheprophets callforobedience,theyalsobothproscribeabusivetreatmentandexploitationof 15 United States Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy,Economic Justice forAll,Washington1986,6. 16 Cf. Ibid.,PastoralLetteroninvestments,environmentandthedignityof thehumanperson. KardinalPeterK.A.Turkson580 Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY 4.0