On Why Social Trust is Essential for the Common Good

"Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?

"If someone asked you this question, how would you respond? Sociologists use it to measure social trust, and results across countries and over time have shown striking differences. . . .

"Social trust is a moral issue that lies beneath the surface of everyday life. It's like a computer program that runs in the background: We don't see it, but it’s always at work. What does it do? Most obviously, social trust makes cooperation in daily life either easier or more difficult. Social trust is like a moral lubricant - making it easier to do the loving and merciful thing or, alternatively, causing friction and suspicion that prevent love."

A recent article in U.S. Catholic explored why social trust is a "key part of the common good, what the church calls the 'sum total of social conditions' that enable individuals and groups to flourish."

To access the complete U.S. Catholic article, please visit.

U.S. Catholic: Why social trust is essential for the common good (May 2020)