The members of the Church, as members of society, have the same right and duty to promote the common good as do other citizens.
Christians ought to fulfil their temporal obligations with fidelity and competence.
They should act as a leaven in the world, in their family, professional, social, cultural and political life. For unless the Christian message of love and justice shows its effectiveness through action in the cause of justice in the world, it will only with difficulty gain credibility with the people of our times. In every age, the church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, if it is to carry out its task. In language intelligible to every generation, it should be able to answer the ever recurring questions which people ask about the meaning of this present life and of the life to come, and how one is related to the other. All must consider it their sacred duty to count social obligations among their chief duties today and observe them as such.