This publication emerges from a conference on the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church on the theme of The Common Good in an Unequal World , which took place on 2 March 2006. With a gathering of salubrious speakers, an analysis of the relevance of the teachings of the Compendium was undertaken. Reflecting on the various components of the Compendium, its message for and relations to today s society were analysed from theological and philosophical perspectives, from the place of faith and politics, solidarity and freedom and rights and responsibilities. This publication includes papers by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Nuala O Loan, and Lord Chris Patten, former Governor of Hong Kong. It also presents papers from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Sr Joan Roddy and David Begg of the ICTU. About the Author Eoin G. Cassidy (ed.) is Head of the Philosophy Department at Mater Dei Institute, Dublin. He was Series Co-Editor of The Bible: Literature and Sacred Text, from the Into the Classroom series (Veritas, 2003).