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Capitalism and the Church's Response

Karl Marx's Critique of Capitalism

  • Karl Marx opposed capitalism.
  • Believed capitalism was the root of workers' misery.
  • Advocated for communism as a solution.
  • Solution involved abolishing private property and initiating a revolution.

Capitalism Defined

  • Capitalism involves private property ownership.

The Church's Immediate Response

  • The Church recognized the suffering of people and advocated for immediate help.
  • Established healthcare agencies, food programs, schools, hospitals, and soup kitchens.
  • Supported labor unions and strikes to support workers' rights.

Pope Leo XIII and Rerum Novarum

  • Pope Leo XIII addressed the issues through an encyclical called Rerum Novarum.
  • The Catholic Church supports the workers.
  • The Catholic Church does not support those exploiting workers for profit.

Workers' Rights According to Rerum Novarum

  • Workers are entitled to earn sufficient wages to support their families, known as a just wage.
  • Workers are entitled to decent working conditions which prioritize their safety.
  • Pope Leo XIII supported the right for people to form unions.
  • Workers have the right to organize and create unions.
  • Workers have the right to collective bargaining, enabling them to negotiate with factory owners for better conditions.

Private Property and the Common Good

  • Pope Leo XIII affirmed the right to private property.
  • This contrasted with Marx's view that private property is the source of problems.
  • Owning things comes with the responsibility of sharing with others.
  • Individuals with excess resources should consider the needs of others.
  • The common good is important, and individuals have a responsibility to their neighbors.
  • Drawing from the biblical story of Cain and Abel, the Pope emphasized the duty to be attentive to the needs of one's brother.
  • Those with enough should share their resources.