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 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.
