Peter Mirus has an excellent article at Catholic Culture on The Truth About Catholic Social Teachings. [Via AMDG]
Here are links to the documents referenced in the article:
Rerum Novarum
Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation (CDF)
Centesimus Annus
5 comments
Guess what? Catholic Social Teaching does NOT equal The Great Society! Who’d-a thunk it? 😉
While I, in large, agree with Mr. Mirus’s perspective, I don’t think we can see Centesimus Annus or JP II’s related encyclical Laborem exercens as advocating a purely free-market or capitalist model either. Centesimus Annus in section 19, paragraph 2 makes specific note of the need for fair wages, unemployment, training, reasonable time for rest, and social security/pensions, as well as the freedom to form unions.
We knew Peter when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. I’m glad to see him all grown up and defending the Faith on his own.
Theocoid,
Where do you see Mr. Mirus state that CA does advocate such a “purely free-market or capitalist model”?
If anything, he interpretes CDF as the Church’s call to follow the virtuous middle path between extreme individualism and collectivism.
It helps to not interprete CST through the perspective of American politics. CST transcend them, even while offering them an opportunity to further the true purpose of society.
Too bad far too few politicians aren’t paying it enough mind.
Hi, Holy Fool. I agree that CST follows the middle path. My comment was really directed more toward the remark on “the great society.”