They condemned Socialism period. Socialism is an economic system in which the means of production are owned by the State. It’s still socialism whether its secular or not, whether its atheistic or not. Non-atheistic Socialism is basically theocracy which the Church has condemned as well. I’m not saying the Church had endorsed Capitalism, but they haven’t condemned it like Socialism. Also, the Church has endorsed free enterprise and economic freedom.
To my knowledge the Church has always advocated protection of property rights so yes, they do not endorse state ownership of everything. But, there are many shades of ‘socialism’ and not all shades are against free enterprise outright. Radical socialists yes, but not all socialists are radical socialists, just as all capitalists are radically capitalist. All in all, it cannot be said everything about socialism is bad and everything about capitalism is good. The current economic recession happened in the liberal west and socialism was not the cause. In my view, the cause was good old fashioned greed and a weakness of capitalism as a theory is it more readily lends itself to materialism and greed.
By society I assume you mean government. You assume that the government (1) knows what is best for society as a whole and (2) cares about what is best for society as a whole.
No I don’t mean government and I’m too much of realist to think the government knows what is best for society or care about what is best for society. I mean society as a whole.
Government cares about votes and if a certain actions or behaviour promote outrage, violence or reactionary emotions governments are forced to act or risk not being re-elected. On these occasions governments are prepared to restrict individual rights.
I didn’t say that rights aren’t restricted in the name of the “public good”. I said why do they need to be? If rights are restricted can they really be called rights anymore?
The major ‘why’ is security. There is no such thing as an absolute right and national security will trump everything. I think most here would agree on the right to life, but the right of individuals or a group of individuals who present a real and threat to the lives of others may find their their right to life diminished.
I think we can all agree on the right to liberty, but those who commit certain crimes will loose that right to protect society.
Other reasons- the health and welfare of society as a whole
People have a right to consume alcohol, drive, have sex, have a family, marry to mention but a few, but all are restricted or qualified for the good of society. No one is saying they do not have the right to do it, but only within certain limits.
The UN says we have a right to education but that does not mean individuals have a right to attend any school they choose.
People are free to smoke if they choose but others have the right not to smoke so smoking is restricted.
We have a right to use public parks but if there is a big special event on we may not be permitted to enter the park or a section of it. We respect that because we respect the rights of others, even though it is our right to use the public park.
We have a right to freedom of speech but out of consideration for others, on occasion we voluntarily curtail that right in order not to be offensive.
There are absolute rights in European Law; the right not to tortured or falsely imprisoned are two of them and I would say with good reason, but every society restricts and qualifies most rights in order to balance the rights of all when they conflict, and for the benefit of society as whole. That does not mean they are no longer a right.