Pope Benedict on wealth, socialism

[MarcoPolo]

A rarely cited quote from Pope Benedict, December 8, 2008:While it has been rightly emphasized that increasing per capita income cannot be the ultimate goal of political and economic activity, it is still an important means of attaining the objective of the fight against hunger and absolute poverty. Hence, the illusion that a policy of mere redistribution of existing wealth can definitively resolve the problem must be set aside. In a modern economy, the value of assets is utterly dependent on the capacity to generate revenue in the present and the future. Wealth creation therefore becomes an inescapable duty, which must be kept in mind if the fight against material poverty is to be effective in the long term.

 

[John21652]

A very good starting point for this discussion is Pope Leo XIII in his 1891 Encyclical Rerum Novarum. It is an Encyclical on Labour and Capital. In it, he writes, observing the political and social landscape of the day, In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class:
He is quick to point out that socialisation of the means of production is not the answer and that to do so would make the condition of the working man worse.

To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man’s envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies. They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, inasmuch as each citizen will then get his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.
Rerum Novarum

Leo pointed out that socialism does not help the poor. It reduces everyone to the same lowest common denominator of poverty and misery, while at the same time drying up the very sources of capital.

We should remember that Capitalism is a product of a Christian tradition. Capitalism is a transactional system. Transactions should be mutually beneficial and caried out with Christian charity and magnanimiity. Christianity has a history of charitable behaviour. If society behaved in the Christian manner that is its hallmark, then charity would be in abundance and the weak and disadvantaged would have nothing to fear. Governments cannot legislate “charity”. If they try, they will further weaken Christianity. The aim should be to revive Christian principles and the less fortunate will benefit.

Leo writes of accumulated wealth, *Of that which remaineth, give alms." It is a duty, not of justice (save in extreme cases), but of Christian charity - a duty not enforced by human law. But the laws and judgments of men must yield place to the laws and judgments of Christ the true God, who in many ways urges on His followers the practice of almsgiving - ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive"

 

[MarcoPolo]

I like Pope Leo a lot. I am also fond of his Quod Apostolici Muneris from 1878.

 

[Ferds_Guiang]

I commend MarcoPolo for posting a relevant quote from our present Pope Benedict XVI. Indeed the cry for social justice that has begun with Rerum Novarum still rings true today. We are the modern crusaders and I think it is our duty to be the Church’s voice in the fight against poverty. Here in our country, the Philippines, where more than half of the population live in poverty the Church is doing what it can to awaken the people especially our politicians to work for the alleviation of poverty. Much needs to be done here and around the world. When I see footages of Haiti on the news I just wonder how our country could suffer just as much when an earthquake of such magnitude could strike us. The Developed world has to lead the change. We hope the leaders heed the Pope’s call.

 

[cffhp1]

A very good starting point for this discussion is Pope Leo XIII in his 1891 Encyclical Rerum Novarum. It is an Encyclical on Labour and Capital. In it, he writes, observing the political and social landscape of the day, In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class:
He is quick to point out that socialisation of the means of production is not the answer and that to do so would make the condition of the working man worse.
Leo pointed out that socialism does not help the poor. It reduces everyone to the same lowest common denominator of poverty and misery, while at the same time drying up the very sources of capital.

We should remember that Capitalism is a product of a Christian tradition. Capitalism is a transactional system. Transactions should be mutually beneficial and caried out with Christian charity and magnanimiity. Christianity has a history of charitable behaviour. If society behaved in the Christian manner that is its hallmark, then charity would be in abundance and the weak and disadvantaged would have nothing to fear. Governments cannot legislate “charity”. If they try, they will further weaken Christianity. The aim should be to revive Christian principles and the less fortunate will benefit.

Leo writes of accumulated wealth, *Of that which remaineth, give alms." It is a duty, not of justice (save in extreme cases), but of Christian charity - a duty not enforced by human law. But the laws and judgments of men must yield place to the laws and judgments of Christ the true God, who in many ways urges on His followers the practice of almsgiving - ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive"

 

[cffhp1]

cffhp1:
Socialism,capitlalism,communism,islamism,are only ways of thinking and very irelavant in Gods ways.
So do not fret about them.
We will all be home soon.
Which is where we are now!!
Love
GOD:

 

[John21652]

I commend MarcoPolo for posting a relevant quote from our present Pope Benedict XVI. Indeed the cry for social justice that has begun with Rerum Novarum still rings true today. We are the modern crusaders and I think it is our duty to be the Church’s voice in the fight against poverty. Here in our country, the Philippines, where more than half of the population live in poverty the Church is doing what it can to awaken the people especially our politicians to work for the alleviation of poverty. Much needs to be done here and around the world. When I see footages of Haiti on the news I just wonder how our country could suffer just as much when an earthquake of such magnitude could strike us. The Developed world has to lead the change. We hope the leaders heed the Pope’s call.

Define social justice. Particularly from your perspective.

 

[Ferds_Guiang]

I’d like to define social justice first by defining first justice as that virtue by which we give each one his/her due. Now if justice is given a Social dimension then this means that the members of the society must see to it that all laws and systems that bear down on society must be for the common good.

 

[John21652]

I’d like to define social justice first by defining first justice as that virtue by which we give each one his/her due. Now if justice is given a Social dimension then this means that the members of the society must see to it that all laws and systems that bear down on society must be for the common good.

The Catholic Catechism at 1807 describing the Cardinal virtue of Justice -

You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor