Rerum Novarum - Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on Capital and Labor

Introduction

• Date: May 15, 1891
• Author: Pope Leo XIII
• Audience: Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other religious authorities
• Focus: Rights and duties of capital and labor

Context and Concerns

• Influence of revolutionary change on practical economics
• Issues arising from industrial expansion:
  • Changed relationships between masters and workmen
  • Disparity between wealthy few and impoverished masses
  • Moral degeneracy
• Urgency for remedy due to the unjust conditions affecting the majority of the working class

Property and Socialism

• Socialism's proposal to abolish private property is criticized:
  • Deemed unjust and counterproductive
  • Private ownership is natural and necessary for personal development and social order
• Man's natural right to own property:
  • Distinguished from animals by reason and capacity for ownership
  • Importance of stable and permanent possession for future provision

Role of the State and Family

• State’s Duty:
  • Protect private property
  • Ensure justice by safeguarding rights
• Family Rights:
  • Family precedes the State, with its own authority and rights
  • The role of the father in providing for the family through productive property
• State interference should be limited and respect the natural family structure

Economic and Social Justice

• Criticism of socialism's view on class conflict
• Emphasizes harmony between classes:
  • Capital and labor need each other
  • Christian doctrine promotes unity and justice

Duties and Rights in the Economy

• Workers’ Duties:
  • Perform agreed work faithfully
  • Avoid violence and adhere to just practices
• Employers’ Duties:
  • Respect workers' dignity
  • Provide fair wages and conditions
  • Consider the spiritual welfare of workers

Role of the Church

• Essential role in resolving labor issues by promoting Christian teachings
• Encourages social harmony through charity and justice
• Advocates for religious observance and moral principles in labor relations

Labor Conditions and Worker Associations

• Supports the formation of workers’ associations for mutual aid
• Encourages agreements on wages that ensure a decent living standard
• Emphasizes the inviolability of private property to encourage savings and ownership

Conclusion

• Calls for cooperation among Church, State, and individuals to address labor issues
• Asserts the necessity of reestablishing Christian morals for societal well-being
• Emphasizes charity as a cornerstone for addressing economic and social challenges

References

• Integration of biblical and theological references throughout to support arguments on property, justice, and social order

Note: This encyclical is foundational in Catholic social teaching, addressing labor rights, private property, and the Church’s role in economic matters.