Catholic Social Teaching Part Two

The next encyclical I want to share with you is The Reconstruction of the Social Order. This was written by Pope Pius XI in 1931. Not quite 100 years old but close. Forty years separated Pope Leo XIII’s The Condition of Labor and Pope Pius XI’s publishing of his encyclical which in Latin is titled Quadragesimo Anno. Pope Pius XI covers 3 areas: he talks about how Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical impacted the Church and other areas; he also expands on the social and economic ideas from The Condition of Labor and finally he asks for a positive role for the Church in economic and social affairs. He goes on to speak in favor of a unity between labor and capital along with urging for a reform of the social order. Pope Pius XI in his writing asks to see a “moral revolution of society coupled with action for justice based on love (1).”

In The Reconstruction of the Social Order Pope Pius XI encourages the Church to be adaptable to changing situations in the world and he wants the clergy and lay people to be committed to the Church’s teaching on social justice. By doing this, we as the Church make an effort to help the lower classes, and works of charity will be multiplied. Remember, Jesus told his disciples (and in turn us since we too are his disciples) that whenever we do something for the least of our brothers we are doing it for him.

Pius XI discusses the ethical implications of the social and economic order. He describes the major dangers for human freedom and dignity arising from unrestrained capitalism and totalitarian communism. He also calls for the reconstruction of the social order based on the principle of solidarity…(2)

Are these implications still relevant today? I believe they are, given what we see and hear about in our world today. Outside our back door we might not see the economic distress of others or the abuse of workers when things don’t get completed quickly enough in the 3rd world work environments, but they do happen. When our “neighbor” cannot find work that will support his/her family, even though it is full time, it is relevant to not only us, but to the world. Do we turn away from those who are down on their luck? I hope not. I always tell myself “there but for the grace of God go I.”

So, you ask “what can but one small cog in the wheel of this world we live do?” Look for opportunities to make a difference. What does your parish offer in ways of working for social justice in your community? Maybe you could volunteer to help with one of those projects. “I am busy, I have young children” you say…then try the simplest thing of all. As a family take time each day to pray for those in need whether it be for monetary reasons or for situations over which they have no control. One prayer at a time times many families praying a similar prayer will help work toward change.

1 pg 37 of Catholic Social Teaching, 1995
2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadragesimo_Anno