|  Read
Centesimus Annus for yourself.
Centesimus
Annus, John Paul II, May 1, 1991 - “To His
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, the Priests and Deacons,
Families of Men and Women religious, all the Christian Faithful,
and to all men and women of good will, on the hundredth
anniversary of Rerum Novarum.”
Links to commentary on Centesimus Annus.
The Pope on Freedom, guest Kevin Schmiesing, The
Jerry Bowyer Show, (2005-04-08)
“From
Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum to John Paul II’s
Centesimus Annus,” by Rev. Maciej Zieba,
O.P., Journal of Markets & Morality, Volume 5,
Number 1, Spring 2002.
“Globalization
and the Insights of Catholic Social Teaching,”
by Sam Gregg, Journal of Markets & Morality,
Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2001.
“Centesimus
Annus in Retrospective,” Religion &
Liberty, Volume 11, Number 3, 2001.
“Reading
Centesimus Annus,” by Rev. Robert Sirico,
Religion & Liberty, Volume 11, Number 3, 2001.
“The
Economic Personalism of John Paul II: Neither Right Nor
Left,” by Daniel Rush Finn, Journal of Markets
& Morality, Volume 2, Number 1, Spring 1999.
|
Ignoring Centesimus Annus
On Globalization |
The Claim: |
|
Centesimus Annus Says: |
| “John Paul II . . . thinks that capitalism goes way too far
and results in oppression of people in the developing world.
So economic redistribution would be a very radical position
. . .” Lisa Sowle Cahill, professor of theology at Boston College. |
“Today we are facing the so-called "globalization"
of the economy, a phenomenon which is not to be dismissed,
since it can create unusual opportunities for greater prosperity.”
(CA #58)
“Even in recent years it was thought that the
poorest countries would develop by isolating themselves from
the world market and by depending only on their own resources.
Recent experience has shown that countries which did this
have suffered stagnation and recession, while the countries
which experienced development were those which succeeded in
taking part in the general interrelated economic activities
at the international level. It seems therefore that the chief
problem is that of gaining fair access to the international
market, based not on the unilateral principle of the exploitation
of the natural resources of these countries but on the proper
use of human resources.” (CA #33) |
On Capitalism |
The Claim: |
|
Centesimus Annus Says: |
| “[The pope’s] socio-economic view of the world and his ideas
about relations to the poor of the world, especially from his
vantage point (not being in North America) would be way to the
left of anything that is upheld, for example, in the Democratic
Party in the United States of America. I think there’s just
no doubt about that. He’s profoundly suspicious of untrammeled
capitalism.” (Lawrence Cunningham, Professor of Theology, University
of Notre Dame) |
|
Centesimus Annus Says: “It would appear that,
on the level of individual nations and of international relations,
the free market is the most efficient instrument for utilizing
resources and effectively responding to needs . . . which
are "solvent", insofar as they are endowed with purchasing
power, and for those resources which are "marketable", insofar
as they are capable of obtaining a satisfactory price.” (CA#34)
“Can it perhaps be said that, after the failure of Communism,
capitalism is the victorious social system, and that capitalism
should be the goal of the countries now making efforts to
rebuild their economy and society? Is this the model which
ought to be proposed to the countries of the Third World which
are searching for the path to true economic and civil progress?
The answer is obviously complex. If by "capitalism" is meant
an economic system which recognizes the fundamental and positive
role of business, the market, private property and the resulting
responsibility for the means of production, as well as free
human creativity in the economic sector, then the answer is
certainly in the affirmative, even though it would perhaps
be more appropriate to speak of a "business economy", "market
economy" or simply "free economy". (CA#42) |
On Business |
The Claim: |
|
Centesimus Annus Says: |
| “International corporations headquartered in the United States
purchase enormous billions of dollars worth of goods from basically
slave markets. Their [Africans] concern is how are we ever going
to improve the standard of living if these multinational corporations
are able to pay people a dollar a day or a dollar a week in
order to produce goods that sell for huge amounts in the United
States and other places.” (Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Archbishop
of Los Angeles) |
|
“A person who produces something other than
for his own use generally does so in order that others may
use it after they have paid a just price, mutually agreed
upon through free bargaining. It is precisely the ability
to foresee both the needs of others and the combinations of
productive factors most adapted to satisfying those needs
that constitutes another important source of wealth in modern
society. Besides, many goods cannot be adequately produced
through the work of an isolated individual; they require the
cooperation of many people in working towards a common goal.
Organizing such a productive effort, planning its duration
in time, making sure that it corresponds in a positive way
to the demands which it must satisfy, and taking the necessary
risks — all this too is a source of wealth in today's society.
In this way, the role of disciplined and creative human
work and, as an essential part of that work, initiative
and entrepreneurial ability becomes increasingly evident
and decisive. This process, which throws practical light on
a truth about the person which Christianity has constantly
affirmed, should be viewed carefully and favorably. Indeed,
besides the earth, man's principal resource is man himself.
His intelligence enables him to discover the earth's productive
potential and the many different ways in which human needs
can be satisfied. It is his disciplined work in close collaboration
with others that makes possible the creation of ever more
extensive working communities which can be relied upon
to transform man's natural and human environments. Important
virtues are involved in this process, such as diligence, industriousness,
prudence in undertaking reasonable risks, reliability and
fidelity in interpersonal relationships, as well as courage
in carrying out decisions which are difficult and painful
but necessary, both for the overall working of a business
and in meeting possible set-backs.” (CA#32)
“The Church acknowledges the legitimate role
of profit as an indication that a business is functioning
well. When a firm makes a profit, this means that productive
factors have been properly employed and corresponding human
needs have been duly satisfied.” (CA#35) |
On The Welfare State and Welfare Reform |
The Claim: |
|
Centesimus Annus Says: |
| Rev. Robert F. Drinan, a Jesuit priest who teaches law at
Georgetown University in Washington and is a former Democratic
congressman from Massachusetts, said he is suspicious of any
political drive to shift responsibilities from government to
religious agencies. “Deep down, I have the feeling that this
is a cop-out by the government," said Drinan. "Government should
be doing this (rather than) pushing it onto the churches. I'm
just uneasy about this. I say, let's be cautious." |
|
“In recent years the range of such intervention
has vastly expanded, to the point of creating a new type of
State, the so-called “Welfare State”. . . . excesses and abuses,
especially in recent years, have provoked very harsh criticisms
of the Welfare State, dubbed the "Social Assistance State".
Malfunctions and defects in the Social Assistance State are
the result of an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper
to the State. . . . By intervening directly and depriving
society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State
leads to a loss of human energies and an inordinate increase
of public agencies, which are dominated more by bureaucratic
ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients,
and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending.
In fact, it would appear that needs are best understood and
satisfied by people who are closest to them and who act as
neighbors to those in need.” (CA#48) |
|
|
 |
|
