Beginning Monday in Rome, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace will sponsor a two day council on the Church's social doctrine on the theme "Justice and Globalization: From ‘Mater et Magistra’ to ‘Caritas in Veritate’".
Here is one of the more interesting portions of Pope John XXIII's "Mater et Magistra" (full text here:)
Here is one of the more interesting portions of Pope John XXIII's "Mater et Magistra" (full text here:)
Personal Initiative and State Intervention
53. And in this work of directing, stimulating, co-ordinating, supplying and integrating, its guiding principle must be the "principle of subsidiary function" formulated by Pius XI in Quadragesimo Anno. "This is a fundamental principle of social philosophy, unshaken and unchangeable. . . Just as it is wrong to withdraw from the individual and commit to a community what private enterprise and industry can accomplish, so too it is an injustice, a grave evil and a disturbance of right order, for a larger and higher association to arrogate to itself functions which can be performed efficiently by smaller and lower societies. Of its very nature the true aim of all social activity should be to help members of the social body, but never to destroy or absorb them."
(That would be John XXIII.)
ReplyDeleteMost interesting quote and supportive of my belief leftist Catholics are seriously in error when attempting to co-opt John XXIII to their collectivist agenda. His clear endorsement of subsidiarity (which, after all, is clearly stated in the catechism) nullifies their claim utterly. I doubt, however, it would change their outlook in the slightest were the contradiction pointed out to them.
I share your doubt. Luckily, the attempted co-opting of John XXIII by
ReplyDeleteleftists is not a long term problem. The grim reaper is gradually
solving it by carrying off the would-be co-opters. Happily, they are
not being replaced. Thank you for the comment.