Section 4
THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN ERA
Section 4, Part 4:
INDUSTRIALIZATION, INJUSTICE, &
THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE
Introduction
• Mid to late 19th century—Industrial Revolution in Europe & America
• Rapid changes in manufacturing, agriculture, mining, & transportation
• Leading to rapid social, cultural, & economic changes overnight—decades to correct
• Possible because of technological advances & spurred further ones
• Church responded to industrialization & capitalism with
series of social encyclicals
• First was Rerum novarum (On the Condition of Labor)
by Pope Leo XIII
• Two Articles
• (A. 43) – The Effects of Industrialization & Capitalism
• (A. 44) – The Birth of the Social Doctrine on the Church
A. 43: The Effects of
Industrialization & Capitalism
•Industrial Revolution—began in Europe & spread
to America in mid to late 19th century
•Had + & - outcomes in almost ever aspect of life
•Driven by capitalism & technological advances
•Capitalism was driven by desire to grow business & personal wealth
•Widening gap between rich (capital) & poor (labor) as well as human &
material resources
•Social Darwinism was a theoretical justification for practical injustices of
radical capitalism
•Immigrant labor was often poor & uneducated so exploitation followed
• Low wages, poor & dangerous working conditions (sweatshops), long
hours, no sick leave or pensions, child labor as young as 4 for even
lower wages (10-20% of adult), no vacation, 7 days a week, not
allowed to unionize or strike, …
A. 43 cont.: The Effects of
Industrialization & Capitalism
•Work is supposed to be a source of dignity & discipline that
facilitates one’s spiritual growth & maturity as well as society
as a whole—co-creation with God
•Church responded with modern Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
• Right to work, work to live with dignity, form unions,
strike when for sake of common good, …
• Later—wages, hours, conditions, genders, economic theories,
capital, labor, resources, private property, …
•Cardinal Manning of Britain (1st bishop to speak out)—1872 farmers &
1889 dock workers
•Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore—1886 Knights of Labor (700K +
members) against Vatican (in 5 years)
You Tube Videos: Industrialization & Capitalism
The Industrial Revolution
Capitalism
Homework
•Read A. 44 in the e-Book
for discussion tomorrow
•Section 4, Part 4 review
questions 1-3
•Study for the Section 4,
Parts 2 and 4 quiz Friday
A. 44: The Birth of the Social Doctrine of the Church
•Rerum novarum (On the Condition of Labor) by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 was
the 1st modern social encyclical
•Ground breaking document—addressed new problems,
made judgments, & suggested how to respond
• Flaws in Marxism—private property is a natural &
Divine right (7th Commandment)
• Workers rights—dignity, wage, hours, conditions, child labor,
holidays & Sundays, organize & associate
• Governments must serve common good—universal destination of goods
•Spurred a series of anniversary documents from 1891 until the present
•Quadragesimo anno (Reconstruction of the Social Order)—Pius XI in 1931
• Criticize capitalism & socialism; widening gap between rich & poor;
introduce subsidiarity principle
A. 44 cont.: Birth of the Social Doctrine of the Church
•Mater et magistra (Christianity and Social Progress)—Pope John XXIII in 1961
• Concern for workers esp. women; gap between rich & poor nations;
excessive spending on weapons hurts society
•Pacem et terris (Peace on Earth)—Pope John XXIII in 1963
• Warns against modern warfare esp. nuclear weapons;
peace = just social order; list of human rights necessary for
•Gaudium et spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church
in the Modern World)—Vatican II in 1965
• Church must serve the world and promote the common good
through collaboration; condemns weapons of mass destruction;
peace is justice which is more than the absence of war
•Popularum progressio (The Development of Peoples)—Pope Paul VI in 1967
• True progress is economic, social, cultural, & spiritual; economic
development of poor and moral of rich are linked; criticizes radical
capitalism (profit & private ownership are absolute motives and rights)
Article 44 cont.: Birth of the
Social Doctrine of the Church
•Octogesima adveniens (A Call to Action)—Pope Paul VI in 1971
• Encourage Christians & all people of good will to continue;
awareness; analysis of appropriate responses
•Laborem exercens (On Human Work)—Pope John Paul II in 1991
• Work is center of social issues; right & duty to work for those
able; workers have rights above profits
•Centesimus annus (The Hundredth Year)—Pope John Paul II in 1981
• Communism flawed b/c treated humans as objects; capitalism is
efficient but flawed if not for common good; right to private property
is not absolute & must be checked by just distribution of goods
•Caritatis in veritate (Charity in Truth)—Pope Benedict XVI in 2009
• Justice in all aspects of economic life; fundamentalism & religious
exclusion are obstacles; technology not drive society
Article 44 cont.: The Birth of the
Social Doctrine of the Church
•The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response—USCCB in 1983
• Peace is more than deterrence; money spent on arms is money not spent
on poor; nuclear arms race must end
•Economic Justice for All: A Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching & the
U.S. Economy—USCCB in 1986
• Economic decisions made in reference to human dignity; all obligated to
help poor; Church example in economics
•The 7th Commandment is at the heart of social justice—requires charity &
justice—virtue of religion too
•Subsidiarity—God; Church (universal, national, local, parish); State (global,
federal, state, local); family; established organizations; individuals
You Tube Videos: Catholic Social Doctrine
Bp. Barron: Paul Ryan &
Catholic Social Teaching
Bp. Barron: Pope Francis
& Catholic Social Teaching
Homework
•Section 4, Part 4
review questions 4-6
•Make sure the Section 4, Part 4 review
questions 1-6 are ready to turn in tomorrow
•Study for the Section 4, Parts 2 and 4 quiz tomorrow
The End
To be continued…