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Alright, all you self-righteous, pompous, pope-bashing, gospel-interpreting dim bulbs. Who wrote the following passage?

In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class: for the ancient workingmen's guilds were abolished in the last century, and no other protective organization took their place. Public institutions and the laws set aside the ancient religion. Hence, by degrees it has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hardheartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself. "

Was it:

a) Karl Marx
b) Pope Leo XIII
c) Engels
d) Pope John XXIII

The correct answer will be given in tomorrow's class.

Thank you, marshmallow. I’ll not give the answer away. Instead, I’ll point out that the very text you quote says that before capitalism working people lived better lives. This is factually incorrect. The statement is another proof that the pope, if he is infallible in matters of faith and morals, doesn’t have a clue as to where faith and morals leave off, and where science and history prevail. Before capitalism, the masses of people lived at the edge of subsistence. This condition was called “the Iron Law of Wages.” Then, with capitalism, things changed. Check out the link I provide below. The lives of the masses of people improved greatly. The pope who said what you quoted was as wrong as the pope who denied that there are moons about Jupiter.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GuvqAqJmGHc/S6oVj7CuGiI/AAAAAAAAAbA/hcVlvnJFC4Q/s400/clarkgraph.png

We have at most a desire to express and a permission to request: namely, that of serving you in so far as lies within Our competence, with disinterest, humility and love.

The above is from Pope Paul VI's address to the United Nations General Assembly, October 4, 1965.

Here's another excerpt from the same address:

The peoples of the earth turn to the United Nations as the last hope of concord and peace. We presume to present here, together with Our own, their tribute to honour and of hope. That is why this moment is a great one for you also. We know that you are fully aware of this. Now for the continuation of Our message. It looks entirely towards the future. The edifice which you have constructed must never collapse; it must be continually perfected and adapted to the needs which the history of the world will present. You mark a stage in the development of mankind; from now on retreat is impossible; you must go forward.