Replies

It would be a mistake to view legitimate critisms of greed as favouring socialism or marxism and disfavouring capitalism. Even Adam Smith had moral principles which were opposed to avaricious laissez-faire attitudes held or criticized by modern peoples.

There are adherents of capitalism who do not follow the Church’s teaching on charity and stewardship, as well as treating your fellow man with dignity. Notice that the artice talks about the “purely economic conception of man” which is a problem in both modern capitalist and communist philosophies.

None of this requires legislation from the state, if it did, then the point of it would be lost - it is supposed to be an act of brotherly love not of compulsion.

In school, we had a class called, “Peace, Justice and Liberation.” We discussed and studied many of the works dealing with mentioned. In particular, we looked at liberation theology which is common throughout South and Central America.

This seemed relevant to the discussion. It is from John XXIII's Mater et Magistra: "34. Pope Pius XI further emphasized the fundamental opposition between Communism and Christianity, and made it clear that no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production, it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority."

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_xxiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_15051961_mater_en.html

Pacem in Terris by John XXIII

Quadragesimo Anno by Pius XI

Quod Apostolici Muneris, Humanum Genus, and Libertas by Leo XIII

All these are good to study in conjunction with Rerum Novarum.