Religious Insights
St Jerome Writing
Caravaggio, 1608
1.1 Catholic Social Teaching: Papal Encyclicals
Key and landmark papal encyclicals on the notion of person, rights and justice; the economy of rights of workers; warnings about unsettling trends in society; the advancement and rights of all peoples.
POPE LEO XIII
Diuturnum
(On the Origin of Civil Authority)
June 29th 1881
Although man...has often striven to cast aside the reins of authority, he has never yet been able to arrive at the state of obeying no one. In every association and community...necessity compels that some hold preeminence...."
POPE PIUS XI
Quadragesimo Anno
(On the Social Order)
May 15th 1931
"toward the close of the nineteenth century, the new...economic life that had arisen and the new developments of industry had gone to the point in most countries that human society was clearly becoming divided...into two classes."
POPE LEO XIII
Libertas
(On Human Liberty)
June 20th 1888
"...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."
POPE JOHN XXIII
Pacen in Terris
(Truth, Justice, Charity & Liberty)
April 11th 1963
"there is a disunity among individuals and among nations which is in striking contrast to this perfect order in the universe. One would think that the relationships that bind men together could only be governed by force."
POPE LEO XIII
Rerum Novarum
(On Capital & Labor)
May 15th 1891
"...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."
POPE PAUL VI
Populorum Progressio
(On Development of Peoples)
March 26th 1967
"there is a disunity among individuals and among nations which is in striking contrast to this perfect order in the universe. One would think that the relationships that bind men together could only be governed by force."
1.2 Catholic Theology & Philosophy
Key and landmark papal encyclicals on the notion of person, rights and justice; the economy of rights of workers; warnings about unsettling trends in society; the advancement and rights of all peoples.
ST THOMAS AQUINAS
Summa Theologica (1a 2ae 94)
(On the Natural Law)
1265-1273
"...where there are many men together and each one is looking after his own interest, the multitude would be broken up and scattered unless there were also an agency to take care of what appertains to the commonweal."
ST THOMAS AQUINAS
De Regno
(On Kingship)
1267
"...where there are many men together and each one is looking after his own interest, the multitude would be broken up and scattered unless there were also an agency to take care of what appertains to the commonweal."