Page 23 - Michael Journal 2019 August

freedom, the core of which is ethical and religious, and progress, such as inventions and technological
then the reply is certainly negative.” advancements.
Catholic Social say that capitalism has triumphed. Since the fall of Capitalism has been vitiated
Even with the collapse of Marxism we cannot
by the financial system
Communism there are still millions of poor people
The fault that the Church finds with the capital-
Teaching on and conditions of injustice in the world: ist system is that each and every human being liv-
“The Marxist solution has failed, but the real-
ing on the planet does not have access to a min-
ities of marginalization and exploitation remain in
Capitalism the world, especially the Third World, as does the imum of material goods. In this way, they are not
allowed to have a decent life and even in the most
reality of human alienation, especially in the more
advanced countries there are thousands of people
advanced countries. Against these phenomena
the Church strongly raises her voice. Vast multi- who do not eat their fill. It is the principle of the
universal destination of human goods that is not
tudes are still living in conditions of great material fulfilled: there is plenty of production, it is the dis-
and moral poverty. The collapse of the Commun- tribution that is defective.
ist system in so many countries certainly removes
an obstacle to facing these problems in an appro- In the present system the tool that makes
Capitalism must be corrected Further in the same encyclical, the Pope ex- priate and realistic way, but it is not enough to possible the distribution of goods and services;
plained what is acceptable about capitalism and the symbol that allows people to get products, is
The social doctrine of the Church confines itself what is not: bring about their solution. Indeed, there is a risk
to principles and so stands apart from endorsing that a radical capitalistic ideology could spread money. It is therefore the money system, the finan-
or recommending any existing economic system. “Returning now which refuses even to consider these problems, in cial system, that is at fault in capitalism.
We can say that an economic system is good only to the initial ques- the a priori belief that any attempt to solve them Pope Pius XI wrote in Quadragesimo Anno in
to the extent that it applies the principles of jus- tion: can it perhaps is doomed to failure and which blindly entrusts 1931: “Capitalism itself is not to be condemned.
tice taught by the Church. As Pope St. John Paul be said that, after their solution to the free development of market And surely it is not vicious of its very nature, but it
II wrote in 1987, in his encyclical letter Sollicitudo the failure of Com- forces” (Centesimus Annus, n. 42). has been vitiated.”
Rei Socialis: “The tension between East and West munism, capital- The fault that the Church finds with capitalism What the Church condemns is not capitalism as
is an opposition... between two concepts of the ism is the victor- is not with its support of private property and free a producing system, but, according to the words of
development of individuals and peoples, both ious social system enterprise. Far from wishing the disappearance Pope St. Paul VI, “the calamitous system that ac-
concepts being imperfect and in need of radical and that capital- of private property, the Church rather wishes its companies it,” which is the financial system:
correction... This is one of the reasons why the ism should be the widespread availability so that all may become real “This unchecked liberalism led to dictatorship
Church’s social doctrine adopts a critical attitude goal of the coun- owners of capital and be genuine capitalists: rightly denounced by Pope Pius XI as producing
towards both liberal capitalism and Marxist col- tries now making “The dignity of the ‘the international imperialism of money’. One can-
lectivism.” efforts to rebuild human person neces- not condemn such abuses too strongly, because
their economy and
We can understand why the Church condemns society? Is this the sarily requires the right — let us again recall solemnly — the economy
Communism or Marxist collectivism which, as Pope model which ought of using external goods should be at the service of man. But if it is true
Pius XI wrote, is intrinsically evil and anti-Christian, to be proposed to in order to live accord- that a type of capitalism has been the source of
with its avowed goals being the complete destruc- the countries of ing to the right norm excessive suffering, injustices and fratricidal con-
tion of private property, family and religion. But the Third World Saint John Paul II of nature. And to this flicts whose effects still persist, it would be wrong
why would the Church condemn capitalism? which are searching for the path to true economic right corresponds a to attribute to industrialization itself evils that be-
In his encyclical letter Centesimus Annus (n. and civil progress? (n. 42) most serious obliga- long to the calamitous system that accompanied
34), St. John Paul II recognized the merits of free en- “The answer is obviously complex. If by ‘cap- tion, which requires it. On the contrary, one must recognize in all jus-
terprise, private initiative and profit: “It would ap- italism’ is meant an economic system which that, so far as pos- tice the irreplaceable contribution made by the
pear that, on the level of individual nations and of recognizes the fundamental and positive role of sible, there be given organization and the growth of industry to the
international relations, the free market is the most business, the market, private property and the re- to all an opportunity task of development” (St. Paul VI, encyclical let-
efficient instrument for utilizing resources and ef- sulting responsibility for the means of production, of possessing private Saint John XXIII ter Populorum Progressio, on the Development of
fectively responding to needs. But this is true only as well as free human creativity in the econom- property... Therefore, it is necessary to modify Peoples, March 26, 1967, n. 26).
for those needs which are ‘solvent’, insofar as ic sector, then the answer is certainly in the af- economic and social life so that the way is made The defect of the system: money
they are endowed with purchasing power, and for firmative, even though it would perhaps be more easier for widespread private possession of such is created by the banks as a debt
those resources which are ‘marketable’, insofar as appropriate to speak of a ‘business economy’, things as durable goods, homes, gardens, tools
they are capable of obtaining a satisfactory price. ‘market economy’ or simply ‘free economy’. But requisite for artisan enterprises and family-type It is the financial system that does not accom-
But there are many human needs which find no if by ‘capitalism’ is meant a system in which free- farms, investments in enterprises of medium or plish its purpose; it has been diverted from its end
place on the market. It is a strict duty of justice dom in the economic sector is not circumscribed large size” (Pope St. John XXIII, encyclical letter which is to facilitate goods meeting needs. Money
and truth not to allow fundamental human needs within a strong juridical framework which places Mater et Magistra, May 15, 1961, nn. 114-115). should be nothing but an instrument of distribution
to remain unsatisfied and not to allow those bu- it at the service of human freedom in its totality, Social Credit, with its Dividend distributed to and a symbol that gives a claim on goods. In other
rdened by such needs to perish.” and which sees it as a particular aspect of that every individual, would acknowledge every human words, money should be a simple accounting sys-
being as a capitalist, a co-heir of natural resources tem. u

22 MICHAEL August/September 2019 www.michaeljournal.org www.michaeljournal.org MICHAEL August/September 2019 23