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- subsidiarity 1
- QA- 40th anniversary of RN
* SUBSIDIARITY
Session 04 - refers to the contribution of the
Quadragesimo Anno church to secular society
The Reconstruction of the Social Order - context refers to concentration of
Pius XI economic and political power and
1931 monopoly
-
Interval:
- After Rerum Novarum in 1891, the next major document on CST was issued in 1931, at
the 40th anniversary of RN.
- In between, two popes followed the papacy of Leo XIII: Pius X and Benedict XV.
Pius X
- Lower middle class background.
- His priestly experience was chiefly pastoral and seminary work.
- He had little understanding of modern culture and worldly affairs.
- He had a strongly hierarchical and clerical concept of the Church and of the subordinate
role of the laity within it.
- Pius X was more conservative than Leo XIII on social issues. He was more concerned
about practical religious reform and counter-acting modernism. He was not against
helping the poor but he insisted that the obligation to work for an equitable social order
was not one out of justice but out of charity, and was therefore less compelling.
Benedict XV
- Benedict XV was more liberal on political matters than Pius X. On the socio-political
level, Benedict allowed Catholics to have a more important role in Italian politics.
- World War I dominated the papacy of Benedict and he spent his energy working for
peace and having the Church accepted as a mediator in the conflict. His concern for
national and international political matters meant he spent less energy on economic
questions.
- On economic matters, Benedict XV was similar to Pius X in conservatism. Benedict
believed that capitalism allowed every person the opportunity to advance himself and do
well. In this idealized view, he did not take into consideration the fact that the prevailing
capitalist economic system was biased against the poor and they seldom get the
opportunity to use their talents to rise above poverty. It was a backward step from RN.

Quadragesimo Anno (Pius XI)

Context:
Social issues at that time (1931)
§ Rise of international Communism and persecution of religion in several countries
§ Evolution of socialism into various forms, especially non-revolutionary Social democrats
versus revolutionary Communists
§ Evolution of economic liberalism to monopoly capitalism
§ concentration of wealth in the hands of a few (QA 105)
§ concentration of wealth lead to a concentration of economic and political power (QA 105-8)
§ increasing number of poor industrial and agricultural workers (QA 59)
§ widespread unemployment because of the world-wide economic depression

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o A depression develops when overproduction, decreased demand, or a combination of

both factors forces curtailment of production, dismissal of employees, and wage cuts.
Unemployment and lowered wages further decrease purchasing power, causing the
crisis to spread and become more acute. Recovery is generally slow, the return of
business confidence being dependent on the development of new markets, exhaustion
of the existing stock of goods, or, in some cases, remedial action by governments.
o The Great Depression of the late 20’s and early 30s was supposedly precipitated by
the U.S. stock-market crash of 1929. The Great Depression was unprecedented in its
length and in the wholesale poverty and tragedy it inflicted on society. Economists
have disagreed over its causes, but certain causative factors are generally accepted.
The prosperity of the 1920s was unevenly distributed among the various parts of the
American economy—farmers and unskilled workers were notably excluded—with
the result that the nation’s productive capacity was greater than its capacity to
consume.
o The American depression produced severe effects abroad, especially in Europe,
where many countries had not fully recovered from the aftermath of World War I. In
the United States, at the worst of the depression (1932–33), there were 16 million
workers unemployed — about one third of the available labor forces.
§ It seemed like capitalism has shown its failure in fulfilling its promise of a better life for all.
§ Democracies are being challenged by the threat of mass movements like fascism and
communism.
§ The Church wanted to offer a credible alternative between capitalism and socialism.

Contents of encyclical:

QA is composed of three parts:

1. The first part describes the impact of RN on the Church, on Civil authority and other
concerned parties
2. The second part clarifies, develops and expands the social and economic doctrines in RN
(on 5 basic issues: right to property, relationship between capital and labor, the
emancipation of workers, just wages and salaries, and the reconstruction of the social
order.
3. The third part treats the changes in capitalism and socialism since RN, the roots of social
disorder, and the remedy proposed by the Church

Part I: Impact of RN

I. On the Church
A. Doctrine
- RN was adapted and applied by bishops to circumstances in their regions (18)
- It encouraged many priests and lay people to study the Church’s social teaching (19)
- It helped begin a tradition of Catholic social teaching (20)
- It is taught in seminaries and universities (20)
- It was an influential resource of social teaching for non-Catholics and for world leaders and
legislatures (21)

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B. Practical Application
- RN help inspire efforts to help the those who are marginalized in society (23)
- There were more charitable works for the poor (24)
- It inspired institutions of mutual support and assistance among workers in various
occupations (24)

II. On Civil Authority

- RN went beyond the liberal capitalism in defining the role of civil authority. More than
just peace and order, the government was reminded that it must also promote the public
well-being and private prosperity. The government can interfere in economics for the
sake of the common good. (25)
- In protecting the rights of all citizens, the government must give special attention to
helping the poor. (25)
- With RN, world leaders became more conscious of their obligation to promote social
policy (26)
- Laws and programs for the poor were begun (28)

III. Labor Unions

§ RN helped dispel suspicion toward the formation of workers’ unions (31)

§ Many clergy and lay were encouraged to help organize labor unions (33)
§ Labor unions have flourished (36)

Part II: Social and Economic Doctrines

A. Role of the Church (41)

a. It is the right and duty of the church to deal authoritatively with social and
economic issues.
b. It is a God-given task.
c. Church must pass judgment on social and economic issues as they affect moral
issues.

B. Property Rights
- Some have falsely accuse the Church of defending the rich against the workers when Leo
XIII defended the right to private property in RN
- Need to for correct interpretation of doctrine on private property
a. The Church has never denied the two-fold aspect of property ownership:
individual and social (concerning the common good) (45). Property was given to
man by God not only for his individual needs but for the welfare of all.
b. need to avoid double dangers of individualism and collectivism (46)
c. The right of property must be distinguished from its use (47)
d. Commutative justice requires respect of other people’s ownership of property.
The use of property is not guided by commutative justice but by other virtues and
therefore is a duty not enforced by judicial courts.

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e. It is false to say that misuse or non-use of property forfeits the right to ownership
(48).
f. To destroy the individual character of property is a grievous error (49)
g. Function of government is to define in details the duties of ownership; to specify
what is licit and illicit in the use of property (49)
h. The state has no right to abolish the right to private property since the right
is derived from nature not from man. The government only has the right to
control its use and bring it to harmony with the common good (49)
i. The right use of superfluous income: charity and to create employment (50-51)

C. Relationship between Capital and Labor

a. Only by the labor of working people does the state grow. Labor and capital need
each other. It would be unjust for one to deny the efficacy of the other and seize
all the profits. (53)
b. Unjust claims of capital: it claimed all products and profits for itself and left labor
with barest minimum for its survival. (54)
c. Unjust claim of labor: it claim that all products and profits belong to the laborers
(55)
d. QA advocates a just distribution of wealth to serve the common good. (56)
i. By the principles of social justice one classis forbidden from excluding
other classes from a share in the profits.
ii. Each class must receive its due share and the distribution of created
goods must be brought into conformity with the demands of the
common good and social justice. (This is the first time the term social
justice is used in official catholic teaching– it designated the norm for
of all social and economic activities, relations and institutions. The
concept of the common good is related to social justice.)

(Pius XI gives a fuller definition of social justice in another encyclical, Divini Redemptoris [51]
“In reality, besides commutative justice, there is also social justice with its own set obligations,
from which neither employers nor workingmen can escape. Now it is of the very essence of
social justice to demand for each individual all that is necessary for the common good. But just
as in the living organism it is impossible to provide for the good of the whole unless each single
part and each individual member is given what it needs for the exercise of its proper functions,
so it is impossible to care for the social organism and the good of society as a unit unless each
single part and each individual member - that is to say, each individual man in the dignity of his
human personality - is supplied with all that is necessary for the exercise of his social functions.
If social justice be satisfied, the result will be an intense activity in economic life as a whole,
pursued in tranquility and order. This activity will be proof of the health of the social body, just
as the health of the human body is recognized in the undisturbed regularity and perfect efficiency
of the whole organism.”)

D. Uplifting the Proletariat

a. Uplifting of the condition of the proletariat is the main objective of our efforts
(59)
b. Working people should be sufficiently supplied with the fruits of production (61)

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E. Just Wage
a. A just wage must be paid so people can acquire moderate ownership. (63)
b. The wage contract is not necessarily unjust, as held by some. However, it should,
if possible, be modified by a contract of partnership whereby employer and wage
earners become sharers in ownership or management, or else participate in the
profits. (64-65)
c. Social justice demands that wages must support families (71)
d. Women and children should not be abused in the work place (71)
e. Public authorities can help businesses pay a just wage (73)
f. Employment opportunities must be provided for those willing to work (74)
g. Wage level should be arrived at with the public economic welfare in mind.
Wages too low or too high causes unemployment. To lower or raise wages
unduly, for the purpose of private profit, and with no consideration for the
common good is against social justice.

F. Reform of the Social Order

a. This is primarily the responsibility of the State (78)
b. Introduction of the principle of subsidiarity: activities which can be
performed by individuals should not be taken over by the larger community.
Likewise, tasks and decisions which are within the competence of lower levels
in a social organization should be performed by them and not taken over by
higher levels. Avoids individualism and collectivism. (79-80)
c. Primary duty of the State to abolish conflict and promote harmony between
classes.(81)
d. Importance of vocational groups: common effort for the common good between
employers and workers in a particular industry or producing a particular product
or service. (84)
e. Reaffirmation of the right to form associations (87)
f. Proper ordering of economic affairs cannot be left to free enterprise alone – open
to abuse (88)
g. Social justice and social charity must guide all social and economic activity and
institutions. (88)
h. It is the duty of the State to safeguard the social order guided by social
justice.

Part Three: Changes in Socialism and Capitalism since RN

A. Changes in Capitalism
a. Concentration of wealth in the hands of a few has led to a concentration of power
and economic domination (105)
b. Economic dictatorship has replaced the free market (109)
c. The state has become a slave to greed
d. Economic nationalism and economic imperialism have affected the relations
between nations (110)
e. Remedies:

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i. Mutual relations between capital and labor must be regulated according to

the laws of commutative justice, supported by Christian charity
ii. Free competition and economic domination must be placed within proper
bounds by public authority
iii. Public institutions should make society conform to the requirements of the
common good, that is, the norm of social justice

B. Changes in Socialism
a. Socialism has divided between communism and moderate socialism (111)
b. Communism supports class warfare through violence, abolition of private
property, and antagonism toward the Church.
c. Moderate socialism condemns the recourse to violence, moderates class warfare
and abolition of private property.
d. QA acknowledges that some of the programs of moderate socialists approach
the just demands of Christian social reformers
e. Still, there is no compromise possible between Christianity and socialism
f. Socialism conceives the human in a way alien to Christianity, particularly on
the matter of man’s last end
g. No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true socialist.
h. Invitation for those who defected to socialism to come back to the Church
- Despite harsh criticism of capitalism, Pius XI did not condemn it but believed that
reforms can change it. Pius’ fear of socialism made him condemn it even though he
acknowledged that some socialists come close to Catholic positions on social reform.

C. General Remedies
a. Social reconstruction must be preceded by a profound renewal of the Christian
spirit and return to gospel principles (136)
b. Love and charity must reinforce justice (137)

- Pius XI analyzed the problem of the social order as a moral problem thus his remedy is
not found in social movements or political parties but in a return to Christian moderation,
especially the law of charity. Charity will not replaced justice withheld but it was
necessary to bring stability and unity to humanity

Evaluation of QA
- Generally, QA strengthened Catholic teaching in defense of labor and in its critique of
liberal capitalism. The encyclical was not only concerned about the conditions of workers
but with the whole socio-economic order of society.
- QA introduced the term social justice into official Catholic teaching. The insistence on
social justice and common good set up a norm with which to evaluate economic relations
and institutions.
- QA articulated the principle of subsidiarity as a guide for the proper role of the State in
ensuring right order in society.
- QA focused attention on the basic causes of injustice and poverty. Pius XI was more
willing than Leo XIII to make a structural analysis of society, locating the inadequacies
and built-in injustices in the structures of society.

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- Pius XI avoided blaming structures solely for injustice in society and he also avoided a
moralizing approach that blamed all injustices on the sinfulness of individuals. Though
the encyclical treat personal sinfulness and unjust structures separately as parts of the
problem, there are some attempts at showing their inter-relation.
- There is a shift in spirituality from RN of Leo XIII to QA of Pius XI. Leo XIII
encouraged a spirituality of stability which emphasized obedience to authorities and
enduring injustice rather than overthrow regimes, offering a happy reward in the future
for those who endure patiently. Pius XI, on the other hand, was aware of the accusation
made by some that the Church seems to condone injustices by offering happiness in the
afterlife. Pius XI acknowledges that some in the Church do this and he condemns it
(125). There is an emerging spirituality of justice in Pius XI which speak of justice as a
fundamental value in its own right and he speaks encouraging words to those who work
for justice in society (142).
- QA started a tradition for the pope to reconsider the condition of workers periodically
- QA justified the work of those in the Church who have committed themselves to work for
justice and for the poor

Questions:
1. Is the principle of subsidiarity evident in our Church institutions and structures?
2. How are social justice and the common good fundamental norms for our decision-making
as individuals and as a Church?
3. How far are we willing to criticize the abuses of liberal capitalism while at the same time
being influenced and contributing to a capitalist environment?
4. How do we use our property in the light of social justice?
5. Do we pay a family wage?
6. Do we allow charity to replace justice withheld?
7. Do we look at both personal sinfulness and unjust structures as related parts of the
problem of injustice in society? Do we focus more on one aspect than the other?

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